A FORMER footballer who once struggled with sex addiction and £80,000 debts is now helping other players deal with their off-field issues.
Drewe Broughton draws on his experience to help others after becoming known as the "Fear Coach".
Broughton, 44, enjoyed a 17-year career in the lower leagues of England.
The ex-Norwich, Brentford and Wrexham star scored 91 goals in 482 matches.
But Broughton also experienced the dark side of the game, struggling with hefty debts and sex addiction.
He ended up being admitted to Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance clinic by the PFA after ending his career in 2012.
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And after overcoming his issues, Broughton now helps players and coaches get over their own performance worries.
That’s by transforming himself into a mental health specialist known as the "Fear Coach".
Broughton told FourFourTwo: “Ten years ago I found myself in rehab having lost everything.
“I was sleeping on my brother’s sofa and was £80k in debt. I’d been a good pro during my career but I’d struggled mentally.
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“I’d been far too analytical, too afraid of failing — the desire to win in some aspects was so big that I over-controlled everything.”
On the start of his self-doubts, Broughton explained: “I arrived at Nuneaton a couple of years after scoring against Wolves at Molineux for Norwich.
“I was playing in huge stadiums and went with England’s U20s to the World Cup with Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen.
“Then I’m at Nuneaton Borough and, with the greatest of respect, I thought ‘What the f*** am I doing here? It’s ridiculous’.
“I felt this loss of self, I began to wonder who I was and what I wanted from sport.’
“Rather than give up, I decided that Nuneaton was a big chance to reset. I found during my six weeks there, a simplicity to who I was. I battled for the next 12 years to hang on to that.”
Broughton is now helping others in a similar position.
He added: “I help players and coaches turn a corner. Exactly what I do depends on how much support they need.
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“But I focus on different topics — fear, authenticity, ego — and aid them on a journey of self-discovery.
“When a player isn’t playing well, it’s not because they’ve become bad at their job — it means they’ve lost that sense of self. First, you need to recapture your identity.”
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