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But away from the pitch, the burden and the stress because of how much money I’d lose, then chasing your losses and having conversations with people and not being present in that conversation because you’re thinking about your next bet.

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“ Football was never my poison.

Now we have to eradicate this stigma to where people are comfortable talking about it.”



Sturridge spent four seasons at Wolves(Image: Mike Hewitt)

Sturridge has become an ambassador for Gordon Moody which is a UK based charity dedicated to providing support and treatment for those severely affected by gambling harm.

Gordon Moody was established in 1971, offers residential courses, ongoing support and Sturridge was talking to publicise International Awareness Day for Gambling Harm on March 26.

He is passionate about wanting counsellors to be able to go into clubs, educate all players, especially the young ones who start earning big sums of money at an early age and not know how to invest it.

Sturridge knows from his own experiences as a youngster being asked by his mum to go into a bookies to place bets and it spiralled from his own bets as a teenager into sneaking around dressing rooms to place bets just before big games.

“A lot of addicts will say this, I had a big win at a young age and I was thinking: ‘I’m ahead of the game here, I’ve got a secret system which nobody else knows,’” he recalls, laughing at himself.

But if you’re out injured, you’ve got a tight hamstring or whatever, you are suddenly thinking about having a bet.

“When I was playing football, I was not aware of Gamblers’ Anonymous or Gordon Moody.

I’m thinking: ‘hang on a minute, my last five or ten bets, there’s been no dopamine rush.

From representing players because I’m an agent now, I’m aware there’s still an element of players in general looking for escapism.

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“That’s why I am so passionate about Gordon Moody because it allows people to reach out for help and support without feeling like they are being judged.”

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