Joey Barton says he woke up to his errors in prison

Dec 31 2009 by Adam Jupp, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United midfielder Joey Barton says being sent to prison has forced him to see the error of his ways.

The 27-year-old’s career has been blighted by controversy both on and off the pitch, most notably when he was jailed for attacking a reveller in Liverpool city centre. He says that incident alone – the last time he had a drink – cost him £500,000 and was the moment he decided to turn his life around.

Barton said: "I got arrested went to jail and I thought enough’s enough, this drinking lark’s costing me a load of money. My last night out probably cost me about £500,000 plus my reputation.

"I must have been as close as you can get to self-destruct. You just say, ‘is it worth it, is it worth for the sake of going out and having a pint, is it worth taking yourself into that zone where you can self-destruct?’"

Barton, signed for the Magpies from Manchester City, hit out at modern-day footballers, saying he has "never really lived in the real world." He said: "I meet a lot of them and they are so detached from real life it’s untrue. You can dress it up whichever way you want, but driving around in flash cars and changing them like they’re your socks, wearing stupid diamond watches and spending your money like it’s going out of fashion.