NEWPORT County AFC’s new striker Chris Zebroski hopes he has already won his most important fight, a long-term battle against the booze.

Just like his new club, Zebroski is making a return to the Football League, having finished last season in the Conference South with Eastleigh.

That followed contract termination at Cheltenham after the 26-year-old was a no-show for four games, the final straw coming with a 10am phone call on New Year’s Day to say he wasn’t fit for a game that afternoon.

Zebroski has scored goals wherever he’s been in a career that has taken in Plymouth, Oxford, Torquay (three times), Millwall, Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham, but he has also often found trouble.

He was released by Plymouth following an incident on a pre-season trip to Austria that left a senior teammate in need of treatment to a head wound. Then in November 2010 he was given a 12-month community order and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work after magistrates heard how he punched and kicked a soldier in a street fight.

It’s the kind of CV that would put off many clubs, but Zebroski, who is now on an alcohol abuse treatment programme, is thrilled he has found a club willing to give him a second chance.

“I was outside of the Football League for a spell last season, but the timing of this move couldn’t be better for me, I’ve had some difficulties off the field but they’ve been dealt with now,” he told the Argus.

“I can’t wait to get started, June 27 can’t come quickly enough for me.

“I have had off-field problems, but I hope I am putting them behind me now, I think I’ve gained as a person from that, it’s made me stronger.

“I am on a programme, I have to do things to keep on top of the situation and I’ve got a really clear head at the moment.

“I don’t want to dwell on it too much, I’ve had problems with alcohol in the past, I’ve got myself sorted… I didn’t think I had a problem but… (at this point County’s press officer interrupted and told us to change topic).

When I suggested to Zeb-roski that he has found a good match in Justin Edinburgh – a manager who prides himself on working with players in need of a second chance and who others would shy away from – he was in agreement.

“I think you could definitely say I fall into that category,” he said. “That’s hitting the nail on the head. As soon as I spoke to Justin, he gave me a sense of some of the players he’s work-ed with in the past, who have had similar issues to myself.

“He is a manager who is interested in what you can do for him on the pitch, he has signed a lot of good players, some who have had issues.

“You need to be good players to get out of the Conference, I’ve played in it myself and I know it’s a hard league.

“I’m really looking forward to playing, there are plenty of free agent strikers and the gaffer wanted to sign me, it’s a big compliment. Now I need to reward the gaffer for the faith he’s shown in me by staying fit and available and scoring.”

Swindon-based Zebroski is now a father and admits his family provides added motivation to get his life in order.

“Definitely (my family motivate me), everyone benefits from me sorting myself out and knuckling down, my family have shown faith in me and patience and understanding and I need to repay that… there are a lot of people I need to repay.”

Zebroski feels he can bring something different to a squad he is already familiar with.

“I know Byron Anthony from my time at Bristol Rovers, I was following Newport at the end of last season and hoping they got promoted, I knew by then they were interested in me,” he said. “Now I want to show what I can do. I give 100% every game, I can score goals, create goals and I’m relishing the competition, up front the gaffer has a very good problem with several good strikers.”

ARGUS COMMENT: Fresh start is deserved

WE HAVE no doubt there will be some who will question Newport County AFC’s decision to sign striker Chris Zebroski.

The football club have taken on Mr Zebroski despite a chequered past and an admitted drink problem.

There will be some who will say the club is wrong to employ such a person as a professional footballer, and therefore a role model for impressionable young fans.

We are not among them.

If Chris Zebroski can admit to his off-field problems in the honest way he has done in today’s interview with this newspaper, if he can use his story to persuade youngsters not to follow the route he has, then that is to be commended.

Footballers are not role models by choice. They are ordinary people who happen to have a particular skill that thousands of people pay to watch.

They are as flawed and imperfect as the rest of us.

Just because a footballer has had problems in the past, or done things of which they are now ashamed, should not prevent them from continuing their careers.

In most other walks of life people are given a second chance. Why should footballers be any different?

Mr Edinburgh has a fine track record of giving players who have strayed from the straight and narrow a second chance. People like County captain David Pipe have repaid his faith with sensational performances on the pitch.