Billy Kenny: 'I'm angry with Everton for not looking after me'

Former Everton midfielder Billy Kenny has spoken candidly about the drinking culture that enveloped him as a teenager, his time in jail, his struggles with depression and how he got clean, in a must-read interview with the Guardian's Donald McRae.

Kenny, now 53, remains bitter about the way his boyhood club handled both his talent and his troubles, and he lays much of the blame at Everton's door.

"I was just a kid and no one was there for me. I'm angry with Everton for not looking after me. Listen, I'm no angel. I've played my part, but there are other people who played their part in the demise of Billy Kenny. So I'm still bitter and frustrated today, at the age of 53. It was an absolute waste of talent."

In the interview, Kenny recounts the drinking culture that took hold during his teenage years at the club, his subsequent imprisonment, his battles with depression and the journey that eventually led him to sobriety.

His story serves as a stark reminder of the pressures faced by young footballers and the responsibility clubs carry for the welfare of the players they bring through their ranks.