“I played for Newcastle – I could do with £5 a few weeks after playing my wages”

He told Undr The Cosh podcast: “I was surrounded by gambling growing up. My father was a gambler, my grandfather and uncle were also gamblers. My dad used to let me outside the bookies, but you couldn’t see what was going on inside. You could just hear the commentary, I was always intrigued.

“When I would leave Newcastle’s training ground, the only place I would feel safe was the bookies. I was like a child lost in a big city. When I’m at the bookies for hours, I’m obviously playing more money and it gets worse, but this is my safe place.”

He explained how he would place a bet every 30 seconds, adding: “When I was betting nothing else mattered. That’s when you know you have a problem. My monthly salary would be gone in a week, maybe less. Thousands of pounds. I remember living with the five of us in Newcastle for a few weeks.”

Colley was once sacked by Sheffield United before suffering the same fate at Goole after attempting to punch a fan while playing for the East Yorkshire side in January 2014. Then, aged 30, Colley was called at him by a Coalville supporter, prompting him to lash out. in the stands and throwing a punch.

The former captain was fined and removed from the club. He has faced two stadium banning orders, initially facing a six-year ban before facing another five-year ban, which ends this summer.

Colley explained how his struggles with gambling continued during his time in Non-League, adding: “I was just gambling for money, that’s all I ever knew, gambling for money. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, I was still gambling, I was still suffering from depression.

“Nobody was aware of it because I hadn’t opened up yet. People knew I was a gambler, but the depression and where my head was – no one knew.

“You’d see me on a Saturday and I’d be smiling and laughing with a few quid in my pocket. No one saw me struggling the other six days a week, falling and facing my demons.”

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