Arsenal and England legend graces Plainmoor for a special night

It is not often Torquay United get to host a Premier League champion, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup winner and a player with 24 England caps, but that all changed with a recent visit from Arsenal legend Paul Merson.

Now a familiar face on TV as a Sky Sports pundit, Merson enjoyed a rollercoaster career, on and off the pitch.

His immense talent as a player was never in doubt but he also famously battled with addiction to gambling, alcohol and drugs. All those stories were told to a engrossed audience at Plainmoor’s Boots & Laces bar, and Torbay Weekly publisher Chris Coward was one of those in attendance.

“It was a thoroughly entertaining night,” said Chris. “Paul was brazenly open and honest about his own struggles but massively insightful about the game throughout his era and today.

“In addition to that, he was a natural raconteur who made even the serious stuff entertaining and gave thorough answers to the many questions.

“As always at these events, you find out new facts, and I had no idea that he was first and foremost a Chelsea fan who ended up making a career at Arsenal but still sees Chelsea as his number one club.”