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Paul Gascoigne ("Gazza")
Paul was born in Gateshead, May 27 1967 and attended Brighton Avenue Primary School, Breckenbeds Junior High and Heathfield High. He moved to Dunston when he was 11 years old and lived in Spoor Street. At Breckenbeds he played on the school team. He was a talented sportsman, being also good at tennis, badminton and rugby.
He Played football for Redheugh Juniors in the Sunday League until he signed for Newcastle aged 14. He made his debut for Newcastle in August 1985 aged 18 when he played against Southampton at the Dell. The Sunday Sun reports that he "emerged as the game's outstanding performer".
Quotations from a former teacher at Breckenbeds School who taught Paul Gascoigne
"Paul Gascoigne was a professional joker with a wicked sense of humour."
"He played for the County under 16s when he was only 13!"
"Ian McFaul (an ex Newcastle goal keeper) came to Breckenbeds to sign him up for Newcastle when he was only 14 years of age."
"He was considered to be, at one stage in his career, the best footballer in the world!"
He joined the England Under 21s in 1987 and made his debut in June of that year against Morocco, where he scored in the 2-0 victory. He played for Newcastle United until 1988, when he moved to Tottenham Hotspur, signing for a record British fee of £2 million.
In 1990 Paul played for England in the World Cup in Italy and his emotional tears as England lost in the semi-finals to West Germany made him world famous. His celebrity status in the UK led to him releasing "Fog on the Tyne" as a single. It went to Number Two in the Charts.
Paul played for Tottenham Hotspur until 1992. They were FA Cup winners in 1991 and an injury sustained during that Cup Final meant he was out of the game from 1991 to 1992.
His subsequent career:
1992: signed for Italian team Lazio for £5.5 million.
1995: signed for Glasgow Rangers.
1996: played for England in the Euro '96 tournament, where they lost in the semi-finals to Germany.
1997: signed for Middlesbrough.
August 2000: moved to Everton FC.