ENGLAND legend Peter Shilton is set to lift the lid on his decades-long battle with a gambling addiction through the pages of a book he penned with his loving wife.

National footballing hero Shilton, who lives with his wife Steph in Mersea, has long campaigned to raise awareness of the damages caused by the destructive addiction.

The couple vows to shine a light on “football’s obsession with gambling” in their soon to be released story Saved: Overcoming a 45-Year Gambling Addiction.

Former goalkeeper Shilton, 71, who remains England’s most capped player, kicked his addiction in 2015 and is now working to raise the profile of the problem.

The book, which has a foreword by former player and TV presenter Gary Lineker, is available from September 16.

It is set to explore the secrecy and shame of Shilton’s 45 year battle with gambling, which almost destroyed his relationships and his mental health.

The book’s Amazon listing reads: “After a trophy-laden and record-setting club and international career, England’s greatest ever goalkeeper Peter Shilton could rightly look forward to an equally successful post-playing career.

“But a gambling habit forged in his playing days soon spiralled into a gambling addiction: a silent, self-destructive and ruinous obsession that destroyed relationships, his mental health and very nearly himself.

“With the love and support of his wife Steph, he was able to face up to his addiction, find hope for the future and overcome his 45 year secret and turn his life around.

Peter and Steph – who has over 20 years’ experience working in the NHS – now campaign to raise awareness of this and other destructive addictions, helping both addicts and their partners weather the long and arduous journey back to recovery.”

The book will show both sides of the couple’s story with “direct honesty and an empathy born of real-life experience”.

The listing adds: “They also shine a light on football’s obsession with gambling, taking millions of pounds from the gambling sites and bookies who sponsor the game, while neglecting to support both the players and fans who fall prey to addiction.

“This is the ultimately uplifting story of how he was saved.”