A famous football pundit is set to reveal all about his controversial trophy-laden playing career and brave battle against drugs, alcohol and gambling.

Former Arsenal playmaker Paul Merson, now a star of Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday programme, will host a special event in Rocester in September.

The mercurial attacking midfielder won 21 caps for England, playing in the 1998 World Cup in France. He scored a penalty as England crashed out to Argentina in a second-round shoot-out.

He also won two First Division titles, the League Cup, the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup with the Gunners between 1985 and 1997.

Merson with former Derby County captain Robin van der Laan during the last ever game at the Baseball Ground
Merson with former Derby County captain Robin van der Laan during the last ever game at the Baseball Ground

The 49-year-old’s story moved from back to front pages in 1994, when he gave an emotional press conference admitting cocaine abuse and addictions to alcohol and gambling.

Merson and former teammates, including ex-England captain Tony Adams, have since lifted the lid on a culture of boozing and partying at Highbury in the 1980s and 1990s.

Now his incredible story, and anecdotes from a very different era of English football, will be told during An Evening with Paul Merson on Friday, September 15 ,at Rocester FC’s Hillsfield ground.

Promoter Sam Goldsworthy said: “To have such an iconic footballing personality such as Paul Merson joining this local Staffordshire village football team is a huge honour and privilege for us and just shows what a fantastic job Nick Harris and other committee members have done to arrange such a fantastic evening.

“So far we are looking at a complete sell out for what should be a fantastic evening of entertainment. Everyone at Rocester FC is very excited and looking forward to the night ahead.”

Merson surprised the football world when he dropped down a division to join Middlesborough from Arsenal in 1997 in a deal worth £4.5 million – a then-record fee for a club outside the top flight.

He went on to play for Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Walsall and Tamworth FC and other amateur sides before hanging up his boots in 2012.

As well as his World Cup appearance under manager Glen Hoddle, Merson played in England’s unsuccessful 1992 European Championships campaign under Graham Taylor.

The Harlesden-born star is now a prominent pundit for Sky Sports and his views feature heavily in national newspapers.

His biography is amusingly titled How Not to be a Professional Footballer.