England legend Paul Gascoigne pleads for help after two day gin and cocaine binge lands footie ace in hospital
Troubled star has opened his heart to The Sun on Sunday, revealing 'I f***ing hate being an alcoholic'
FOOTIE hero Paul Gascoigne has revealed how he fell off the wagon, was offered cocaine and ended up in hospital on a drip after a two-day bender.
The troubled star opened his heart to The Sun on Sunday over the binge at a posh hotel when, watched on by saddened fellow guests, he appeared to handle the drug.
Gazza, 49, who has battled with alcoholism for years, said he had drunk a bottle of gin alone in his hotel room because he felt “down” before going down to the bar.
But he confessed he could not remember everything that happened afterwards, adding: “If I spoke to anyone about cocaine I regret it. If anything happened I regret it.”
The ex-England and Spurs star was seen at the four-star Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth staggering around and slurring as he spoke to revellers.
At one point Gazza, who lives in nearby Poole, appeared to try to give money to a man he had met in the bar.
The stranger was heard saying: “Gazza that’s for you, no money — that’s a little cheeky one. That’s for free, just for you.”
He then went into the toilets with the man, where Gazza was heard to say: “That’s doing f*** all.”
He was seen leaning over the cistern, before the other drinker said: “Gazza, as soon as my mate’s here I’ll get you one.”
Gazza, who has since recovered from his binge said: “I had a blip and I ended up in hospital on two drips.
“I took myself to hospital because I knew I had messed up. I’d done myself some damage with the gin.”
Gazza said he drank for two days after buying some gin on a train because he had been left devastated by the recent death of his nephew Jay Kerrigan, 22.
He had gone to Newcastle to visit family last month.
Afterwards he travelled to London to watch England play Scotland in their World Cup qualifying match at Wembley — scene of his famous wonder goal against the Scots at Euro 96.
But he did not make the Friday night game, and was seen weeping on stepdaughter Bianca’s shoulder outside the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, West London.
He said: “I get a buzz when I go up there but felt down afterwards and I let things get on top of me.
“I had a couple of miniatures of gin and drank them on the train. I didn’t think of the consequences.
“I was nervous when I saw Bianca, and I hadn’t seen her for a while. The reason I cried is because I’d had my first mouthful of booze for ages and knew I had messed up.
“I didn’t make it to the game. I knew if I went to the match I would have got emotional because of the goal I scored 20 years ago.
“So I went up to my room and ordered room service. We chatted and she went home. The next day I texted Bianca and apologised.”
Gazza travelled back to Bournemouth the next day — Saturday, November 12. He said he stayed in the hotel after losing his bag and house keys.
Gazza explained: “I went to the Royal Bath because I know the people there and knew I could stay.
“I went into the hotel room with a bottle of gin and drank that and went downstairs. I sat next to an old couple talking about fishing for about an hour — and then people started offering me drinks.
“It’s not right but not everyone knows I am an alcoholic and some of them are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.”
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Gazza started talking to a group in the hotel bar. He said: “They were being nice to me and asked for a selfie and bought me a drink.
“After about an hour I went to the toilet and the next thing I remember these four guys asked me if I wanted some cocaine.
“The last time I had it was 16 years ago and I got sectioned and wanted to die from the paranoia.
“For these four guys to offer me cocaine and drink was disgusting. I wanted to hit one of them. I was leaning over the toilet because I was being sick. I am an alcoholic and it is my fault, but luckily I knew I had to stop.
“I f***ing hate being an alcoholic. It is horrible especially as I used to love the pub on a Sunday with the lads and playing dominoes.”
After his bender Gazza, who has had several stints in rehab, says he went home and tried to sleep it off.
He said: “I tried to go cold turkey but was at home for a day and a half with the shakes. I realised I wasn’t getting any better. So I went to A&E and Poole Hospital were fantastic.”
Gazza was hooked up to a saline drip and a vitamin and water drip while his condition was monitored. He said: “I had a blip but am fine now. I am healthy and handsome and look like Don Johnson again.”
As he spoke to us in a hotel room, Gazza’s speech was slurred although he was clearly sober.
He cracked jokes and, when a waiter brought a tray of coffees Gazza asked him the time in a slapstick attempt to make him spill the drinks. Yet behind the smiles, it has been a tough year for him.
His nephew’s death after a battle with drugs addiction sparked a drinking binge of his own and The Sun told in July how a moronic “fan” bought him a bottle of gin during another session.
And fans were also concerned he failed to show at an event in Middlesbrough last month. Gazza said: “I haven’t had the best of years, starting with my sister’s son. I was close to Jay and tried to help him.
“I’ve had the odd blip but it’s a two-day bender, not a three-week one. If I had been drinking that badly I would not be here.”
Super-slim Gazza still tries to keep fit, doing 900 sit-ups and 600 squats every day. But he reveals how badly he misses football 12 years after retiring.
He said: “There is a huge void in my life because I am not playing. It is hard. I do find it difficult to watch players who are crap on £100,000 per week.”
But the man regarded as the most gifted footballer of his generation has sympathy for current England stars like Wayne Rooney.
Rooney was spotted drinking until 5am at a wedding he had crashed after England v Scotland.
Gazza said: “I wouldn’t say what he did was that bad. He only gets followed because he’s world-class.
“I’m the wrong person to offer advice, but I’d tell him to go the US or Spain if he has had enough here. If I could speak to him I’d also tell him he still owes me £40. When I was at Everton I watched an under-19s game he played in.
“I said after, ‘Here’s £40 if anyone wants to go out on the p***. He was first to put his hand up. He has never given it back.”
At the end of our interview Gazza hugged our reporter and photographer. He said: “Thanks for listening. Let everyone know I am fine and on form now.”
Don't offer booze
GAZZA’S agent Terry Baker urged fans not to buy the legend booze or to encourage him to drink.
Terry said: “We want them to be more responsible.
“We go to a lot of effort to keep people with alcohol away from him at events.
“I’m grateful to The Sun on Sunday for alerting me to Paul’s situation.” Gazza’s stepdaughter Bianca also thanked us for contacting them.
We also alerted the clinic in Bournemouth where the former England star gets counselling, and his ex-Spurs teammate Gary Mabbutt.
You can wish him well on the comments section below.