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TONY KELLY’S life once sunk so low that he plotted to rob a bank.

He sat down with his brother, of all people, to pick the branch he intended to steal from, the tools he would use (a knife) and what was the best time to strike.

And the reason for contemplating such utter madness? Gambling.

It had taken such a tight grip on him that he felt he had no other option but to take desperate steps to settle some of his debts.

Chances are he won’t be alone in having reached such a low point.

But what makes Kelly’s story particularly worth hearing is that he has not only survived his addiction, but he is now using his experiences to educate others on the perils and dangers of a problem that is like a cancer sweeping through society.

Last month, this column examined the role of gambling in sport and took to task golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson for their vulgar head-to-head clash in Las Vegas.

That prompted Kelly to get in touch and this column makes no apology for returning to the subject.

He was once a professional footballer with a bright future. Alan Ball signed him for Stoke and he had the potential to have it all. But instead, he blew it – £500,000 to be precise. As well as the money, he also lost his partner and children, was forced to declare himself bankrupt in 2010 and was verging on suicidal.

In the end his faith saved him and the devout Christian has used his second chance in life to become a power of good, steering youngsters away from the path he once trod.

He wrote a book about his experiences called Red Card. But he didn’t stop there and went on to form the Red Card Gambling Support Project (RCGSP).

With Lottery funding, Kelly and his eight-strong team that includes addiction specialists have been able to stage regular workshops for schools and other organisations across London, aimed at promoting gambling awareness and