When you
say the name Paul Gascoigne, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Those
tears in Italia ’90? His amazing volley against Scotland in Euro ’96 and
subsequent dentist’s chair celebration? When he ruptured his knee ligaments
during the FA Cup Final against Nottingham Forest in 1991? His ability and some
of his thunderbolt goals?
Or is it when
he turned up to comfort murderer Raoul Moat with a fishing rod and a bucket of
chicken? His boozing with best friend Jimmy ‘five bellies’? When he ‘booked’
the referee during his Rangers days? When Vinnie Jones grabbed his testicles? Or the much-publicised alcoholism and
family problems that have blighted Gazza throughout his life?
Gascoigne's career has always been touched with genius yet plagued with controversy and injuries. He came from a working-class background in Gateshead and had a love of football from the age of four. At the age of 13 he joined Newcastle as an apprentice and three years later, in 1983, had signed for them. He captained the youth team in 1984/85, who went on to win the F.A. Youth Cup.
His debut for Newcastle came as a substitute against Queens Park Rangers in April 1985 and it was on Tyneside where Gascoigne began to really establish himself. He was a tenacious, gutsy midfielder who was strong with sublime attacking flair. In the 1987/88 season he was crowned Barclays Young Player of the Year and had attracted the attention of several clubs, notably Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Although he was a Geordie through and through, Gascoigne thought the time was right for a transfer to further his career. He had scored 25 goals for Newcastle in 107 appearances, and was sold to Tottenham in the summer of 1988 for a British transfer record of £2.3 million.
