CHIPPENHAM Town midfielder Mark Badman has spoken publicly for the first time since going into rehabilitation to battle a gambling addiction.

Badman spent 26 days at Tony Adams' Sporting Chance clinic last month after finally admitting to family and friends he had a gambling problem.

The 27-year-old checked himself out of the clinic last Friday, but is still receiving support from chief executive Peter Kay and his team of counsellors.

Badman made his Bluebirds comeback as a second half substitute in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Yate Town, and was an unused substitute in today's 1-0 derby defeat to Bath City.

After the match, Badman was open and honest about a turbulent recent chapter in is life he is now keen to close the book on.

"It (the addiction) started about five or six years ago and got progressively worse and worse," he said.

"I had support from my friends and family and my girlfriend Kate, who were willing me to sort myself out. But it's only recently I started to listen to them.

"The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) funded the whole thing at the clinic. I want to thank them a lot and to say how grateful I am for basically saving my life."

Badman spent four weeks at the players' cottage in Hampshire where he attended Gamblers Anonymous meetings and received both group and one-to-one counselling.

With no contact with the outside Badman found it difficult to adjust, but he insists he is now a much stronger person than when he went in.

"The first week was quite difficult. There was a lot of soul searching where they look into your past.

"But it was a good experience. It helps to talk about your problems with people who are in the same situation as you.

"You're in a cottage out in the sticks, isolated from the world. It's brilliant because it clears your head.

"You've got to be open to things and open to change if you want to get better."

After playing 20 minutes against Yate on Saturday, Badman is desperate to battle his way back into Adie Mings' first team plans.

He didn't come on against Bath, but the chants from the Chippenham fans who flocked to Twerton Park told the club's longest serving player everyone is right behind him.

He said: "The supporters, the players and the chairman have all been brilliant.

"It's good to be back. I love to play football, it's a release from the problems.

"Usually I've got other things going on in my mind. I would think about it (the addiction) a lot in the build up to games, but when I play football I only think about the game.

"I hope I can get back playing now and improve on my performances, to help Chippenham get into the play-offs and hopefully win promotion."

Badman is confident he can put his life back on track, and he knows there will be plenty of people to lean on should he slip back into his old habits.

He said: "Peter Kay is always on the phone. I can ring him if I ever have any problems or go back in there if I need aftercare.

"I just need to take it one step at a time. With the help of the clinic I have realised my life is a lot better without gambling. Today I don't want to gamble and that makes me happy.

"I've got a lot of things in my life to rebuild, but I can start to do that now."

Kay believes Badman could become a role model for other non-league footballers.

He said: "It's very hard to ask for help and many people don't have the courage to do that.

"Mark did and we are very proud of how he's doing. He embarked on the process we gave him with full gusto.

"We are very grateful to Gordon Taylor at the PFA for funding this, but now is just the start. We are going to be helping him for a long time to come.

"Mark is a credit to his profession and lots of other people who've had to deal with the same problems he has."