Warren Aspinall has put his gambling, boozing and an attempt at suicide behind him.

The former Albion and Carlisle midfielder has rebuilt his life and, with the help of his old boss at the Seagulls, rekindled his interest in football.

Aspinall represented Carlisle in the Masters indoor tournament for ex-players during the summer.

He combines a steady, full-time job with scouting for Micky Adams at Port Vale.

He will be 42 on Sunday and life feels good but that was not the case the Christmas before last, when Aspinall sat on a railway line near his Hampshire home waiting for a train to end his troubles.

Thoughts of his children, stepchildren, parents and fiancee rescued him from his punting and drinking-fuelled despair.

Aspinall spent a lifesaving fortnight in the Sporting Chance clinic, established by reformed alcoholic Tony Adams.

A few months later he spoke on a radio programme with brutal honesty about his tribulations and blowing at least £1million on gambling during a career which included spells with four current Premiership clubs – Wigan, Everton, Aston Villa and Portsmouth.

He revealed how the high stakes in card schools on the Pompey team coach included cars.

Aspinall found bearing his soul therapeutic. He said: “That is one of the main things I didn’t do when I was at it. I kept it inside and never told anybody and was sliding away from things “It is all going well for me now. I don’t drink and I don’t gamble and that is nearly two years now.

“I am back in football scouting for Micky at Port Vale and I have got a good job at Sainsbury’s distribution centre in Basingstoke.

“I see life differently. Before I was just in my own little world and nobody else mattered, not my children or anybody.

“Now it is completely different. I know if I don’t drink and gamble I’ll be fine.”

Aspinall will have more than a passing interest in tomorrow’s clash between two of his old clubs at Brunton Park.

He said: “I enjoyed it up there. My son, Lewis, was born up there and we won two promotions and reached the final of the Freight Rover Trophy.

“As for Brighton, I still speak to Charlie Oatway every other day. He is a good friend of mine and he is getting more involved in the first team.

“Guy Butters lives around the corner from me in Southampton as well. Micky did well for the club in my time there but sadly I had to end my career there when I caught MRSA in hospital.

“That was a bad time for me. I went in for an operation on some floating bone in my ankle. I advise anyone who wants to diet to catch MRSA. I lost two and a half stone.”

Aspinall has fond memories of his involvement in past meetings between Albion and Carlisle.

He said: “I scored for Carlisle against Brighton, that wonder goal at the Goldstone where I took it from my own penalty box, beat Kerry Mayo three times, nutmegged him twice and put it in the bottom corner!

“I think it came second on Sky’s goal of the season. Then I scored for Brighton when we went up there and won 1-0.”

It would be inappropriate in the circumstances to suggest Aspinall is backing Albion to stage a repeat.

He does, however, predict they can prevail, providing they take care of Carlisle’s throwback to his own playing days, veteran craftsman Graham Kavanagh. He said: “It is going to be a tough game for Brighton. It takes time for new players to bond.

“Carlisle have just won, although apparently that was against a poor Tranmere side, so they are going to be full of confidence.

“The travelling makes it tough as well but I think Brighton will come out winners. If they stop Kavanagh from playing – because he runs the show – then they will cut out Carlisle’s possession.”