England legend Peter Shilton, who held the record for the most capped England player for decades, kept a devastating gambling addiction secret from his wife that nearly destroyed his second marriage. The 77-year-old former goalkeeper lost millions over a 45-year habit, with losses including £18,000 in a single month and £800,000 to one betting company alone.
Shilton, who earned 125 England caps, will see his record broken tonight when Three Lions captain Harry Kane becomes the first player to reach 126 caps for his country. The former Nottingham Forest and England number one is expected to make a special appearance at Wembley when the team face Croatia, stepping onto the pitch to present something to Kane.
Record tribute to Kane
Paying tribute to the striker, Shilton said: "I've had the record for a long time so it's been the norm but records are there to be beaten. Really, I couldn't think of anyone better than Harry [to beat it] not only because of his football record but also the type of person that he is. He's been a great professional and has an impeccable CV."
He added: "I am going. I think I will be going on to the pitch to present him with something but I am not 100 per cent sure about that. I congratulate Harry but it's been nice for people to recognize that I held the record who may not have done."
Shilton was 40 when he appeared at the 1990 World Cup to claim his 125th cap. He retired from professional football in 1997 after playing his last season at Leyton Orient at age 48, and from the national team in 1990.
A secret addiction revealed
Shilton was married to his first wife, Sue Flitcroft, for 40 years before the couple announced their split in 2011. He married former jazz singer Stephanie Hayward in 2016. It was Stephanie, a former NHS manager, who spotted her husband making secret phone calls and grew concerned, initially fearing he was having an affair.
The truth was more harrowing. Stephanie discovered Peter was losing huge amounts of money, and she knew she had to act before it further harmed his wellbeing. She told the Mirror: "You could tell by the mood swings. I could tell when he had money and when he didn't. I knew he was going through mental anguish. He later said he had times where he wanted to be sick in the morning. It definitely affected him physically. In the thick of it, he lost weight and looked older than he was."
When she discovered the issue, Stephanie said Shilton was in "complete denial" about the extent of his problem and that there were times "I cried myself to sleep".
Road to recovery
When Shilton tried to go cold turkey from gambling and experienced withdrawal symptoms, he accepted he needed help. Stephanie said: "People don't think of it as a health problem, but it's like heroin addiction. I'd seen people go through drug withdrawal and it was exactly the same – the restlessness, inability to concentrate and hot sweats."
The process was draining for Stephanie, who admitted: "I felt very alone through it. It sapped my energy." However, she was determined to help her husband recover, reassuring him it was an illness and telling him to take up golf. It took a year before Shilton was well again, and Stephanie said the transformation in her husband was dramatic, with him looking "10 years younger".
