faddy the blue
Player Valuation: £35m
“The lads kept coming up to Smudger, who’s always been tee-total, and me asking us if we wanted to push the boat out and have double blackcurrants.
But that’s just the way it is for me these days and I am happy with it. To be among the lads when they’re drinking isn’t a problem, although sometimes I wonder if I’m acting a bit of a nugget around them.
“I know my path and can see quite clearly where I want to go.”
Barton has chosen the alcohol-free route towards footballing redemption and, so far, he is winning his personal battle.
Indeed, for someone who has been ravaged by injuries for the past six months and played a bit part in Newcastle’s Championship-winning campaign, his verdict on recent times is surprisingly upbeat.
“As a player, it’s been a tough year, but, as a person, it’s been a good one, a bloody good one,” he said. “I am quite happy with my life right now and the people involved in it and that will be great for Newcastle because a happy Joey Barton is a decent player.’’
The 27-year-old has always talked a good game, but these days sobriety dictates his life off the pitch.
After serving a prison sentence for assault two years ago, Barton realised that alcohol was the root cause of all his evils.
“Some people can handle their ale. I can’t do that,’’ he said. “The reason I can’t drink is because I cannot legislate for what is going to happen.
“I don’t have responsibility for my actions when I drink and I can’t afford to make the same mistakes again. Staying off alcohol keeps me out of places where you are likely to find trouble.
“A wise man once said to me, ‘Keep going to the barbers and you’ll eventually get a haircut’. That’s true, so if I’m not out drinking in nightclubs, the risks of getting into bother are greatly reduced.
I live a monk-like existence flitting between the training ground and the golf course and have a bit of interest in horse racing.
“But I’m aware that because of things that have happened, there will always be a target painted on my back.
“When you have been through the trials and tribulations I have, you come out of it one of two ways. You either completely break down and self-implode or you say, ‘Yeah, I’ve screwed up, but there is a chance to come back’.
“It’s about me finding things to fill out spaces and that makes me more productive as a person and once I am fit and get a sustained run in the team, more productive on the pitch, too.”
His interest in horse racing led to a reconciliation with Alan Shearer, who had banished him from the club last April after a bust-up following Barton’s sending-off at Liverpool.
He added: “We met up at Redcar races because we had horses running in the same race. It was Alan who approached me and we shook hands and talked.
“I’ve seen him numerous times since and there’s not been a problem. We’d actually played golf on several occasions before he came in as manager at the end of last season and we’d always got on well.
“He was disappointed with that stupid tackle because he had placed so much faith in me. Did I think I’d played my last game for the club? I don’t know, but I do seem to be the great survivor.”
Barton will spend the summer months playing as much golf as girlfriend Georgia will allow him. “I tell her the course is my sanctuary and I can’t get into trouble there,” he added, admitting that for the first time in three years he can look forward with confidence.
“Yeah, you could say I’ll enjoy this summer a bit better than the last two,” he said.
“Twelve months ago, we were relegated and I didn’t know what the future held for me, and two years ago I knew I was facing prison.
“That was scary and even now I wonder how I got through it. The flip side is that it was my own fault and I got what I deserved.
“I took the punishment on the chin and have tried to become a better man since. For some people that will never be enough, but today I am satisfied with who I am and the journey I’ve had to take.
My reward was last Monday night when we clinched the title at Plymouth. And when we were presented with the Championship trophy after the Ipswich game, it was a very special moment for all of us, though most of the lads deserved their medals a lot more than me because they’ve had so much more to do with our success.
“There’s a family feel about the place now and most of us will be mates for life.
“I can honestly say I have never been in a better dressing room, even in my schooldays.”
Barton knows that to some of his critics he will always be known as football’s baddest boy and that suits him fine.
He said: “A lot of kids won’t look at the Beckhams and the Owens as role models. Maybe they’ll look at Joey Barton and think, ‘He made lots of mistakes, he went to jail and he came back’.
“That’s what drives me on – to be a shining light to people who messed up.”
Pretty long ths article and I didn't go through the whole of it myself but I'm confused here and maybe would stop hating him and forgive him. I know how I used to get into trouble in juniour school,fights and all that stuff and caused massive trouble to my parents back then but now even when I had my ankle ligaments ruptured last year in football match due to a horrific challenge I didn't get all roaring in agony and wanting to beat down the guy.
Just saying that you can change and maybe,just maybe Joey Barton will. It's his last chance.
But that’s just the way it is for me these days and I am happy with it. To be among the lads when they’re drinking isn’t a problem, although sometimes I wonder if I’m acting a bit of a nugget around them.
“I know my path and can see quite clearly where I want to go.”
Barton has chosen the alcohol-free route towards footballing redemption and, so far, he is winning his personal battle.
Indeed, for someone who has been ravaged by injuries for the past six months and played a bit part in Newcastle’s Championship-winning campaign, his verdict on recent times is surprisingly upbeat.
“As a player, it’s been a tough year, but, as a person, it’s been a good one, a bloody good one,” he said. “I am quite happy with my life right now and the people involved in it and that will be great for Newcastle because a happy Joey Barton is a decent player.’’
The 27-year-old has always talked a good game, but these days sobriety dictates his life off the pitch.
After serving a prison sentence for assault two years ago, Barton realised that alcohol was the root cause of all his evils.
“Some people can handle their ale. I can’t do that,’’ he said. “The reason I can’t drink is because I cannot legislate for what is going to happen.
“I don’t have responsibility for my actions when I drink and I can’t afford to make the same mistakes again. Staying off alcohol keeps me out of places where you are likely to find trouble.
“A wise man once said to me, ‘Keep going to the barbers and you’ll eventually get a haircut’. That’s true, so if I’m not out drinking in nightclubs, the risks of getting into bother are greatly reduced.
I live a monk-like existence flitting between the training ground and the golf course and have a bit of interest in horse racing.
“But I’m aware that because of things that have happened, there will always be a target painted on my back.
“When you have been through the trials and tribulations I have, you come out of it one of two ways. You either completely break down and self-implode or you say, ‘Yeah, I’ve screwed up, but there is a chance to come back’.
“It’s about me finding things to fill out spaces and that makes me more productive as a person and once I am fit and get a sustained run in the team, more productive on the pitch, too.”
His interest in horse racing led to a reconciliation with Alan Shearer, who had banished him from the club last April after a bust-up following Barton’s sending-off at Liverpool.
He added: “We met up at Redcar races because we had horses running in the same race. It was Alan who approached me and we shook hands and talked.
“I’ve seen him numerous times since and there’s not been a problem. We’d actually played golf on several occasions before he came in as manager at the end of last season and we’d always got on well.
“He was disappointed with that stupid tackle because he had placed so much faith in me. Did I think I’d played my last game for the club? I don’t know, but I do seem to be the great survivor.”
Barton will spend the summer months playing as much golf as girlfriend Georgia will allow him. “I tell her the course is my sanctuary and I can’t get into trouble there,” he added, admitting that for the first time in three years he can look forward with confidence.
“Yeah, you could say I’ll enjoy this summer a bit better than the last two,” he said.
“Twelve months ago, we were relegated and I didn’t know what the future held for me, and two years ago I knew I was facing prison.
“That was scary and even now I wonder how I got through it. The flip side is that it was my own fault and I got what I deserved.
“I took the punishment on the chin and have tried to become a better man since. For some people that will never be enough, but today I am satisfied with who I am and the journey I’ve had to take.
My reward was last Monday night when we clinched the title at Plymouth. And when we were presented with the Championship trophy after the Ipswich game, it was a very special moment for all of us, though most of the lads deserved their medals a lot more than me because they’ve had so much more to do with our success.
“There’s a family feel about the place now and most of us will be mates for life.
“I can honestly say I have never been in a better dressing room, even in my schooldays.”
Barton knows that to some of his critics he will always be known as football’s baddest boy and that suits him fine.
He said: “A lot of kids won’t look at the Beckhams and the Owens as role models. Maybe they’ll look at Joey Barton and think, ‘He made lots of mistakes, he went to jail and he came back’.
“That’s what drives me on – to be a shining light to people who messed up.”
Pretty long ths article and I didn't go through the whole of it myself but I'm confused here and maybe would stop hating him and forgive him. I know how I used to get into trouble in juniour school,fights and all that stuff and caused massive trouble to my parents back then but now even when I had my ankle ligaments ruptured last year in football match due to a horrific challenge I didn't get all roaring in agony and wanting to beat down the guy.
Just saying that you can change and maybe,just maybe Joey Barton will. It's his last chance.
