Town duo Danny Collins and Lee Martin were at NORCAS yesterday to show the club’s support for the charity's Too Much Too Young appeal. NORCAS, one of the Blues' nominated charities for 2011/12, runs a wide range of services supporting those affected by drugs, alcohol and gambling.

Too Much Too Young is NORCAS’s first ever appeal to raise funds for a new youth service in Suffolk, with 15,000 children in the county estimated to be affected by a family member's misuse of drugs or alcohol. A similar appeal in Norfolk last year raised over £150,000 and with the help of individuals and businesses, they are now looking to repeat this success in Suffolk.

Matt Wilson, NORCAS’s head of fundraising, said: "We are over the moon that Ipswich Town Football Club has chosen the NORCAS Too Much Too Young appeal as one of their nominated charities for the 2011/2012 season.

“Their support is so valuable for us as a local independent charity operating vital services for those affected by addictive behaviour. We look forward to welcoming the players to our service and to show them more of our important work.

"Children affected by a family member's misuse of drugs and alcohol has always been an issue and is becoming even more prevalent.

“NORCAS has decided to launch an appeal to start to make a difference. We recognise that children can be affected in a number of ways by a family member's substance misuse and that these problems can have severe negative consequences for the individuals as they grow up."

Town’s media and PR manager Camilla Haycock, added: "When you hear that so many children in Suffolk are affected by the consequences of addictions in their family, it emphasises just how important campaigns like NORCAS's Too Much Too Young appeal are for the community.

“Ipswich Town is delighted to be involved in helping to launch the appeal in Ipswich and continuing with their support this season."

Collins and Martin signed autographs for staff and clients at NORCAS’s Lower Brook Street offices, with issues of addiction and football having been in the spotlight at Town recently with Michael Chopra having sought the help of the Sporting Chance Clinic regarding his gambling.

Centre-half Collins says he can see how footballers might end up with these sorts of problems: “I think in sport there is a lot of pressure. You’re paid a lot of money, but people are expecting a lot of you.

“At our place we get 20,000 people there each week. When we went out and were 3-0 down to Doncaster after 35 minutes people were walking out and booing us.

“People voice their opinions at us in our job. Certain players find it easier to get away from the pressure through drugs and drink I suppose. Touch wood I’ve not been one of them yet.”

He says their daily routine can also lead players into bad habits: “You have a lot of spare time on your hands as well. You finish training at one o’clock. Lads go home and some of them can’t just go home and relax.

“There are players here who I know, I’m not going to name names, who find it hard to just sit down and watch telly. They’ve always got to be active.

“What are the options? The bookies or the pub for a few hours. It’s easy to see how lads can be distracted.

“It’s a lot to do with personal will power and the people who you’ve got round you as well, friends and family, who can help keep you on the right track.”

The 31-year-old, who was at Stoke with Matthew Etherington, who has also addressed problems with gambling, says the dressing room has a role to play in helping a player’s recovery from an addiction: “If one of the boys likes to go out and have a pint the lads will laugh and a joke but if there are times when he’s struggling and he needs a bit of help, then they’ll have a word with him and say ‘listen mate, if you need to come over to the house and have a bit of tea round mine…’, just to put an arm around him.

“I’m living in a hotel on my own at the moment, I’m happy to get on with my own company but I know other lads who need a bit of TLC.”

Collins says Etherington can be an example to Chopra as he fights his demons: “Matty is over it now. He doesn’t bet. When we’re on the bus having a friendly game of cards even for no money, he won’t even get involved.

“He says he can’t in case it leads him back on to the gambling. Matty’s put it all to bed and he’s sorted himself out now because he was in trouble with it.

“I’ve known Chops for a few years because I was at Sunderland with him. He’s a good lad, he’s always wanted to do well and is one of those that when he gets a spare bit of time can’t just relax.

“He always wants to be doing something, he can’t just sit down and watch a DVD or something, he’s an active lad.

“He’s been away for a couple of weeks and hopefully now he’s on the right track and we can try and help him, look after him and put an arm round him.”

If you would like to donate to the NORCAS Too Much Too Young appeal visit www.norcas.org.uk or contact Matt Wilson at m.wilson@norcas.org.uk.

Photo: Action Images

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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