Fallen Idle

Drink, women, drugs and attempted murder - the sensational story of the 1970s 'new George Best'

Peter Marinello was the footballing sensation of 1970. His record 100,000 transfer from Hibs to Arsenal made front page headlines and he was instantly hailed as the new George Best. Within weeks, he had appeared on Top of the Pops, secured a modelling contract and had his own football column in the Daily Express. But drinking and reckless behaviour were already a part of his life. In three years at Arsenal, Marinello played only 51 games and was eventually transferred to Portsmouth. More drinking, involvement with gangsters, his wife running off with a DJ, swindled out of all his money, bankruptcy, being arrested for attempted murder, having to buy heroin for his addicted son... From the highs, Peter Marinello's life plummeted to terrible lows until he pulled his life back round. It is an extraordinary story.