News

Gazza fears over Gaza

By Albertina Lloyd

PAUL Gascoigne has revealed he used to get paranoid hearing the Gaza Strip mentioned on the news because he feared it was another negative news story about him.

The former England footballer - known as Gazza - has opened up about his life and career in a new documentary film Gascoigne, which had its premiere in London last night.

The 48-year-old from Gateshead is hailed as one of England's footballing greats. But he has also battled mental illness, drugs and alcohol addiction.

Gascoigne told the Press Association: "I had a great career. There's been parts since I stopped playing...but then I get knocked down again for no reason.

"Sometimes it's got to the stage now where I hate Saturday nights, because jack shit knows what's coming in the papers on Sunday.

"I tell you what was the worst one, the Gaza Strip. You know the term the Gaza Strip, remember that? That was murder for me. I'd be sitting there having a shave and that, and the news would come on 'And the Gazza...' and I'd be like 'What's that?!' and I realised it was the Gaza Strip. I couldn't wait for that to end."

Gascoigne, written and directed by filmmaker Jane Preston, charts the fooballer's rise, through his rocky career and overcoming the lows of his addiction.