This is part ofa series of articles inspired by questions from our readers. So thank you to Charlie B for prompting this piece by asking about the hidden struggle football players have with gambling/addiction.

Scott Davies was 16 years old, earning 50 a week as a scholar at Readings youth academy, when it started. Living in digs, away from friends and family, he often found himself at a loose end after training, wandering through the town centre, looking for somewhere to go or something to do. Anything to pass the time.

He wandered into a bookmaker. Legally he wasnt old enough to place a bet, but nobody batted an eyelid as he sat at one of the fixed-odds terminals. He doesnt recall how much money if any he walked out with a couple of hours later. What sticks with him is the rush of excitement he felt with each spin of the virtual roulette wheel. The machine gave me a hit, he tells The Athletic. For...

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Inspired by You: Footballers and gambling - The Athletic