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Spurs vs Newcastle | Boot in both camps | Paul Gascoigne

Fri 08 December 2023, 14:00|Tottenham Hotspur

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"That is Schoolboys' Own stuff..."

To many, those are the only words you'll need to trigger memories of one of the all-time greats, an icon of his generation, Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne.

Of course, those were commentator Barry Davies' famous words after Gazza launched a 35-yard free-kick into the top corner of David Seaman's net as we toppled Arsenal 3-1 in the 1991 FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Gazza was electric as Terry Venables' team produced as good a half of football you'll likely to see against a team on their way to the title, with just one defeat.

Unfortunately, we know how the course of Gazza's career changed as we won the final back at Wembley a month later...

Born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, Paul  began his career with local side Newcastle United, first joining as an apprentice before making his debut at the age of 17 under manager Jack Charlton. Just four years later, and after being named the PFA Young Player of the Year for 1988, he was heading south to join us is we pipped a host of clubs to sign one of British football’s brightest prospects.

A central midfielder with such natural talent - passing, shooting, dribbling, strength, power - and a passion for the game, we saw the best of Gazza in the next three years before his serious knee injury in May, 1991. In the middle of that, Gazza stole the nation's hearts, first with his performances, then his tears, as England reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup. 

Still only 23, Gazza was now a worldwide name. He was voted BBC's Sports Personality of the Year and fourth best player in the world at the annual Ballon d’Or awards.

Gazza then delivered arguably his best season in 1990/91. Famed for his semi-final strike, Paul also scored against Oxford, twice at Portsmouth and again against Notts County in our FA Cup run before his sublime performance at Wembley to put double-chasing Arsenal to the sword, Gary Lineker also netting twice that day.

Unfortunately, his career changed on his biggest day. Gazza seriously damaged knee ligaments challenging Gary Charles just 10 minutes into the FA Cup Final in May, 1991. That put his career - never mind a looming move to Lazio - in doubt. Thankfully, we came through against Forest, Paul Stewart and Lineker on target - and the players soon headed to the hospital to share the moment with their stricken team-mate.

Gazza eventually got his move to Serie A, and later enjoyed spells with Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton among others. He won the lot in Scotland, clinching the title in his first season - 1995/96 - with a hat-trick against Aberdeen. He then starred in England's run to the semi-finals of Euro 96, scoring one of Wembley's most memorable goals against, you guessed it, Scotland!

One of our most popular players of the modern era, Gazza was back at the new stadium and took part in our Legends match against Inter in March, 2019, his arrival off the bench greeted with the biggest cheer of the day.

Destination Tottenham

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