Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton has revealed his 45-year gambling addiction cost him over £1m, leading him to launch a charity to support fellow addicts. The 76-year-old, who lives on Mersea Island in Essex, said fear of media exposure prevented him from seeking help during his playing career.

Shilton made 125 appearances for England and featured in three World Cups while secretly battling this addiction. He played for Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, Southampton, Stoke City, Derby County and Plymouth Argyle during a distinguished club career. The former goalkeeper credited his wife Steph for helping him quit in 2015, describing gambling as a 'silent illness' that affects people profoundly.

His new charity, Shiltons' Silverlining, aims to help gamblers rehabilitate and manage debts while offering prevention work. Former teammates Gary Lineker, Terry Butcher and Paul Parker have backed the initiative, along with cricket legend Graham Gooch. Steph Shilton described the rising number of gambling-related deaths as 'heartbreaking' and unnecessary.

Shilton emphasized how gambling advertising portrays the activity as fun, masking its darker consequences. He wants to help people who've reached 'a bad place' through his charity work, using his platform to raise awareness of the hidden dangers that destroyed his finances for decades.