Book Review: 'Addicted' by Tony Adams and Ian Ridley

Addicted by Tony Adams and Ian Ridley

Football is one of the most popular sports in the world, and the English Premier League is, if not the best in terms of quality, the most marketed league. Over the years, there have been many players who have lit up the league with their performances, and have had a lot to say about the game in their own biographies. Some have been illuminating on the state of the game and the mind of a footballer, while others have just been about making attempts to cash in on current popularity.

“Addicted” by Tony Adams and Ian Ridley firmly falls in the former category. The Arsenal and England captain talks about his time in the game, his bouts with alcohol abuse, and the subsequent recovery. It charts his 17 years in the game (to the time the book was written) and is a fascinating insight into how the game was administered during his time, how people were least bothered about fitness back then, and how unprofessional most players were when it came to being ready for the game. At the same time, it paints a remarkable picture about how well the players managed to perform despite their off-field frolics, leaving one wondered how much more they would have achieved if they had taken care of their bodies.

“Addicted” is a book that does not lay off from being brutally honest. While most other memoirs, especially those of players still playing the game, are watered down to not include any controversial aspects or include events that show them in a negative light, Tony Adams is completely candid in his book. And fair warning, it does not make for easy reading, especially when it comes to his drinking problems. One particular incident involved Adams staying in his hotel drunk, vomiting all over himself, wetting his bed, and yet thinking to himself how the beer was actually not bad for him.

All the gory details in all their drunken stupor for the reader to see how life as a footballer was during the 90s, including the infamous Tuesday Club at Arsenal. As much as it turns the reader’s insides to read about this drinking culture prevalent in English football, it is equally heartwarming to read about how Tony Adams finally fought his demons and went from rock bottom to gaining redemption. It makes for compelling reading of what drives people down that road and yet provides hope that with the right support and determination, all is not lost yet.

The effects of this binge drinking and the subsequent recovery has been profound on Tony Adams. His experiences has helped him understand the problems people face, and is giving them support that he never had through his clinic “Sporting Chance”. While football fans may want to skip the part about his alcohol abuse, it is where the book makes its mark on the reader, and shows how good a footballer he was and yet how flawed he was as a human being.

The book has had a great impact on me, especially since I read it at a time when I was only just getting into serious drinking. The various incidents Tony Adams relates in his book, and the impact it had on his family, especially his kids, will forever be a warning sign that alcohol can be dangerous for more reasons than just drunken driving. To think that the players gave some inspirational performances having been drunk for most of the week makes you wonder how much more they would have achieved if they had taken greater care of themselves. That is sadly something we’ll never know.

Rating: 4.5/5. Must read. One of those rare sports books that you’ll want to read more than once.

The author is co-founder of the book review website bookgeeks.in