World Cup star left homeless on London streets after crippling crack addiction
From representing his country at a World Cup to sleeping on the streets of London – Welsh-born footballer Paul James says he is now treated with disgust and contempt following a crippling crack addiction that left him homeless.
Born in Cardiff in 1963, James went to the same school that would be attended by Gareth Bale and broke local records in athletics before immigrating to Canada at 16.
Now hanging on the wall of fame at Whitchurch High School alongside Geraint Thomas, Sam Warburton and Bale, James would go on to become one of the Canada's most decorated footballers with 46 caps and a CONCACAF winners' medal under his belt.
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He shared the pitch with the likes of Glenn Hoddle and Gary Lineker and marked France's Michel Platini at the 1986 World Cup. But James didn't expect what life had in store for him after retirement.
Having started all three of their group games in that tournament after helping Canada to the quarter-finals of the 1984 Olympics, James played for his country until 1993 having played for four different Canadian sides and briefly Doncaster Rovers at club level.
James' international career came to an end following a bribery scandal during a Singapore tournament in which he received then returned $10,000 before testifying against team-mates.
Having once held a promising coaching career, James has been unemployed for the past 13 years and without a permanent home for six – returning to the UK during the pandemic. James says he faced discrimination in Canada for his historic use of crack cocaine.
He was recently staying in a hostel near Holborn, as well as on scraps of cardboard at Charing Cross and Westminster Cathedral.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday while explaining how he 'fund-raises rather than begs' James said: "If you want to know what the look of utter contempt and disgust looks like, do this."
Asking why he chooses to ask for funds, James said: "To find and rekindle the passion, enthusiasm, and positivity I once had. And, on top of everything, to find an avenue to connect with people."
James admits to using cocaine for the first time back in 1998, with his addiction developing over the next decade having retired in 1993.
A six-year relationship came to an end before he began his recovery, after which he tried to take York University in Toronto to Ontario Human Rights Tribunal for what he claims was a lack of duty of care, which they have denied.
James went on several hunger strikes in taking his fight to the Canada Supreme Court in 2016 with his plight to get discrimination over historic drug use enshrined in law.
The former midfielder says he has reached out to former team-mates since his UK return, wearing jeans that were donated by QPR technical director Chris Ramsey.
Paul Peschisolido also took James a blanket and some food, as well as new trainers and a coat on his recent 59th birthday.
Sweeping the roads on Oxford Street provided some work until an old knee injury forced an end to it, with James asking people not to feel sorry for him.
James took part in the interview to try and help others in his position – and has sent emails to Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and FIFA president Gianni Infantino in his quest.
He concluded: "If I was to end my life tomorrow, which I won’t, people would understand. Because it’s been a f***ing brutality."
Streets of London report that 8,000 people sleep rough on the streets of London each year, click here to find out more about making a donation.
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