His life began to fall apart in 1975 after he took a three-year tenancy agreement out on the "Jolly Farmers" pub on London's Southgate Road. At the time it was common for footballers to invest in pubs, as did other Arsenal teammates. His marriage to Cathy fell apart as he spent more nights at his pub, with the attractions of drink and women, than at home with his wife. He became more dependent on alcohol as his career at Arsenal came to an end. He also invested in a minicab firm in Newington Green, that failed.