28 Apr 2017 15:56:27
I wanted to comment on the Joey Barton gambling saga, and in particular him stating that growing up in a household that gambled caused his addiction. When I heard this I baulked a bit because Mr Barton is, if nothing else, very streetwise and for him to fall back on his upbringing and more or less blame his dad, does not sit well with me. Sadly, as we al know Mr Barton always blames someone else.
My upbringing was something similar in that my father gambled on the horses all his life, my mother's aunt even in her 80's used to send me with her 5pence and 10pence doubles to the local bookies, it was just normal to me as a boy/ teen growing up.
The big difference is my dad only bet with his own pocket money and when he won (which he did on a regular basis) gave my mother extra to buy myself and my 4 sisters clothes for school or winter clothes. I have fond memories of him not only clothing us all, but buying all 5 of us big Christmas presents with winnings stashed away, my mother too benefitted from new clothes or a "wee treat" on her birthday. But when I turned 18, got a job and had money to gamble, the first thing he told me was "never chase your losses" and "only bet with money you can afford to lose"
I also learned from him, in putting winnings aside and treating the family, BIG LESSONS I learned from my father.
Maybe, I was lucky, and Joey Barton unlucky in the lessons he learned from his father, but stand up Mr Barton and take responsibilty for your own actions.

1.) 28 Apr 2017
28 Apr 2017 17:48:44
Well said.

2.) 28 Apr 2017
28 Apr 2017 18:51:33
Great post Tim.

The best thing that ever happened to me was losing my first bet not long after I turned 18. It was only £10 but made me realise that it wasn't for me.

I am guessing that most people gamble for the rush. When you are a footballer earning 10, 15, 20k a week I can't see where the rush of the thrill of winning comes from as you already have enough money to set you up for live after a few years.

3.) 28 Apr 2017
28 Apr 2017 18:59:34
TIm I'm sure there are many people around the world that have grown up with " family issues " that affect them in later life. However if and I stress IF this is the case then it should never have came to be public knowledge or as we think, he is just using it for his own benefit . Now I'm sure Mr Barton is very very good at promoting his rather Big personality when it suits and if he really does have a "Gambling issue mabey he should use it to help the everyday person who does not have £kkkk to spend each week.
However I'm more a realist and as you say, it does not sit well with me either.

4.) 28 Apr 2017
28 Apr 2017 19:27:29
Personally, I think if he stabbed someone he would say they ran into him.

5.) 28 Apr 2017
28 Apr 2017 19:42:40
One thing for sure is that throughout the years joey and his family have learned a very valuable lesson from their father

Invest in a good lawyer

It wouldn't surprise me if Barton was involved in some underhand dealings with the Marseille board that is under investigation at present the guy is as crooked as they come

Prob engineered his move from rangers for another signing on fee to cover losses and this latest ban which he probably has invested in a load of spice to send up the line lol.

6.) 28 Apr 2017
28 Apr 2017 20:48:00
I don't in any way claim to be an expert on gambling addiction, but I would think it's the same as alcoholism in that being wealthy and having a successful football career doesn't make you immune.
My late father enjoyed a bet on the horses, but he only bet on a Saturday, he never bothered the rest of the time so it was always just a bit of fun for him.
Footballers have quite a lot of spare time and quite a few of them have a lot of cash in their pockets, it's easy to see why some of them look for a buzz through gambling, maybe the clubs themselves have to be a bit more involved with young players in particular, and try to educate them about how fortunate they are, and that there is a lot more constructive ways to spend their time and money away from the game.

7.) 29 Apr 2017
29 Apr 2017 01:14:23
I think Timmalloy, you were very lucky to have such a relationship with your father, I envy it, but i wouldn't be too quick to criticise Barton, it must be hard for him to talk about such personal stuff, and it's too easy to boohoo it as an escape clause, he is probably just looking in to his past to see what made him the way he is, we are all products of our past, things affect you growing up, that you don't realise, until you are trying to explain it to someone, might be a friend or a lawyer or a judge, ora paper, anyway i think his punishment is a bit harsh, when you look at what Ian black got, but if it cuts out gambling by football players all the best,

{Ed007's Note - Tim was obviously brought up by a good man, Barton's a classic example of if you get dragged up by a no use family of scumbags there's a good chance you'll end up a no use scumbag yourself.}

8.) 29 Apr 2017
29 Apr 2017 07:47:02
A very good chance ed, he's had too many second chances over the years to get any leeway here, his career should've ended when he put that cigar out on the youth player. Total skidmark of a person, let him waste the rest of his life away as far away from football as possible. Pure poison, n am glad he's cut any ties he had to us wae his laughable ibrox stint.