Soccer AM legend Tubes bravely opens up on the extent of his past alcohol addiction as he admits he ‘knew every pub’ and hid extent of the issue from his Sky colleagues
- Tubes worked at Sky Sports for 21 years before leaving the broadcaster last year
- He suffered from alcohol addiction, but has been sober for several years
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Football AM legend Tubes has opened up about the extent of his crippling alcohol addiction and his attempts to hide the dependency from his Sky colleagues.
The popular presenter, who spent 21 years at Sky before leaving the broadcaster last year, struggled with alcoholism for a number of years and even admitted to trying to jump in front of a moving car at the height of his addiction.
Tubes – real name Peter Dale – has been sober for several years, but in an emotional interview with fellow broadcaster and friend Adam Smith, he exposed the severity of his drinking, which affected his nights out with the Sky Sports team.
“I would get such a buzz. My favorite was vodka,” Tubes said on the channel Under the Surface podcast, via the Original Penguin EU YouTube channel. ‘I’d go all the way back to London and I’d know which pub was opening. I would know everything. It was so bad.
‘Until today I have never looked into it so deeply. I knew every bar. We used to go for a drink in Balham on a Thursday evening and also in the pub at Sky.
Football AM legend Tubes has bravely opened up about the extent of his past alcohol addiction
The popular presenter, whose real name is Peter Dale, struggled with alcoholism for years
‘I always said, ‘I’m going to get some cigarettes.’ What I actually did… I knew I was going to drink, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop.
“I was actually going to buy the little miniatures.”
Tubes previously admitted his addiction had affected his mental health and after drinking bottles of vodka ‘as drinking water’ he attempted suicide.
‘It was a joke. “I’m not going to lie and I hate to say it, but the number of times I wanted to end it because it could completely ruin me,” he said on YouTube channel “Tubes Golf Life.” “One time I was angry and tried to run from a moving car.”
Continuing to celebrate the sobriety, he added, “Do I feel better now? 100 percent.
Tubes was a regular on Soccer AM before the historic show closed last year
The broadcaster interviewed a host of footballers and received a cake from Ilkay Gundogan
‘I love life, I have a good life. I love my job, I love my friends, I love my family and it’s a great life. I am now on a flat keel. There are no more ups and really huge lows.’
Mailsport revealed last year that Soccer AM, a staple of the game for many supporters, would air its final episode after almost 30 years of running.
Tubes was originally an assistant producer on the swashbuckling show, but after becoming known for his short comedy appearances, he was given a bigger role. Each week he interviewed guests in his “one question and one question only” segment.
He was presented with a cake by Ilkay Gundogan during a visit to Manchester City’s training ground last season and wrote an emotional farewell message.
Soccer AM was replaced by Sky’s light-hearted morning show, Saturday Social.
For support, call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch or visit the Samaritans website.