Gazza dream is shattered

Nov 23 2002 By Dave Black, The Journal

Hopes are fading that one- time soccer superstar Paul Gascoigne will make a non-league club's dreams come true by playing for them.

Officials at Morpeth Town - whose average home crowd numbers about 80 - had been optimistic that Gateshead-born Gazza would play for them on a match-by-match basis.

The 35-year-old former England, Newcastle and Lazio star had been training with the Northern League outfit as part of a fitness programme and said he would consider playing the odd game to improve his match sharpness.

It had been hoped Gazza would turn out for the club in their FA Vase tie at Midlands side Willenhall Town next month.

But that now looks unlikely after his friend and former Newcastle United colleague David McCreery revealed he was looking at other offers.

The thought of him playing at their Craik Park ground on Morpeth Common had been a mouthwatering one for Morpeth Town bosses, who thought Gazza's presence would smash their record attendance of about 1,000.

Town chairman Ken Beattie, who runs an Ashington engineering company, had asked Gazza to consider playing for the club after he attended a home game and went into the dressing room to meet the players.

But last night Mr Beattie said: "I have not spoken to Paul recently, but Dave McCreery has told me he has hopefully got a professional club lined up, so it looks like he will not be joining us.

"It is a real disappointment because we hoped he might just play one or two games on the road back to full fitness.

"It would have been fantastic for the club and the town and it was a great thought while it lasted.

"It all depends on what happens with the club Paul is planning to talk to, but we would love to have him back training with us again at the very least.

"His presence at training and at one of our home games has given the whole place and all of the players a tremendous boost.

"The number of people who have been telephoning me from all over the world about him has been unbelievable. It just shows how massive a name he still is in football."

Gazza asked to train with Morpeth Town as part of his fitness regime under Newcastle Falcons fitness coach Steve Black and promised to consider Mr Beattie's offer of playing a couple of games.

Talk that he might grace Craik Park sent a buzz around Morpeth.

Last night Town Council chairman Derek Thompson said: "It would have been great if he had managed even a couple of games and if that is not going to happen now, everyone will be really disappointed."