Destroyed by a football drinking culture: The sad story of Everton’s lost teenage genius Billy Kenny, the ‘Goodison Gazza’, charts the demise of Paul Gascoigne and Norman Whiteside. All three deserved better

Ian Herbert highlights the release of former Everton prodigy Billy Kenny's new autobiography, detailing how a toxic drinking culture derailed his career. Dubbed the 'Goodison Gazza,' Kenny showed exceptional promise at age 19 before succumbing to alcohol and cocaine addiction under former manager Howard Kendall's tenure. Herbert draws parallels to the career-affecting struggles of contemporaries Paul Gascoigne and Norman Whiteside.

Kenny was sacked by Everton in 1994 following a failed drug test after making just 23 appearances for the club. In his book, Kenny reflects on the lack of support, his brief spells at Oldham and Barrow, and how alternative mentorship under managers like Alex Ferguson might have altered his path.