Portsmouth’s Merson Handed £30K Gambling Money to Harry Redknapp

Paul Merson, the legendary former Arsenal midfielder, made his debut on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing over the weekend. As a recovered gambling addict who has struggled for three decades, Merson has been outspoken about his addiction, inspiring and helping others to get their gambling under control.

Redknapp Asked to Keep Safe Money for Gambling Debt

But that wasn’t always the case for the former midfielder who once asked his EPL manager to hold a significant sum in cash to pay off a gambling debt. The case dates back to March 2003 when Merson was a Portsmouth player. During an away game at Millwall FC, Merson uncovered that the doors of their locker room couldn’t be locked.

As a result, the former midfielder had to find a way to keep safe some £30,000 ($39,600) in cash which he brought with him to pay off a gambling debt. Merson sought help from his manager, Harry Redknapp.

In an interview for the Guardian, Merson recalled the request he made to Redknapp. Although the EPL manager initially thought that the player would ask him to keep safe a watch, in the end, it turned out to be cash.

In the words of Merson: “Harry said: ‘What is it, Merse? A watch?’ I said: ‘No, I’ve got some money’ – I went out and had the best game of my career.” Redknapp then proceeded to take the cash from Merson, reportedly sticking it in his tracksuit.

Merson’s outstanding performance resulted in a 5-0 win for his team. This was when he observed a “standing ovation from Millwall fans with five minutes to go.” The legendary player did not disclose details regarding the person he owed money. Instead, Merson explained that he brought the cash “to give to someone after the game.”

The Legendary Player Continues to Help Others

Helping others, Merson participated in a short movie in 2022 that helped promote TalkBanStop, an initiative by Gamban, GamCare and GAMSTOP. He was joined by the famous YouTube star, Ellis Platten, as well as the Liverpool defender, Gilly Flaherty.

The trio promoted the idea of enjoying sports without the need for gambling.

Merson placed his first wager when he was only 16 years old. This caused a landslide, pushing him into gambling and alcohol addiction. The struggles with gambling cost Merson two marriages, millions of pounds and years of his life.