Thu, Jan 16, 2003 - Page 20 News List

Confident `Gazza' joins Reds

LAST-CHANCE SALOON Paul Gascoigne's possible move to China could be a last hurrah for the impudent English soccer player famous for his off-the-field shenanigans

AP , REUTERS, BEIJING AND LONDON

Since then he has been linked with modest clubs such as Gillingham, Exeter City, Colchester and non-league Carshalton, Scottish teams Dundee and Partick Thistle and even a Maltese club, Marsax Lokk.

It hasn't helped that ``Gazza'' has parted company with his agents and is now represented by his long-time drinking pal, Jimmy ``Five Bellies'' Gardner.

Despite being blessed with a phenomenal talent, he has a shaky temperament which has cost him long spells on the sidelines and his association with alcohol has become legendary.

When he scored a standout goal for England against Scotland at the 1996 European Championship -- chipping the ball over a defender and striking it home on the volley -- he lay down on his back for what became known as the ``dentist's chair'' celebration.

That came from the English players' drinking pose of sitting back as if in a dentist's chair and having drinks poured down the throat by teammates.

It was during that time that Gascoigne's marriage was falling off the rails. His wife, Sheryl, was interviewed by the newspapers with her face bruised and saying that he had beaten her in a drunken rage.

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