Jeremy Kyle today staged a dramatic ‘celebrity intervention’ on his chat show with Kenny Sansom, as it was revealed the troubled ex-footballer nearly died after his mother's funeral.

The 57-year-old former England and Arsenal defender appeared on the programme following a long battle with alcoholism that has lasted more than three decades and left him homeless.

Father-of-three Sansom - who won 86 caps for his country - turned up drunk at his mother's funeral last year, before later collapsing and having a fit, his emotional sister Mary revealed on the show.

Jeremy Kyle appearance: Former England and Arsenal defender Kenny Sansom appeared on the ITV chat show following a long battle with alcoholism that has lasted more than three decades and left him homeless

Chat show: Father-of-three Sansom - who won 86 caps for his country - turned up drunk at his mother's funeral last year, before later collapsing and having a fit, his emotional sister Mary (centre) revealed on the show

'I didn't want to be around': Sansom wanted to 'fall asleep forever' but has now been sober for three months

She said: 'Kenny was drunk. [Later at a] hall where we had a few drinks with the family, he collapsed and we had to get an ambulance. We were all grieving and again the focus was all on him.'

And grandfather Sansom told the ITV show: 'I'm here to first of all tell people that I've let down to say sorry. I'm going to try and do something for them, but I'm sorry I've let a lot of people down.'

The London-born footballer, who has also gambled away his fortune, added: 'All I wanted to do was lay down drink as much as I could and fall asleep forever. I didn't want to be around.'

Sansom, who has spent time sleeping on a park bench after drinking seven bottles of wine a day, said: 'I enjoy getting drunk to forget about the problems because I'm a coward and I'm scared of life.'

Later in the show, which also featured his friend Tom, he explained: 'If something in my life happens that hurts me, I get knocked back about 10ft, and to get back about 10ft I need the wine to get back.'

The programme also featured a long discussion involving Kyle trying to persuade Sansom to attend a rehabilitation centre for 12 weeks - but the footballer insisted he was 'scared' and could not go.

Talk: The show involved a long discussion involving Kyle (second right) trying to persuade Sansom (centre) to attend a rehabilitation centre for 12 weeks - but the footballer insisted he was 'scared' and could not go

Relapse: Last August Sansom was spotted swigging wine from a bottle while sitting on a park bench just three weeks after claiming he had gone without alcohol for a month after spending time in a rehab clinic

However Kyle's resident psychotherapist Graham Stanier kept in touch with Sansom and eventually convinced him to attend The Perry Clayman Project in Luton a few days after filming the show.

All I wanted to do was lay down drink as much as I could and fall asleep forever. I didn't want to be around Kenny Sansom

Sansom now claims to have not had a drink in three months, and he tweeted during today's show: 'Thanks for the kind messages and support. Thanks to Jeremy I've had three months' rehab and proud to say I've graduated.

'In a good place. Hopefully I can inspire people suffering from alcoholism to be open about their troubles and battle them. There's always time to turn it round.'

The former sportsman, who also played for Crystal Palace and Newcastle United among others during his career, admits his life spiralled out of control following the divorce from his wife of 29 years, Elaine.

Sansom married his childhood sweetheart when he was 20 and they had three children together, Kate, Natalie and Harry, but parted ways when his alcoholism escalated.

Arsenal star: Sansom, who at his best was earning £1,200 a week and lived in a £1million mansion, is England's second most-capped full-back, but sold most of his caps as he descended into alcoholism

Fall: Sansom, who at his best in the 1980s was earning £1,200 a week and lived in a £1million mansion, is England's second most-capped full-back, but sold most of his caps as he descended into alcoholism

Following their split he moved in with Denise Mullins whom he met on holiday in Marbella, but he was thrown out after failing to overcome his issues and started relying on relatives for a bed.

We had a few drinks with the family, he collapsed and we had to get an ambulance. We were all grieving and again the focus was all on him Mary, sister of Kenny Sansom

In November 2013 he thanked the Professional Footballers' Association for its role in helping him through detox and finding him a home, but he has since suffered relapses.

In June last year, he spent the night in a South London police cell after turning up at Miss Mullins’s door drunk having downed five bottles of wine at a family wedding.

And in August he was seen swigging wine from a bottle while sitting on a park bench just three weeks after claiming he had gone without alcohol for a month after spending time in a rehab clinic.

Sansom, who at his best was earning £1,200 a week and lived in a £1million mansion, is England's second most-capped full-back, but sold most of his caps as he descended into alcoholism.

'It is possible': Former Hull City footballer Dean Windass, who has battled an alcohol addiction and depression, said watching Sansom on the show was 'very upsetting' but added that he hopes 'he can get help like I did'

Downfall: Channel 5 and BT Sport football presenter Adam Virgo admitted it was 'very sad' to watch the show

In his 2008 autobiography 'To Cap It All… My Story', Sansom told how he visited bookmakers most days in his darkest years. He then spent every afternoon in the pub drinking and playing snooker.

He was England's first choice left-back, winning 86 caps between 1979 and 1988, and made over 300 appearances for Arsenal.

I enjoy getting drunk to forget about the problems because I'm a coward and I'm scared of life Kenny Sansom

Having grown up in South London as one of six, Sansom was teetotal until his 21st birthday when he was coaxed into drinking by his father.

Despite ending the night vomiting in a nightclub toilet, he previously told of enjoying being drunk.

Throughout the eighties he often showed up at training having been drinking.

After being dropped by the club aged 29, he descended into alcoholism.

During the show today, ex-Hull City footballer Dean Windass, who has battled an alcohol addiction, said watching Sansom was 'very upsetting' but added that he hopes 'he can get help like I did'.

And Channel 5 and BT Sport football presenter Adam Virgo admitted the show was 'very sad'.