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Ex-England goalkeeper David James, 53, spearheads NHS quit smoking campaign as he reveals his 20-a-day habit meant he 'couldn't run two laps' during peak of his career

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Ex-England goalkeeper David James is urging Brits to quit smoking in a bid to deter the next generation from taking up the killer habit.

Spearheading a new NHS drive, the legendary Liverpool, Portsmouth and West Ham shot-stopper, 53, admitted just one cigarette got him addicted for 15 years.

James, who won 53 international caps in a career which spanned three decades and saw him amass 572 Premier League appearances, revealed smoking left him unable to run two laps of an athletics track.

He admitted that his 20-cigarette a day habit had a 'huge impact on my health and performance at the time', boldly confessing: 'I wish I never started.