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Paul Gascoigne's lonely road to the last chance saloon Paul Gascoigne's lonely road to the last chance saloon
(about 2 hours later)
At the Providence rehab centre, in Dorset, friends and counsellors wait anxiously for news about Paul Gascoigne. They are disappointed to see the former England footballer leave Bournemouth, but say it made sense: he was headed for the Meadows rehabilitation centre, in Phoenix Arizona, thousands of miles away where, alone and unknown, he can get on with the task in hand, of saving his life. At the Providence rehab centre, in Dorset, friends and counsellors wait anxiously for news about Paul Gascoigne. They are disappointed to see the former England footballer leave Bournemouth, but say it made sense: he was headed for the Meadows rehabilitation centre, in Phoenix, Arizona, thousands of miles away where, alone and unknown, he can get on with the task in hand – of saving his life.
There was a horrible inevitability about his recent lapse. The most talented, and most tainted, England player of his generation was back on the booze. It was as unseemly as it was pitiful, and the redtops devoured it. Last week, he had to be helped on to the stage for an evening of chat in Northampton. He was weepy, abusive, and obviously ill.There was a horrible inevitability about his recent lapse. The most talented, and most tainted, England player of his generation was back on the booze. It was as unseemly as it was pitiful, and the redtops devoured it. Last week, he had to be helped on to the stage for an evening of chat in Northampton. He was weepy, abusive, and obviously ill.
The Sun reported that he was close to death, and if the accompanying pictures were anything to go by, that didn't seem much of an exaggeration. On Wednesday, it was revealed that a few of Gazza's celebrity friends, including Chris Evans and Piers Morgan, had clubbed together to pay for the stay in Arizona, where has has previously been treated. The Sun reported that he was close to death, and if the accompanying pictures were anything to go by, that didn't seem much of an exaggeration. On Wednesday, it was revealed that a few of Gazza's celebrity friends, including Chris Evans and Piers Morgan, had clubbed together to pay for the stay in Arizona, where he has previously been treated.
Morgan told the Guardian he believed Gascoigne was "at the last chance saloon – an all-too apt metaphor for Paul because he has always found it so difficult to pass a saloon without being lured in for a drink".Morgan told the Guardian he believed Gascoigne was "at the last chance saloon – an all-too apt metaphor for Paul because he has always found it so difficult to pass a saloon without being lured in for a drink".
For the past two years, Gascoigne, 45, has lived in Dorset, either at the Providence or in a flat close by. And for 18 months of that time, he was dry. I met him last year, and he was cautiously optimistic. He spent his time fishing, playing golf and six-a-side-football with fellow addicts, and attending AA meetings. But there was also, as always with Gascoigne, a desperation. He had lost pretty much everything – his money and his wife (after an infamous domestic violence incident, many years ago) – and he was no longer in touch with his children. For the past two years, Gascoigne, 45, has lived in Dorset, either at the Providence or in a flat close by. And for 18 months of that time, he was dry. I met him in 2011, and he was cautiously optimistic. He spent his time fishing, playing golf and six-a-side-football with fellow addicts, and attending AA meetings. But there was also, as always with Gascoigne, a desperation. He had lost pretty much everything – his money and his wife (after an infamous domestic violence incident, many years ago) – and he was no longer in touch with his children.
He had moved to Bournemouth to get away from "friends" who just wanted to take him for one last night out and hear one last story about his famous goals and celebrations and tears. Perhaps it was always doomed: Gascoigne – even a sick, emaciated Gascoigne – is one of the most recognisable people in the country. Soon enough, he made new friends in Bournemouth who wanted to treat him to one last drink. As well as his addictions, he has been diagnosed bipolar, and has made several suicide attempts.He had moved to Bournemouth to get away from "friends" who just wanted to take him for one last night out and hear one last story about his famous goals and celebrations and tears. Perhaps it was always doomed: Gascoigne – even a sick, emaciated Gascoigne – is one of the most recognisable people in the country. Soon enough, he made new friends in Bournemouth who wanted to treat him to one last drink. As well as his addictions, he has been diagnosed bipolar, and has made several suicide attempts.
According to those who worked most closely with him, he showed admirable discipline for most of his time at the Providence, but over the past few months he lost it. The golf and football and meetings went by the wayside, and he was often seen swaying through town looking for the next pub, the next stranger's shoulder to cry on.According to those who worked most closely with him, he showed admirable discipline for most of his time at the Providence, but over the past few months he lost it. The golf and football and meetings went by the wayside, and he was often seen swaying through town looking for the next pub, the next stranger's shoulder to cry on.
Despite his history of physical and verbal abuse, the tortured Gascoigne remains one of of Britain's most loved public figures. It isn't simply the superhuman talent he had with a football: it was his ability to find the funny in the game, whether celebrating a goal with the "dentist's chair" tribute to a drunken incident or brandishing an admonitory card at a referee. Despite his history of physical and verbal abuse, the tortured Gascoigne remains one of Britain's most loved public figures. It isn't simply the super-human talent he had with a football: it was his ability to find the funny in the game, whether celebrating a goal with the "dentist's chair" tribute to a drunken incident or brandishing an admonitory card at a referee.
At the Providence, there is widespread anger at the "leeches and hangers-on" desperate to cash in on Gascoigne. On worker said: "He was taken to Dubai a few months ago. Well, of course he was going to get wrecked there. It was a ridiculous thing to do, and he came back in a state. At the Providence, there is widespread anger at the "leeches and hangers-on" desperate to cash in on Gascoigne. One worker said: "He was taken to Dubai a few months ago. Well, of course he was going to get wrecked there. It was a ridiculous thing to do, and he came back in a state.
"And how anyone could have taken him to Northampton and carried him on stage to answer questions is so … cruel. Absolutely outrageous. They treat him like a novelty act, and people wait for him to turn up drunk and make an idiot of himself. It's a horror movie.""And how anyone could have taken him to Northampton and carried him on stage to answer questions is so … cruel. Absolutely outrageous. They treat him like a novelty act, and people wait for him to turn up drunk and make an idiot of himself. It's a horror movie."
But his agent, Terry Baker, insisted he was only there to help Gascoigne. "The only way Paul would accept he needed treatment was to be made to realise it," he said. "His counsellors brought him to me in the first place, and he and I have had a good couple of years until now. He has had no help from any of his counsellors or friends recently because he wouldn't accept he needed it until the events of last week."But his agent, Terry Baker, insisted he was only there to help Gascoigne. "The only way Paul would accept he needed treatment was to be made to realise it," he said. "His counsellors brought him to me in the first place, and he and I have had a good couple of years until now. He has had no help from any of his counsellors or friends recently because he wouldn't accept he needed it until the events of last week."
Gascoigne has often been compared to another footballing genius, George Best, who died in 2005, aged 59. "He had an irresistible charm, like George Best," Morgan said. "Gazza was incredibly funny – a naturally quick-witted, funny character. And there is the emotional side: when he cried at the World Cup, the country fell in love with him because we saw that underneath the cheeky chappy character was this very caring, sensitive, emotional, vulnerable guy."Gascoigne has often been compared to another footballing genius, George Best, who died in 2005, aged 59. "He had an irresistible charm, like George Best," Morgan said. "Gazza was incredibly funny – a naturally quick-witted, funny character. And there is the emotional side: when he cried at the World Cup, the country fell in love with him because we saw that underneath the cheeky chappy character was this very caring, sensitive, emotional, vulnerable guy."
But, Morgan said, in another way Gascoigne couldn't be more different to Best: "George Best was a happy drunk. He never wanted to be helped – he just wanted to be left alone to drink himself into the grave; Gazza is a very unhappy drunk. He has been through innumerable hellish treatments, and although he keeps falling off the rails, he is still desperate to sort himself out."But, Morgan said, in another way Gascoigne couldn't be more different to Best: "George Best was a happy drunk. He never wanted to be helped – he just wanted to be left alone to drink himself into the grave; Gazza is a very unhappy drunk. He has been through innumerable hellish treatments, and although he keeps falling off the rails, he is still desperate to sort himself out."
While Gascoigne is an extreme case, he is one of many former sporting heroes who have struggled to adapt to life after retirement, and sought solace in drink. The boxer Frank Bruno has had severe mental health problems, and the former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff recently made a television documentary about the prevalance of depression in former sports stars. Flintoff has suggested that more has to be done to prepare sports stars for a life away from the adulation. Bruno has said the worst thing is trying to fill long, empty days that were previously mapped out with fierce training regimes. While Gascoigne is an extreme case, he is one of many former sporting heroes who have struggled to adapt to life after retirement, and sought solace in drink. The boxer Frank Bruno has had severe mental health problems, and the former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff recently made a television documentary about the prevalence of depression in former sports stars. Flintoff has suggested that more has to be done to prepare sports stars for a life away from the adulation. Bruno has said the worst thing is trying to fill long, empty days that were previously mapped out with fierce training regimes.
Yesterday, it was reported that on arriving in Arizona Gascoigne had slipped his minder for "one last drink" before going into rehab. Meanwhile at the Providence, staff said they will be glad to see him on his return – but they hope that's no time soon. It was reported on Wednesday that on arriving in Arizona Gascoigne had slipped his minder for "one last drink" before going into rehab. Meanwhile, at the Providence, staff said they will be glad to see him on his return – but they hope that's no time soon.
In an statement, the Providence said: "The Providence Projects are continuing to support Paul Gascoigne and family members but felt that he would have a better chance starting his journey back into recovery away from the media frenzy." In a statement, the Providence said: "The Providence Projects are continuing to support Paul Gascoigne and family members but felt that he would have a better chance starting his journey back into recovery away from the media frenzy."