The Battle Goes on For Paul McGrath

[eamonn]

Keep in mind, addiction of any form is often the symptom of a much deeper problem. Nobody goes out and consciously aims to become an alcoholic, it happens as a result of some other issue.

Heīs crippled by a shyness which I guess manifested itself originally when he was growing up as a black kid in a Dublin orphanage. Havenīt read the book since it came out but Iīm sure thereīs more on it in there.

I hope the launch of his video goes better than his role as guest-speaker at a fundraiser for my local team when his book came out. Walked up to the mic halfway through the night, apologising and crying for being pissed and not able to carry out the job. It was tragic and very upsetting. The local team went to the wall two months later, and looking at the tears in the chairmanīs eyes that night I think he knew what was coming.

I was at the airport this afternoon and bought The Irish Independent just for this article, wouldnīt normally touch the rag.

[villan1975]

Absolute legend,best player i have ever seen in the flesh.Would love nothing more than to see him clean sober and back at villa park introduced to the fans before a game.Hope he keeps on fightin.

[ROBBO]

There's a guy at my golf club who has been clean for twenty years he says he cannot remember his kids growing up, he has taken a couple of young guys who were giving all the signs of heading the same way and explained to them what their life could become, they both no longer drink alcahol.
It is an addiction a terrible addiction and those of us that can have a few drinks and walk away will never completely understand  it. The guy at the golf club took took thirty years to stop lets hope Paul will find it's never too late.

[Lizz]

There's a guy at my golf club who has been clean for twenty years he says he cannot remember his kids growing up, he has taken a couple of young guys who were giving all the signs of heading the same way and explained to them what their life could become, they both no longer drink alcahol.
It is an addiction a terrible addiction and those of us that can have a few drinks and walk away will never completely understand  it. The guy at the golf club took took thirty years to stop lets hope Paul will find it's never too late.

It's good those young guys have given up alcohol as they've been made aware of the pitfalls and they were on the verge of probably becoming alcoholics. One of the difficulties with dealing with addictions is assuming there's a one size fits all solution. I'm the kind of person that if there's a sign telling me to keep off the grass, my initial reaction is why, even if I recognise I should.

[Rich6by7]

Hopefully a few more of our less intelligent supporters will read this and think twice before joining in with "on the piss milord".

I wouldn't hold your breath mate.

I'm not holding my breath sadly. I imagine that'll be the soundtrack of the Holte for a while yet.

[Dazvillain]

So upsetting....nothing more than "Paul McGrath my lord, Paul McGrath" from me for certain. He deserves that at least

[peter w]

Well if people don't join in with the other verses then it will die its own death. There are a few yoot on here that do sing the song and if they want to be dicks then they will never get what Paul McGrath meant to us as a player, and means to us as an actual all time Villa legend. Quite simply, without any equals - our best player.

[Irish villain]

That was painful reading. Having read is book a couple of years ago I felt certain he would overcome is troubles. It's very sad to see that he hasn't and I really hope he comes out on top soon.

[ianburnip]

Ditto all the "on the piss" related comments. The chant is a disgrace and I haven't ever sung it in full. I'll sing the first bit, and maybe any other humorous bits toward the end, but the whole middle bit about one of our legends being an alcoholic? No, I don't think so.

Would, however much I hate them, Man U fans sing about Best being a train-wreck? I think not.

Time for us to stop this abomination of a chant.

[jonzy85]

The quote from his neighbour "You used to be my hero" really resonates.

I had a run in with Paul about a month ago in Dublin. Was out for dinner with a girl and this guy comes out of the toilet making a scene and made his way over to our table. It then dawned on me who it was.

I was literally sitting there mouth open, not knowing what to do. I was somewhere between getting up telling him how much of legend he is and telling to piss off away from our table and stop hassling us. Girl I was with was completely bemused by both him and me...she didnt realise who it was!

The staff in the restaurant were really god with him in fairness, just trying to usher him out quietly. If it was anyone else the Gardai would have been called.

I have, like many, read his autobiography and found it quite moving but when you someone like that fallen so hard right in front of you it really puts it into focus. I only told a few family and friends about it at the time, but having read that interview, I suppose the cat is out of the bag again, if it ever was back in. I have to say that what could have been viewed as funny story about my date being ruined, anyone i talked to about it found it incredibly sad.

Think it shows how loved he is by so many people, particularly in Ireland and amongst Villa fans of course that it almost feels like a family member that has fallen so hard.

[peter w]

Maybe what he needs is to really feel like he's hit rock-bottom. That he isn't given the 'love' that he is shown. Maybe then he'll realise that he has no-one and nowhere to turn to. Maybe that will be what is needed to get him doing it for himself, at the moment too many people are there to help catch when he falls every time.

[Small Rodent]

I'm pretty certain the 'on the piss' reference is as much to do with the state of those singing it as it is McGrath but I would have hoped that the song had died a natural death at this stage. It's dull and the 'empty seats' part in particular leaves us wide open to ridicule from other clubs.

Yeah, it's quite possible the song could've morphed over the years to "on the piss", meaning us, the fans.  After all, "Istanbul" and "Empty seats" have no relevance to Paul McGrath.

Or maybe I'm being too generous.

[Irish villain]

I've heard a few stories like that Jonzy. Very sad.

[lordmcgrath5]

Like the book as a whole, a very sad and moving article.

It's tragic that Paul's still battling his demons, I keep hoping I'll see an article saying how he's coping well and staying off the drink. When the book came out, he seemed to be going through a good spell - probably the one referred to in the article - and you got the feeling that he might get his life under control in the long term.

Good luck Paul, you'll always be a legend to me.

[dave.woodhall]

Reading about the case it seems anyone else but Paul McGrath would have been castigated, and very likely imprisoned, for what he did. Maybe there are too many people always prepared to forgive him because of who he is, and maybe - I don't know - it might be for the best if, one day, someone did prosecute.