he is a practising christian and regularly attends church. he attended balshaw's church of england high school where he attained 10 a-grades at gcse and studied mathematics and politics at a-level, and in 2002 was awarded the title of "britain's brainiest footballer" in a tv game show. he has been an ambassador for the kick it out campaign and is a former chairman of the management committee of the professional footballers' association. carlisle has suffered from recurring problems with alcohol and depression.