Rogue One: A Paul Gascoigne Story

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i was just watching the vinnie jones doc and they had Gazza in that one

the crazy thing is i thought vinnie jones was an actor this whole time lmao never knew he was a soccer player

I need to watch that one. Watched the Gazza one, Bryan Robson too. And Saipan of course

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following

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following

Thanks bro. Trying something very different here.

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Episode 2 — The Gaffer.

The knock on the door came shortly after midday.

Paul Gascoigne already knew somebody was coming, but his agent had refused to reveal who. For the last few days he had found himself running through names in his head. Some made sense. Others didn't. There had been interest from England before, and with his future at Rangers increasingly uncertain, speculation was beginning to grow. Even so, the sight that greeted him when he opened the door brought an immediate smile to his face.

"Terry!"

Terry Venables grinned back at him.

The two men embraced before Venables stepped inside. There was no awkwardness, no formal introductions and no need to spend the first half hour making small talk. Their relationship stretched back years. More importantly, it had been strengthened during the greatest period of Gazza's later career: Euro 96.

For a few glorious weeks the previous summer, England had captured the imagination of the country. Venables had built a side that played with freedom and confidence, and nobody embodied that spirit more than Gascoigne himself. His goal against Scotland had become an instant classic, while his performances throughout the tournament reminded the football world that, at his best, there were few players anywhere capable of doing the things he could do.

"You were different that summer," Venables said as they settled into the living room.

Gazza laughed.

"You mean I was fit."

"That helped."

The pair spent the next few minutes reminiscing about Euro 96. The atmosphere, the supporters, the celebrations and the disappointment of the semi-final defeat to Germany all came flooding back. Even now, a year later, there was still a sense of unfinished business whenever either man spoke about the tournament.

Eventually the conversation turned towards the present.

Venables had only recently agreed to take charge of Leeds United following a difficult 1996-97 campaign that had left supporters frustrated and disillusioned. The club that had won the final First Division title in 1992-93 had suddenly looked lost. Howard Wilkinson's time at Elland Road had come to an end, and the Leeds board wanted fresh ideas.

They believed Venables was the man to provide them.

"The club needs a lift," Venables admitted. "Not a rebuild. The foundations are still there. But they need somebody to get people believing again."

Gazza nodded.

He knew Leeds still possessed quality players. David Wetherall, Lucas Radebe and players like Gary Kelly and Lee Bowyer now formed a solid core, while several exciting youngsters were beginning to emerge from the academy system. Venables spoke enthusiastically about the future, explaining that Leeds had one of the strongest youth setups in the country.

"There are some outstanding kids coming through," he said. "Maybe not all ready yet, but they're close. The next few years could be very exciting if we get this right."

Gazza could hear the excitement in his voice.

Venables wasn't talking like a manager hoping to survive another season. He was talking like somebody planning for something bigger.

Then came the real reason for the visit.

"You know why I'm here."

Gazza smiled.

"I've got a fair idea."

"I want you at Leeds."

There was no dramatic sales pitch.

No exaggerated promises.

Just a straightforward statement from a manager who had already earned his trust.

Venables explained that Leeds needed creativity. They needed personality. They needed somebody capable of changing games in an instant. More than anything, they needed a player supporters could rally around as the club attempted to climb back towards the top of English football.

"You'd love it there," Venables said. "The supporters would adore you."

"They usually do until I start causing trouble."

Venables laughed.

"I'll take my chances."

Unlike some managers, Venables wasn't trying to convince Gazza he could change him. He wasn't arriving with strict rules, ultimatums or promises to turn him into somebody else. He simply wanted the best version of the footballer he already was.

That mattered.

Perhaps more than anything else.

As the conversation continued, another interesting detail emerged. Leeds were already exploring ways of reshaping their squad, and one possibility involved Rod Wallace moving in the opposite direction. Rangers admired the striker, and discussions were beginning to take place behind the scenes.

"It could suit everyone," Venables admitted.

Gazza could immediately see the logic. Rangers would receive an experienced forward entering his prime, while Leeds would gain the creative midfielder they desperately wanted.

The more they talked, the more natural the move felt.

By the time the afternoon was drawing to a close, the conversation had drifted away from contracts and transfers entirely. Instead they found themselves discussing football, young players, future ambitions and the challenge of bringing Leeds back to where the club believed it belonged.

As Venables stood to leave, he paused in the doorway.

"I've managed a lot of talented footballers," he said.

Gazza looked up.

"You're still one of the best."

For a moment neither man spoke.

Then Venables smiled.

"So what do you think?"

Gazza returned the smile immediately.

The truth was he had been half-convinced the moment he saw who was standing on his doorstep.

Now he was almost completely sold.

The only question left was whether Leeds and Rangers could agree a deal.

If they could, one of English football's most popular managers and one of its most gifted players were about to reunite.

And both believed their best days might still lie ahead.

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Episode 3 — Promise.

The summer had flown by.

One minute Paul Gascoigne had been lifting trophies with Rangers and wondering what came next. The next, he was standing on the training pitches at Thorp Arch, preparing for another session under Terry Venables. Pre-season was well underway, and with Leeds investing heavily in both established stars and emerging talent, there was a growing sense that something special might be building in West Yorkshire.

Gazza arrived early, as he often did these days. The environment suited him. Leeds felt ambitious without being overwhelming. There were expectations, of course, but not the suffocating pressure that followed every move at Rangers or with England. Players could focus on football, and under Venables, football was always the priority.

As he made his way across the training ground, he spotted a familiar face.

"Still trying to tackle people instead of the ball?"

Paul Ince turned around and burst out laughing.

"Still trying to nutmeg everyone instead of passing it?"

The two embraced before immediately launching into the sort of banter that only old teammates could get away with. They had shared dressing rooms with England for years and knew each other well. Ince brought intensity to everything he did, but away from the pitch he was one of the biggest characters in the squad. Within minutes they were trading stories from international camps and winding each other up while the younger players watched from a distance.

The arrival of both men had transformed the atmosphere around Leeds. Supporters were dreaming again, and even within the squad there was a feeling that the club was moving forward. Experience had been added to a side that already contained quality, and Venables seemed determined to create an environment where players could enjoy themselves while still maintaining high standards.

That balance was evident once training began.

Venables rarely barked orders for the sake of it. Instead, he encouraged players to think for themselves. Sessions were competitive and demanding, but there was freedom too. If a player saw an opportunity for something creative, he was expected to take it. Every now and then Terry would stop a drill to crack a joke, drawing laughter from the group before immediately demanding concentration again.

"Enjoy yourselves," he shouted at one point. "But don't enjoy yourselves so much that I have to explain a five-goal defeat to the chairman."

The players laughed.

Then the tempo immediately increased.

One of the biggest surprises for Gazza was young Stephen McPhail. The teenager seemed to have all the time in the world whenever the ball arrived at his feet. Again and again he picked clever passes through crowded areas, spotting runs before most players had even noticed them.

Gazza watched one particularly ambitious pass split a defence in two.

"Where did they find him?" he asked.

"Academy," came the reply.

"Keep him there another year or he'll take my place."

Nearby, Gary Kelly was quietly going about his business. The young Irish full-back wasn't flashy, but everything he did looked reliable. He defended aggressively, timed his tackles well and never seemed flustered regardless of who he was facing. Several times during the session he found himself up against experienced internationals and never once looked out of place. His experiences with the Irish team particularly in 1994 had clearly stood to him.

Venables noticed it too.

"He's going to play a lot of football forus this season," the manager remarked.

Nobody disagreed.

The biggest excitement of the day, however, came from the club's newest striker.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had only recently arrived, but his finishing was already turning heads. During shooting drills he seemed capable of scoring from almost any angle. Powerful strikes flew into the corners of the net with frightening regularity, while goalkeepers could do little more than shake their heads.

After one particularly vicious finish, Gazza looked across at Ince.

"He doesn't half hit them."

Ince nodded.

"Good job he's on our side."

By the time the main session ended, most of the squad were ready for lunch. A few players headed inside immediately, but as always there were several who preferred to stay behind.

Gazza was one of them.

Young Ian Harte had already gathered a collection of footballs near the edge of the penalty area, while Harry Kewell was setting up a mannequin wall. Before long the three were taking turns firing free kicks towards goal under the warm August sunshine.

Harte's left foot was ridiculous for someone so young. The Irishman could bend the ball in ways that didn't seem entirely natural, while Kewell brought the same confidence and technique that had everybody talking about him as one of the brightest prospects in the country.

The competition quickly became serious.

Every successful strike was followed by celebrations and laughter. Every miss was greeted with merciless abuse from the other two.

"Too old," Kewell shouted after one Gazza effort drifted over the bar.

"Too Australian," Gazza replied.

Even Harte couldn't stop laughing.

As the afternoon drew to a close, Gazza found himself standing in the centre circle looking around the training ground. Ince had settled in immediately. Hasselbaink looked capable of scoring goals for fun. McPhail, Kelly, Harte and Kewell represented a new generation bursting with potential. Around them stood proven performers such as Radebe, Wetherall and Robertson.

For the first time since arriving, he could genuinely picture where Leeds might be heading.

This wasn't a club hoping to survive.

This was a club preparing to challenge.

And if the standards being set at Thorp Arch were anything to go by, the rest of the Premiership might soon have a problem.

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[Caesar]

Will be fun to see that front two of Kewell and Hasselbaink again. And hopefully a young Jonathan Woodgate getting some real playing time.

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