Source: Team_Talk
Gazza puts on show for Darlo fans
The former Tottenham, Newcastle and Lazio midfielder pulled on his boots in a charity match at the Darlington Arena and more than 3,000 fans turned up to see him lead an 'All Stars' side, also featuring former Darlington stars Marco Gabbiadini and Bernie Slaven.
Gascoigne captained his side to a 5-3 victory against the most successful side in the Quakers' recent history, the 1999 play-off final team.
The midfielder, who made his last professional appearance in 2004, seemed to have put his much-publicised personal problems behind him.
Looking fit and happy, he played for almost an hour, and scored his team's second goal with a decisive strike from the penalty box.
The fallen star has undergone treatment for alcoholism, bulimia and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Last year he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act following an incident in Newcastle.
Speaking after the match, Gascoigne said he had enjoyed the game, but admitted he would spend "the rest of his life" trying to recover from his problems.
"I haven't played for about three-and-a-half years now, but I turned out because it's a good cause," he said. "Darlington Football Club are a North-East team and it means a lot to me. Darlington is a big club, and they don't deserve what has happened to them. They deserve better than that. It's great to be here, and it is good for me as well.
"My problems are never going to be behind me. Every street corner has a pub on it; there are drugs on every street corner. Booze is everywhere.
"But at the moment I don't want to take the booze and I don't want to be using again. I'm going to be recovering for the rest of my life, but I am sober when I am happy."
The match was the brainchild of recently departed Darlington manager Dave Penney and assistant manager Martin Gray.
The club, who were docked 10 points after entering administration, have until May 5 to find a buyer, but so far no one has come forward.
After the match Gray said it had "been a great day" and said he hoped enough money had been raised to rescue the 126 year-old club from
extinction.
"Today has been the equivalent to two or three home games, attendance-wise, so that has given us a lot of support," he said.
"The future of this club is so important, it is important that this football club survives. This game is everything."
Gray also paid tribute to Gascoigne, saying the star was "on the road to recovery".
"He has the biggest name from football in the country," he said.
"Everybody knows something about Paul Gascoigne.
"For us to attract him is the biggest plug we could have achieved. He is the biggest ex player in the country.
"He is on the road to recovery and it was time he put his boots on again."
