Gazza

[CrosspoolClarets]

I remember that game at Grimsby and Gazza fist pumping the away end with a face so red I was worried he was having a heart attack.

I also remember the free kick against Norwich, even in his stupor he was still (very fleetingly) capable of the amazing.

I don’t criticise people for having a mental illness, which alcoholism is. It was good, albeit an anti climax, to see him in a Burnley shirt but it was tragic what happened to his life once he turned Fergie down.

[fidelcastro]

I remember that game at Grimsby and Gazza fist pumping the away end with a face so red I was worried he was having a heart attack.

I also remember the free kick against Norwich, even in his stupor he was still (very fleetingly) capable of the amazing.

I don’t criticise people for having a mental illness, which alcoholism is. It was good, albeit an anti climax, to see him in a Burnley shirt but it was tragic what happened to his life once he turned Fergie down.

You might remember the free kick, but you don't remember the right team.

[beeholeclaret]

I think it’s understandable that people can remember an image of the match play but get mixed up with the opposition.

I think the free kick was against Coventry City. I also think it was Magnus Hedman their goalie at the time. He played in World Cup for Sweden.

I think we won the game 1-0 but it wasn’t enough as another goal was needed. Again from Memory I think we had to get a ‘better’ result than Norwich and when news came through that they had scored an extra goal it put the pressure on us to go the same.

[Herts Clarets]

I think it’s understandable that people can remember an image of the match play but get mixed up with the opposition.

I think the free kick was against Coventry City. I also think it was Magnus Hedman their goalie at the time. He played in World Cup for Sweden.

I think we won the game 1-0 but it wasn’t enough as another goal was needed. Again from Memory I think we had to get a ‘better’ result than Norwich and when news came through that they had scored an extra goal it put the pressure on us to go the same.

From memory Norwich were playing Stockport County and Stockport keeper Andy Dibble was sent off in the first few minutes. I went to the Grimsby game to see Paul Gascoigne play for Burnley. I am still waiting......

[burnley007]

You don’t. He never played a reserve team game. Having said that, I’m not sure he played for the first team.

I remember someone emailing me in the Friday night before he signed saying he’d just seen Gazza worse the wear for drink in the Kettledrum.

Wonderful player in his prime. I just wish he’d never come near Burnley.

I disagree, he is my all time favourite player and I'm glad I got to see him in a Burnley shirt, despite him being bloody awful!

[NottsClaret]

We all love to chuck the #mentalhealth stuff around these days, all very understanding and falling over ourselves to explain how alcoholism is a disease and depression is a disease.

But someone obviously riddled with both plays a bit rubbish for the team you support and he's a disgrace and stealing a wage.

[dougcollins]

No hyperbole as I saw this myself. After one game he beat me to the Kettledrum and was sat outside well into a beer when I got there.

I'll vouch for that.

I asked him how he did it and he just laughed.

[ClaretTony]

I disagree, he is my all time favourite player and I'm glad I got to see him in a Burnley shirt, despite him being bloody awful!

I think that's all he did, wear the shirt. It just took away all the memories of him playing for England for me.

[burnley007]

I think that's all he did, wear the shirt. It just took away all the memories of him playing for England for me.

I know what you mean, it was pretty obvious he was past it, but it was still a thrill to see him in a Burnley shirt.

I will always remember that.

[ClaretTony]

I know what you mean, it was pretty obvious he was past it, but it was still a thrill to see him in a Burnley shirt.

I will always remember that.

I’m not sure it was being past it, more he was not in a fit state to play football.

[Bosscat]

I think some look back at Gazzas` time with us through rose tinted specs ...

It was obvious he should have been getting help rather than playing football, because as Tony says he did not look in a fit state to be playing at that time.

I much prefer to remember Gazza in his prime in the late 80`s and early 90`s than that shadow of his former self that featured in those 6 matches for us.

[burnley007]

I think some look back at Gazzas` time with us through rose tinted specs ...

It was obvious he should have been getting help rather than playing football, because as Tony says he did not look in a fit state to be playing at that time.

I much prefer to remember Gazza in his prime in the late 80`s and early 90`s than that shadow of his former self that featured in those 6 matches for us.

More than that, I think it's only got worse since he retired. My son is 19 and he finds it difficult to imagine that the trainwreck that is modern day Gazza was the the best player I ever saw in the flesh.

[Anonymous Claret]

We all love to chuck the #mentalhealth stuff around these days, all very understanding and falling over ourselves to explain how alcoholism is a disease and depression is a disease.

But someone obviously riddled with both plays a bit rubbish for the team you support and he's a disgrace and stealing a wage.

He never dealt with his friend's younger brother's death. He is still tortured by it today. I doubt there was much trauma counselling then but the guilt that he must have felt (even though he shouldn't feel guilty) has haunted him to this day. Any decent human being cannot fail to have some empathy for him or understand why his personal life went the way it did.

[Dark Cloud]

I think it was a little unfortunate for an ageing, fading Gazza that an ageing, fading Ian Wright had previously proved to be an inspired signing and his cameos had proved crucial. People expected similar and so were immediately totally deflated.
In my memory he actually took 2 similar free kicks in the dying minutes of that last game against Coventry, both from just outside the box. The first Hedman dived to his left and saved reasonably comfortably. The second was put to his right and he produced a brilliant save, but tbf he was an extremely good keeper. We did win the game, but finished 7th, a single goal away from a play off spot.

[Vintage Claret]

One of the most gifted players of his generation in his prime but sadly the best live performance I saw from Gazza at The Turf was when we played Middlesbrough reserves one night and he was in their team.

He didn't complete the full 90 minutes but for the time he was on, he still looked a class above anyone else on the pitch that night even though he was obviously past his best by then.

[Clovius Boofus]

I know what you mean, it was pretty obvious he was past it, but it was still a thrill to see him in a Burnley shirt.

I will always remember that.

Me too, but for all the wrong reasons. It was embarrassing.

[cricketfield73]

Like pretty much everyone on this thread, I have zero good memories of Gascoigne's time at Burnley. As for this mythical world class free kick denied only by a world class save from the Coventry keeper, I can recall seeing it back several years later and being surprised at how unspectacular it was in reality. I could only track down a pretty low quality video but it's clear enough to see that both the free kick and the save were pretty much routine.
https://youtu.be/n8IefDv_g7U?si=RGyFbiSqCE793Dhc&t=300

[fidelcastro]

Like pretty much everyone on this thread, I have zero good memories of Gascoigne's time at Burnley. As for this mythical world class free kick denied only by a world class save from the Coventry keeper, I can recall seeing it back several years later and being surprised at how unspectacular it was in reality. I could only track down a pretty low quality video but it's clear enough to see that both the free kick and the save were pretty much routine.
https://youtu.be/n8IefDv_g7U?si=RGyFbiSqCE793Dhc&t=300

I may be wrong, but wasn't there another free kick that Hedman saved?

That may have been a better save that denied us than the one shown.

Edit: The commentator actually mentions it. It was the free kick before that one!

[dvalley69]

Was he with us before or after his China experience? This was the documentary about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jh_kVIowv0
Absolute mad to think one of England's greatest players did such a thing.

[fatboy47]

Peak Gazza was a fantastic watch.

Seeing a pitiful washed-up old pro trying to eke out a last payday at our expense didn't thrill me one little bit.

[Bosscat]

Was he with us before or after his China experience? This was the documentary about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jh_kVIowv0
Absolute mad to think one of England's greatest players did such a thing.

He went to China after us ...

Screenshot_20250330_231245_Chrome.jpg (220.18 KiB) Viewed 1740 times

[CrosspoolClarets]

You might remember the free kick, but you don't remember the right team.

Yes thanks for pointing that out, you are right of course, it felt like we were playing Norwich that day, glued to the radio listening to their scores. That’s what tricked my memory.

[Jakubclaret]

I’m not sure it was being past it, more he was not in a fit state to play football.

Fitness tests aren't a complete new thing prior to selection he must have been signed off & approved as such. You could argue that back then there weren't as fine tuned & rigourous as there are today but some sort of checks must have been carried out & satisfied.

[cricketfield73]

I may be wrong, but wasn't there another free kick that Hedman saved?

That may have been a better save that denied us than the one shown.

Edit: The commentator actually mentions it. It was the free kick before that one!

Yes, there was another earlier free kick shown in the video link below which in my opinion is also pretty much as routine as the last minute one which has become mythologised as world class.
https://youtu.be/n8IefDv_g7U?si=DQe7PG7atCrFyYaC&t=230

[Stanbill05]

Shame we saw the very worst of him, but he was world class in his day. Not many of those have worn a Burnley shirt - in fact he maybe the only one where there'd be universal consensus. I'm glad he was a Claret. First name on the sheet when I play "best Burnley 11 on paper".

[ClaretTony]

Fitness tests aren't a complete new thing prior to selection he must have been signed off & approved as such. You could argue that back then there weren't as fine tuned & rigourous as there are today but some sort of checks must have been carried out & satisfied.

I wasn’t referring to fitness but the state he was in

[Jakubclaret]

I wasn’t referring to fitness but the state he was in

Everything about the state must surely relate to a fitness defiency. You can't be in that state & still be fit the 2 don't go together. Which leads to 3 possibilities that the checks weren't carried out properly or he got blottoed after being passed proper or he wasn't as bad as some are making him out to be.

[Burnley1989]

Everything about the state must surely relate to a fitness defiency. You can't be in that state & still be fit the 2 don't go together. Which leads to 3 possibilities that the checks weren't carried out properly or he got blottoed after being passed proper or he wasn't as bad as some are making him out to be.

He, as well as many others at the club at the time have all commented on his state, nobody else would have got away with it.
It's many years since I read his book but if memory serves me right his knee was completely busted, he was an alcoholic and addicted to sleepers

[Jakubclaret]

He, as well as many others at the club at the time have all commented on his state, nobody else would have got away with it.
It's many years since I read his book but if memory serves me right his knee was completely busted, he was an alcoholic and addicted to sleepers

Exactly I agree without being 100% but all this was allowed to happen so some sort of negligence in avoiding responsibility must be shared. I liked gazza still do but it was clear to most people the guy needed help i suppose commercially it made sense shifting merchandise & giving the club more publicity.

[JohnMac]

If you think he was bad in 2002,you should have seen him play for Boston United in 2004!

He was completely gone in terms of ability and like many alcoholics, in denial of his lifestyle.

[Jakubclaret]

If you think he was bad in 2002,you should have seen him play for Boston United in 2004!

He was completely gone in terms of ability and like many alcoholics, in denial of his lifestyle.

He had a excuse.

[Eyres_11]

I think you may be mistaken. According to my records, Gascoigne never played for our Reserves.

He played against us for Boro reserves.

[Croydon Claret]

Someone that I occasionally go to Selhurst park with used to live in one of the gated estates in Croydon, directly opposite Ian Wright.

Some time before the Euros in 1996 there was a knock at the door and Ian Wright was there, along with Gazza,, who was staying over prior to attending the Euros. They had come to see if they could cadge some booze as Ian Wright kept a dry house. Knowing that the neighbour was a huge Palace fan made them think that they might get a favourable reception.

They came in, played pool for a while, then left with armfuls of beer.

[Silkyskills1]

He had a excuse.

Do you mean like a note from home? He was a
charlatan, a con artist. Washed up.

[Goliath]

If you think he was bad in 2002,you should have seen him play for Boston United in 2004!

He was completely gone in terms of ability and like many alcoholics, in denial of his lifestyle.

It's strange how he completely lost his ability to play the game as well as his physical attributes. If you see him try to play now in a charity game or whatever its a really sorry sight.
He's lost the ability to even kick the ball with any sort of technique. It's like the really unsporty kid at school who doesn't look like he can control his limbs

[Row x]

Do you mean like a note from home? He was a
charlatan, a con artist. Washed up.

You'd think our management should have known that, as should the owners.

[Jakubclaret]

Do you mean like a note from home? He was a
charlatan, a con artist. Washed up.

He wasn't in his prime it's fair to say I wouldn't describe him like you've described him. At the end of the day he weren't putting shotguns to people's heads everything was willingly done.

[Silkyskills1]

You'd think our management should have known that, as should the owners.

Absolutely.

[sjb]

He played against us for Boro reserves.

Yes, see my posts above for details of that game.

[Andreshotboots]

Never really took to Gazza even during his pomp. A mighty fine player no doubt, but his character was just something I couldn't warm too..