When Boro Signed Gazza
By Degsyg79 • Aug 4th, 2009 • Category: Boro LegendsIt is a little known fact that Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne had the chance of trials with the Boro back in 1980 and he came down to the club with his friend Keith Spraggon, Paul left without taking the trial and Boro offered his friend youth terms.
The rest they say is history.
He was a hero to many a football fan and the game came full circle in March 1998 when then Boro Manager Bryan Robson paid £3.4 million for his services from Glasgow Rangers.
When he joined he joined an infamous set-up at the club which included the drinking culture of the late 90s era. The club had the likes of Phil Stamp, Andy Townsend and Paul Merson to name but three at a time when we were hoping to return to the Premier League.
Ironically Gazza’s debut came in the Coca-Cola cup final against Chelsea at Wembley where he was named amongst the substitutes at the expense of Craig Hignett, as a gesture Gazza told Higgy the medal was his win or lose. We obviously lost but it showed a lot about the man.
His league debut came away at West Brom a match I attended a forgettable affair to say the least and we lost 2-1 but he was always going to become a likeable player amongst the staff and fans alike.
We reached our promotion aim and Gazza tried to pursue his dream of going to the World Cup in France, a dream which he failed to achieve, a dream many feel he deserved.
After a full season with the Boro in the Premier League he joined Everton in JULY 2000, his time at the Boro was never problem free, but the Boro had been through its fair share of problems at that time and this just added to them.
In total Gazza made 48 appearances for the club scoring only 4 goals and it was nice to have one of the game’s all-time favourite players adorn the clubs colours.
His career whittled away after this time and many publicised problems have since followed Gazza states openly in his autobiography that he is two people Gazza and Paul Gascoigne. Let us hope the one with the problems is well and truly out of his left.
Good luck for the future Gazza, you’re always a hero to me!
Degsyg79 is a new writer on BoroMania. Check out his sports blog for more of his excellent articles.
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