Tubes: Overcoming Alcoholism, Surviving a Heart Attack, and How Golf Saved Me.

For the launch of Season 4, host Smithy is joined by Peter Dale, better known as Tubes to millions of fans from his work on Soccer AM. This season, we're on the road, and for episode one, our journey takes us to a place pivotal to Tubes' personal battle against addiction-his home golf course at Foxhills.
Despite his fun-loving on-screen persona, Tubes candidly opens up about his past struggles with alcohol addiction. He shares how drinking gave him the confidence boost he craved but soon spiralled out of control, negatively impacting on his relationships.
Tubes paints an unfiltered picture of life as a "functioning alcoholic"-planning his days around drinking, lying to loved ones, and feeling intense shame and anxiety. He discusses his turning point in 2015, when a traumatic incident forced him to admit he was an alcoholic and needed to quit for good.
During his recovery journey, Tubes experienced a shocking heart attack due to a previously undetected hole in his heart.
Now, over eight years sober, Tubes has replaced alcohol with a new passion- golf. He explains how the game has given him purpose, healthier coping mechanisms, and a new career post-Soccer AM.
Join us as we go #UnderTheSurface with Tubes for an intimate, inspiring discussion about addiction, recovery, and advice for those facing the same battles that Tubes once did.
00:00 Introduction
02:57 Early Issues with Alcohol: Soccer AM Fame at 16
08:43 Battling Alcohol Dependency: Planning His Life Around Drinking
14:44 Unveiling Hidden Struggles: The Charity Match Incident
16:45 Facing the Truth: Seeking Counselling and Confronting Lies
27:50 Reaching Rock Bottom: The Height of Addiction
30:52 A Life-Changing Wake-Up Call
41:12 Surviving a Health Crisis: Overcoming a Heart Attack
54:13 Gaining New Perspective: Reflecting on Missed Opportunities
59:07 Encouraging Others to Share Their Stories

[@blagger7664]

Love this interview. I have battled with addiction to drink and drugs for over 25 years. Im now about 14 months clean and sober. Up until I watched this video, I never considered myself an alcoholic. I thought of myself as a 'binge drinker'. But hearing the way tubes described an alcoholic, made me realise thats exactly what I was. Someone who couldn't control alcohol or deal with lifee without getting absolutely hammered, Thanks guys.

[@AJE-im6rr]

A great interview and refreshing to hear Tubes honesty. My brother gave up drinking 14 years ago for similar reasons and says it’s the biggest con in the world. Good luck to you both!

[@snookerstones]

Tubes is genuinely one of the nicest people in the world. You can tell he’ll always stop for photos and be polite to anyone who comes up to him.

[@wellers3429]

This is great! Tubes and smithy thank you! Pete had a hand to play in me getting sober in the early days of golf life and helped motivate me to keep clean. That's the booze, the drugs and the gambling and even smoking been knocked on the head. I don't count the days because I use to get obsessed with that but it's been a while now cheers lads

[@staytrue5307]

I'm currently drinking 2 litres of rum or vodka a day. I'm lost and broken. I'm stuck between worlds. If anyone knows what i mean by that i truly wish you well and i hope you find the right world by choice not by substance abuse. ❤

[@FIshfood500]

Have you tried AA?

[@user-up4qh3cf5j]

Please get yourself to AA or CA reach out there is a solution I’m now 3 and half years sober and clean 🩵🙏

[@Johnsy1989]

I'm rooting for you bro

[@staytrue5307]

@@Johnsy1989 Thanks dude. Appreciate it.

[@phaydon8256]

I feel you, I’m in the same boat but it won’t change anything just dull the pain. You need to break the cycle and it’s easier said than done but it’s for the best. I’m not gonna preach to you, just know you have people who have your back!! Even if you don’t know them.

[@deanbaxter8129]

I don't like Golf at all, but have wasted many hours in the last week watching Golf Life because I saw Tubes & co on Stephen Hendry's channel.......it's compulsive viewing and has made me fancy a game of Golf! What a bloke Tubes is....didn't know any of the things he's talked about in this interview. Stay strong mate!!!

[@scottcharlesworth1510]

Not one to normally comment on videos but what amazing honesty from Tubes and Smithy. I could relate to a lot of the themes spoken about and it’s so important that we have conversations like these. Props to you both.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Quit the drink when my youngest was born, best decision i ever made. Now im a grandad, it's been a few years.

[@davidwhittington9498]

Tubes is a legend we all watched him on Soccer AM and probably thought the same thing just a lad having a good time only to realise he had a problem and the troubles he's had. Love his honest and candid view on his life so pleased he's in a better place in his life now as we may not have had Golf Life so Tubes you golf life legend . Hats off to you mate 👏

[@JordanCarlin-qy5ed]

Love the honesty and maturity here. Men especially need to be more honest with their addictions. The honesty is so key in your journey of recovery

[@D1CE579]

What a legend,and Tubes if you see this,Golf Life is without doubt the best KZbin Golf channel out there mate.

[@matty832]

It’s scary how much I can relate to this he could quite literally be talking about me thankfully like Tubes I’ve given up

[@Stainodub]

Well done tubes mate, brilliant listen could relate to lots of characteristics with my own addiction struggles.

[@foxy7674.]

big up tubes respect up the golf life

[@Sparooga]

Brilliant and relatable in some ways. Big up the Golf Life Legends.

[@jc16094]

Legend! Appreciate the openness to talk about this

[@DOWNSYNDROMEDRAGQUEENS]

Hes actually a fantastic footballer is tubes real skill and ability

[@nc2933]

These podcasts deserve more attention.

[@rangerlcfc]

I drink 6 nights out of 7. Every morning I wake up and hate my self, n think ‘not tonight’. I go through the day not even thinking about having a drink. Yet I find myself drinking alone in the kitchen watching KZbin every night

[@jacksparrow8932]

Your words could have been written by me except I’m 7 out of 7 . In the kitchen watching KZbin. (Never spirits) 6 or 8 corona’s

[@mikedavo4008]

Same mate used to put away 16 to 20 bottles most nights get up go to work like a zombie dark times , was sober 3 years yesterday, I went to aa and made some changes for the better, u can do it mate but only u can good luck

[@rapmaca]

Such a legend! Not just of the golf life variety!

[@Brodin000]

Thanks very much for your honesty and integrity tubes, that's just what I needed to hear today. Inspiring stuff keep going mate. Love the channel and the golf stuff thanks mate.

[@robtalbot8060]

Love that man. Great interview Smithy. COYS

[@salsabil2]

Thanks for such an honest interview Pete.. really enjoyable and ATB mate.

[@murphyaj]

Such a powerful interview

[@davidwhittington9498]

That is so heartfelt 😢

[@dhvale9478]

Love what he said on the back end of this about loving golf but not watching it. My mate got me into golf about a year ago but for the life of me I just can't sit still and watch it. I'l watch highlights etc but for me I just want to be either on the range or on the course.

[@garethwilliams2897]

Brilliant Pete, Golf life is a stable of my life now aswell great content and my mate Rob Rock been on aswell 💪

[@user-up4qh3cf5j]

Great cast keep going tubes in your recovery 👍

[@markwright4176]

Tubes talking facts. Have to respect him.

[@MISSION315]

Great honest interview, interesting and revealing 😮

[@leegallimore8036]

So scary how it is relatable tubes is legend

[@paulleach7465]

STAND

[@pangaea13]

👏👏👏

[@AndrewJF99]

Loved that. I only encountered Tubes through Golf Life (and I don’t care for golf) but found his positivity engaging - had no idea he wasn’t just a random golf nut as I never watched Soccer AM. I have some of his alcohol traits so can connect with quite a bit of this but it’s a great example of how happy post booze people can be (heart attack aside!)

[@leedemetriou4648]

im 10 years clean 14 hc , i dont need AA lol i just don’t take the first drink, literally step one, i started substance abuse around 9 , was expelled from school, in trouble with the law , and went to rehab when i was 38, been clean since then, last 10 years struggled with gambling, and 2 weeks ago i was diagnosed with autism , i feel a little bit like i was failed by the system but hay hoe lets see what the future brings, i feel exactly what you where describing , it sounds like you are both on the spectrum maybe adhd too

[@k_rez]

Brilliant interview. To those e people sharing that they are in a bad way right now. Please hear this and know that it doesn’t have to be this way. It can be better.

[@ricksterk7014]

Nothing wrong with wearing a nappy Tubes

[@wernerziegler4837]

We’ll done tubes keep up the good work bro I’ve been in a similar situation with drink and drugs but I’m ploughing on,you might have lost 10/15 year but the next 15 are looking good ❤

[@justthetruth1]

Serious balls going to Turkey and asking for a Joleon Lescott 👏 ✌ 👏

[@peteflint7281]

Superb 👍

[@user-up4qh3cf5j]

Playing foxhills tomorrow great course golf also saved my life tubes I’m now 3 and half years clean and sober 🩵🙏✌️⛳️