Book Review: Back From The Edge: Mental Health and Addiction in Sport by Luke Sutton

A few years ago, I sat on the boundary edge at Chesterfield with the then Derbyshire coach and chatted about all things cricket.

It was a second team fixture, so afforded such an opportunity and the conversation moved on to the growing criticism of players on social media, especially on one platform, which was increasingly, at that time, a cause of concern.

The coach, who trusted me, went on to tell me about one player and the problems that he was currently experiencing in his personal life. It was fairly horrific and fully explained the dip in form that player was suffering, something to which the armchair critics were oblivious, of course.

And yet we should be, all of us. We all have bad days and periods in our lives when it appears that everyone and everything is against us. Our lives and performance suffer as a result, so why should it be different for sports stars? A job that many of us envy does not give them immunity to life's challenges.

That player wasn't Luke Sutton, but his brutally honest account of his struggles with alcohol and mental health issues should be compulsory reading for everyone who has ever gone onto social media to berate a player, irrespective of the sport. It is an important book that deserves a large audience, enabling a greater understanding of the subject among laypersons, inside and outside of sport.

To those of us on the boundary edge, Luke had it all. A good looking, super-fit sportsman from a privileged background, a reliable and admired county cricketer and sometime captain of the club, a man with a lovely partner and a future that seemed to be bright, in and out of the game. He was always approachable, friendly and professional, but that persona masked an increasing dependency on alcohol.

Like many others over the years, he partied hard and then trained harder still to get the nights of excess purged, but was tipped over the edge by the death of his partner, Nia, in a tragic car accident. It eventually saw him leave the county for a fresh start at Lancashire, but drinking became an increasing part of his life. Long nights became even longer days, mornings of waking up somewhere, anywhere - then starting all over again.

This is far from an easy read. How could it be, when you are a spectator at the gradual deterioration of a sporting hero? It cost Luke his marriage, yet it could, as his account of time spent in The Priory confirms, have ended so much worse.

His encounter with 'Jonathan', a successful lawyer who 'genuinely looked close to death' and knew he was drinking himself to an early grave is a harrowing one. Then again, so is the entire book, which is why people should read it. The list of sports personalities who have fallen foul of drink, drugs and addictions is a long one and continues to grow. Luke discusses several here, and while everyone wanted to be Gazza and chuckled at his excesses, his descent has been slow and painful. So too Robin Smith, whose battles with alcohol are well known. So too Ben Cousins, an Australian sporting deity with a nigh-perfect body, whose ability to party hard was 'admired', until it caught up with him and resulted in a  crippling drug addiction.

Don't buy this book expecting to see lots of anecdotes on Derbyshire cricket. It isn't that kind of book, though Luke tells of the 'incredible' support that he had from Dave Houghton in his time at the county. Things could have turned out very differently for him, except for interventions by Jimmy Anderson, Mark Chilton and Glen Chapple, who with their wives appear to have been wonderfully supportive.

The support of such friends is crucial for those facing mental health challenges and it is admirable that Luke, now a successful agent who has come through the other side and found love again, is brave enough to tell his story.

It shows what is possible, yet things could have turned out very differently. Indeed, for a long time that appears to have looked more likely.

He deserves great praise for his bravery in telling his story, warts and all.

At a time when mental health is slowly becoming less stigmatised and hidden, it is a very important read for all of us. With greater understanding comes acceptance and there are always people out there to help.

Back From The Edge: Mental Health and Addiction in Sport is written by Luke Sutton and published by Pen and Sword Books. It is available from all good booksellers, priced £12.99