Rangers star Joey Barton on the moment he turned his life around

JOEY BARTON has no difficulty pinpointing the precise moment he knew his life had to change.

Rangers’ new signing has just completed a season in the English Championship without even incurring up a suspension.

Yet, as he recalled, it was a very different story back in 2008 when he was jailed for assault and affray.

“People imagine it all hit me when the cell door closed for the first time. That wasn’t it though,” said the 33-year-old.

“It came one day before when I was sitting in the dressing room at Newcastle. I was on bail but, basically, I knew at the end of the season I would be going away.

“The lads were all sitting talking about going away on holidays to Dubai, Spain, America and what have you.

“And I was thinking: ‘I’m going to Strangeways’.

“The reality of that dawns upon you. That’s when you talk about epiphanies.

“How did it come to this? What am I doing?

“I wasn’t enjoying life. I wasn’t enjoying football. I thought this has got to change.

“Either you’ve got to give it up and walk away, or you’ve got to do some serious work and have a look at it.

“You just find a process. Some people find it at 18 years old. Some people never find it.

“I’m just lucky that I found it when I found it in terms of being able to salvage some great times and some really happy memories over the last few years.

“Going to France and being successful in a foreign country, which not many British players do.

“Coming back to the UK and helping QPR getting back to the Premier League, which probably saved the club from financial armageddon.

“Being part of an incredible journey with Burnley which, for a town club of their size, was phenomenal.

“Now coming here to Rangers and, hopefully, bolting on a legacy.”

Barton cites the day before he entered Strangeways as the moment that turned his life around (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

A legacy which Barton believes will include the Scottish Premiership title – provided he can maintain his level of fitness.

“There is a physical output that comes with me,” he said.

“If you look at the stats in the Championship, I am arguably the fittest player in that position. I cover more distance than anyone and I was the fulcrum for what we did at Burnley in terms of being first receiver, etc.

“I know the numbers. They are Premier League numbers.

“So, coming to Scotland I know I have to get close to those numbers if Rangers are going to win the title.

“I have got to get close on a daily basis and on a weekly basis in the matches.

“I’m aware of that. I think I’m getting better. It sounds weird to say that at 33 years old, as common logic tells you you are not.

“Everyone else is going after 30 you peak. It is almost after 30 that you are falling off a cliff.

“But Davie Weir came here at 36 and played some of his best football.

“What your mental clock says and what your biological clock says can be a lot different.

“I have also played with 22-year-olds who have the body and mind-sets of 35-year-olds.

“You see both sides of the spectrum. For me, I just feel in a phenomenal place and I can’t wait to get back into pre-season.

“I can’t wait for the challenge. I didn’t want the season to end at Burnley. I had two or three days off and I was like the nerd who really likes school saying I want to get back to it.

“I have such momentum from the last two years, I just want to keep going. I don’t feel tired or mentally fatigued.

“When you are winning, life is great and I have had a full year without losing a match.”