Gambling Addiction PODCAST #22: 'I'd Roam Around Sheffield Looking for 20p' - James Grimes Story

In this episode of The Invisible Addiction Podcast, James Grimes shares his highly relatable gambling addiction story.

James is former football youth coach with Sheffield United, Doncaster Rovers and Peterborough United among his former clubs, and so I wanted to find out more. ⚽️

- How did gambling get in the way of a promising coaching career?

- How did James stop gambling and get help?

- How did he start The Big Step? 🤔

‘I lost all my student loan and grant the day I got it’ – James Grimes

‘I’d roam around Sheffield looking for 20p’ – James Grimes

‘I want people to know it’s not your own fault’ – James Grimes

James shares a story that will be highly relatable to many - James started gambling via football accumulators, then started betting on the roulette machine in bookies, and then started betting online, on football matches at all hours of the day around the world. 🌎

James is now one of the UK’s leading campaigners who’s tackling footballs relationship with gambling. He formed The Big Step, which is a campaign he founded with Gambling with Lives.

You can find out more about The Big Step, including information about their upcoming walk from Scotland to Wembley. 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

ℹ️ LINKS ℹ️

Website: https://the-bigstep.com/home

Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_bigstep

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebigstepdotcom/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_bigstep/

Thanks so much for listening!

Alex 😄

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⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:20 James Grimes introduction

05:39 How did you start gambling?

28:13 What were the first steps of recovery like?

39:15 Would you like to see football end its relationship with gambling?

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With very special thanks to the sponsors of this episode, TalkBanStop.

✅ TalkBanStop is a partnership between GamCare, Gamban and GAMSTOP to help anyone experiencing gambling harms to start their recovery journey.

Website: https://www.gamcare.org.uk/talk/​

National Gambling Helpline (Open 24/7): 0808 8020 133