Michael Branch on prison, pressure and rebuilding a life after Everton and Wolves | OneFootball

Michael Branch, the former Everton and Wolves striker, has reflected on the choices that led to prison and the life he is rebuilding a decade after release.

As reported by ExpressAndStar.com, he was driven past Goodison Park after his November 2012 sentencing, saw the crest and wondered how it had all gone so wrong.

He had pleaded guilty to drugs offences after delivering amphetamines in a Liverpool car park and later storing a kilogram of cocaine at home. He served three-and-a-half years of a seven-year term, and now says it was probably the best thing that happened to him.

Branch burst through at Everton, debuting at 17 against a Manchester United team featuring David Beckham, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Eric Cantona and Andy Cole. His first goal came in a 2-2 draw at Chelsea, when Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli and Andrei Kanchelskis also scored.

Lauded by Gary Lineker and tagged the next Robbie Fowler, he later admitted he was a confidence player who feared late mistakes might mar good games. He felt the era lacked today’s support networks, accepts responsibility and says he needed help.

He represented England up to Under-21 level in 1996 against Angola alongside Beckham, and made nearly 50 Everton appearances, many as a substitute. Last week he returned to Wolverhampton’s Mount Hotel for Jason Guy’s charity Q&A, donating matchworn shirts that helped raise over £3,000 for Guy’s chosen causes.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com