Ex-Liverpool and Arsenal star Jermaine Pennant reveals childhood trauma, after Dele Alli’s story

Jermaine Pennant has opened up on his own childhood trauma following Dele Alli’s own story. 

Alli revealed his struggles with addiction and abuse as a child in a tell-all interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, speaking candidly throughout an understandably emotional conversation with his former England coach. 

As well as a spell in a US rehabilitation facility this summer after growing addicted to sleeping pills, the Everton star lifted the lid on a childhood that saw him become involved with drugs at the age of eight.

Now, Pennant has shared his own story, admitting that he was ‘happy’ and ‘glad’ that Alli was able to open up on his past, adding that he could relate to what the ex-Tottenham midfielder had been through. 

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Pennant told his own story of trauma in his youth, with his mother abandoning him as a three-year-old, before his father’s own involvement with drugs saw him become neglected by a second parent. 

Jermaine Pennant revealed his own traumatic childhood after hearing Dele Alli’s story

In an emotional tell-all interview with Gary Neville for The Overlap Alli admitted to having an addiction to sleeping pills

‘What I’d do, I’d play up,’ Pennant began. ‘Because I had so much trauma and so much darkness inside me that no one never knew

‘I was embarrassed to tell my story, what I went through, where I came from, what I saw. 

‘I was abandoned by my mother when I was three, my father had me on weekends and when he took me back and my mum was never there.

‘My father raised me to the best of his abilities and I was around six or seven, he then neglected me.

‘So I would take myself to school, make my own dinners, which was Cornflakes. It got to the point where my mates would call me “The Cornflake Kid”, because that’s all I’d eat.

‘Then my dad got into drugs, people coming in an out of the house, I’d say he was an addict. So I had no mum, no father, surrounded by drugs, guns and crime.’

Pennant’s career began with Notts County before being signed to the Gunners in 1999. 

The now-40-year-old left north London for good in 2005 after a number of loan spells for Birmingham, although just one year later he was signed by Liverpool. 

And although growing up a Reds supporter, Pennant revealed that he struggled with depression despite the dream move, as his traumatic childhood continued to impact his playing career. 

‘I couldn’t handle certain situations,’ Pennant added. ‘When I signed for Liverpool, in my second year I spoke to my agent. Obviously as a Liverpool fan from a kid, it was a dream come true. But I had a conversation where I said, “I don’t know why I’m unhappy, I don’t understand it”.

‘I’ve got everything I want, an amazing house, play for the club I’ve dreamed about as a little kid but I was depressed. Because I had so much hurt and trauma as a child that I never got over.

The former Tottenham star also spoke out about how he was molested as a young boy, aged six 

Pennant played 24 times for the England Under 21 team and was signed by Arsenal aged 15 before leaving in 2005

‘It was causing me so much pain and when things weren’t going great on the pitch, I’d unleash it in any way possible.

‘I’d want to go out, to be around people, I’d try anything as pain relief, to get drunk, binge drink, to numb the pain.’

In January 2005, Pennant was handed a 90-day prison sentence after pleading guilty to drink-driving and driving without insurance, violating a 16-month driving ban picked up in February 2004.

Although he was released after just 30 days, he was required to wear an electronic tag at all times including when on the pitch. 

But rather than visits from his father when in prison, it was then-Birmingham manager Steve Bruce that was there for the player, who Pennant revealed wanted to come and see him, rather than talk him into signing for the Blues. 

‘I was on loan at Birmingham and was sent to prison for 30 days and Steve wanted me to sign,’ he continued.

‘He came to visit me in prison, he said, “I want to come and see you”. Not to talk about signing for Birmingham.

‘It was weird because everyone knew who he was. Everyone was looking around in the meeting room but that meant a lot.

‘My father didn’t come. He wasn’t there. What Dele is saying about Poch [Mauricio Pochettino], I had the same with Steve. He understood me.

Steve Bruce – while manager of Birmingham City – visited Pennant during his 30 days in prison

Pennant admits he had a similar relationship with Bruce to Alli’s with Mauricio Pochettino

‘That was probably one of the best periods of my career, got a move to Liverpool off the back of it.

‘Most managers that I have had have thrown me away, go and train with the kids, never had a conversation where they’d ask me if I was alright, everything alright in the head, everything okay at home?

‘No one has ever asked that question, they just thought, “you are a bad lad and I’m going to punish you”.’

Pennant’s career would see him feature for 15 different clubs in four different countries, racking up over 350 league appearances. 

He eventually hung up his boots in 2018 after a stint with non-league side Billericay Town, 19 years after first signing for Arsenal aged 15.

But having endured a traumatic childhood – which he openly admits has influenced his life as an adult – he credits seeking professional help with aiding him turning his prospects around. 

‘I thought I was a loose cannon. That is who I am, I make mistakes, I’m not trustworthy and my life was falling apart.

‘Things sometimes just didn’t change. I was going over things and making the same mistakes. I thought, “what am I doing? How many kids would give an arm and a leg to be a professional footballer?”

The 40-year-old admitted to feelings of depression when playing at Liverpool, despite growing up a Reds supporter

‘Why do I keep making mistakes? What is wrong with me? Again, I didn’t understand the trauma, I didn’t understand ADHD [Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. I was only diagnosed last year.

‘I went to a therapist to try get some answers and I did and it has helped amazingly. They did this test with me called an ACE test.

‘They ask you ten questions and the higher you are, the higher risk you are of health risks such as alcoholism, drug use, depression, suicide.

‘I scored nine out of ten, I was like ‘wow’ when they told me and without help, I would have continued to make the same mistakes.’

Dele Alli was talking to The Overlap in partnership with Sky Bet