Post by Cantankerous Gas on Sept 15, 2014 11:02:39 GMT
Surprised at this. Not the gambling so much but his 'ego'.
www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk_essex_ex_footballer_john_taylor_s_gambling_addiction_drove_him_to_brink_of_suicide_1_3765683
John’s career soon took a different turn and he found himself travelling the country playing professional football and earning large amounts of money. He played for Cambridge United, making more than 330 appearances, and spent five years there in the glory days of promotions and visits to Wembley in the FA Cup quarter final.
He also enjoyed spells at Colchester United, Bristol Rovers, Bradford City, Luton Town and Lincoln City before getting into non-league with Mildenhall and Walsham-le-Willows.
“Looking back at being so successful with Cambridge at that time was not the best because when it came to egos, I had the biggest of the lot,” he said.
John gambled for the best part of 35 years. Describing his life he said: “It was unreasonable and unfair on others and just total chaos.
“My behaviour was soul destroying and destructive for everyone around me. But to me it was just my normal way of thinking and living.
“I have been married three times and gambling had a bearing on those relationships. I have ruined people’s lives with the fact that I was a selfish, inconsiderate, arrogant, conniving liar.
“I thought I controlled the world. Everything had to be on my terms and I wouldn’t do anything unless there was something in it for me.
“I wasn’t a nice person but I thought I was fantastic. You don’t see that you are lying and covering things up. I thought I was a fantastic liar and had it down to a fine art.”
He also enjoyed spells at Colchester United, Bristol Rovers, Bradford City, Luton Town and Lincoln City before getting into non-league with Mildenhall and Walsham-le-Willows.
“Looking back at being so successful with Cambridge at that time was not the best because when it came to egos, I had the biggest of the lot,” he said.
John gambled for the best part of 35 years. Describing his life he said: “It was unreasonable and unfair on others and just total chaos.
“My behaviour was soul destroying and destructive for everyone around me. But to me it was just my normal way of thinking and living.
“I have been married three times and gambling had a bearing on those relationships. I have ruined people’s lives with the fact that I was a selfish, inconsiderate, arrogant, conniving liar.
“I thought I controlled the world. Everything had to be on my terms and I wouldn’t do anything unless there was something in it for me.
“I wasn’t a nice person but I thought I was fantastic. You don’t see that you are lying and covering things up. I thought I was a fantastic liar and had it down to a fine art.”
