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Gascoigne had failed to make the England squad as he was grappling with the alcohol-related death of a close friend
Annabel NugentSunday 23 November 2025 13:56 GMTComments
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Paul Gascoigne has opened up about his “rock bottom” moment.
The former England midfielder has been candid about his struggles with alcohol addiction and mental health over the years.
In a new interview with The Sunday Times, Gascoigne, 58, reflected on hitting “rock bottom” in 1998 when he contemplated suicide in Stevenage after a four-day drinking binge in Ireland.
At the time, he was struggling after failing to make the England squad for what would have been his second World Cup. Those feelings were amplified by the death of his close friend from acute alcohol poisoning after they’d been drinking together. An inquest found that the friend had suffered from heart problems.
Although Gascoigne had been painted in the press as an alcoholic before then, the former footballer said that his alcohol addiction did not become severe until the late 1990s.
“There were loads of times I was demonised in the press for being a drinker and often unfairly, in my opinion, but the truth was things didn’t get really bad for me until the late 1990s, when I hit rock bottom,” he said.
The night that he contemplated suicide, he called his then wife Sheryl who “talked me round”. Gascoigne ended up on suicide watch at the Marchwood Priory Hospital in Hampshire.
Sheryl and Gascoigne married in 1996 and divorced in 1998. Sheryl went on to publish her 2009 memoir Stronger: My Life Surviving Gazza, which detailed their violent relationship. Gascoigne has admitted to domestic violence against his ex-wife.
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne is recovering at home after a spell in hospital (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Archive)“I will always be sorry for the pain I caused her,” Gascoigne told The Times in the new interview.
Gascoigne and Sheryl share three children, including 29-year-old Regan who won 2022’s season of Dancing on Ice. He is also the adoptive father to Mason and Bianca, born to Sheryl and her first husband Colin Kyle.
Earlier this year, Gascoigne was admitted to hospital in July. The Sun reported that he had been found “semi-conscious” at home by a friend in Poole, Dorset.
At the time, his representative said: “Paul voluntarily went into A&E on Friday after struggling with a throat condition he has had for a while. He is already back home and doing well.”
Over his career, Gascoigne played at Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers. He helped England reach the semi-finals at the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email [email protected], or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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