Paul Gascoigne - Gazza:It’s all about the Football

by Julian Price⁽¹⁸⁰⁾ Red Star

http://www.uk-freelance-content-writer.co.uk/

Paul Gascoigne, perhaps better known to most simply as “Gazza” loves football. On a recent trip to Bournemouth, I quite literally bumped into the ex Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton star in the street! When Paul Gascoigne was on the pitch doing what he loved the most, he was quite simply mesmerising to watch, and I am not ashamed to say he was my favourite soccer player of that era or any era for that matter!

There has been much witnessed and written about Gazza’s life away from the football field that you can read elsewhere if you so wish, but this is a sports website and this short article is all about the Paul Gascoigne that I have encountered, the likeable, smiling, football loving, Gazza!

When I was just a 15 year old lad and a Spurs fan, I was lucky enough to briefly meet Gazza as he got off the team coach at Goodison Park for a match with Everton. The friend I was with had a young daughter who desperately wanted to have her photo taken with Paul and her dad asked if it was possible. Gazza said something to the effect that he had to go in with the team but that he would be back in a few minutes for the photo.

I have to be honest and say that I didn’t think he would be able to make it back for a simple photo, especially as the players were preparing for a big match. How wrong I was! As promised, a few minutes later Gascoigne returned, all smiles, and happily posed for photos with the young Spurs fan.

More than 20 years later, in September 2011 I bumped into Paul on the streets of Bournemouth. As I walked towards him he must have noticed my recognition of him and strode up to me and shook my hand saying something like “Alright mate!”

As my brain computed what had just happened and that I had just met a soccer legend, I turned around and my wife asked if he would mind posing for a picture with me. He smiled and said no problem and as the picture was taken, I told him about the time I saw him play for Spurs at Manchester City’s Maine Road in 1989. He remembered it well and said, “I scored that day!” His goal was an equaliser in a 1-1 draw and was in the same match as the famous Paul Lake “ears” gesture, which Gazza also recounted to me with a giggle, referring to his opponent as “Lakey”.

I said, thank you very much for the photo and let him be on his way.

Paul Gascoigne: September 2011

As Paul Gascoigne remembered his goal and that Paul Lake incident, you could see his love and passion for football rise up to his beaming face. The same face that cried during Italia 90 at the thought of missing the World Cup final after a yellow card against Germany. The same face that grinned from ear to ear as he scored a host of memorable goals for club and country, the wonder goal for England v Scotland at Euro 96, the screaming free kick for Spurs against Arsenal in the FA Cup Semi Final.

The same Gazza that effortlessly used to glide past his opponents as if they didn’t exist, the same player that Sir Alex Ferguson once described as the “best he had seen for years” after destroying his Manchester United midfield (Bryan Robson, Remi Moses and Norman Whiteside) in a match with Newcastle.

Along with modern players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney who wear their passion and enjoyment of the game on their sleeves and faces, Paul “Gazza” Gascoigne could certainly be added to this group.

Thanks for all the great football memories Paul, thanks for taking time to pose for pictures with a fan. I wish you all the very best for the future and hope that one day we see you in football again (in whatever capacity) as your enthusiasm for your sport is second to none!

Paul Gascoigne Top Flight Career Stats:

Newcastle United = 92 Appearances 21 Goals

Tottenham Hotspur = 92 Appearances 19 Goals

Lazio = 43 Appearances 6 Goals

Glasgow Rangers = 74 Appearances 30 Goals

Middlesbrough = 41 Appearances 4 Goals

Everton = 32 Appearances 1 Goal

England = 57 Appearances 10 Goals

Article submitted Saturday, September 17, 2011 & read 677 times.

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