Footballing icon Paul Gascoigne has publicly expressed his profound remorse for the suffering he inflicted upon his ex-wife, Sheryl, during their troubled marriage in the 1990s.
A Turbulent Marriage and Deep Regret
The former England star, now 58, married Sheryl in 1996, a year that also saw the birth of their son, Regan. However, their relationship was marked by significant turmoil, driven by Gascoigne's public struggles with alcoholism and mental health issues. This led to incidents of both physical and emotional abuse, casting a shadow over their short-lived union.
The couple ultimately divorced in 1998, just two years after exchanging vows. Despite the passage of time, Gascoigne admits the past still weighs heavily on him. In a candid new interview with The Sunday Times, he stated, "I will always be sorry for the pain I caused her."
The Night on the Railway Platform
Gascoigne specifically recalled one harrowing night in 1998 for which he will forever apologise. After consuming alcohol, he found himself standing on the edge of a railway platform in Stevenage. It was his then-wife Sheryl who managed to "talk him around" from a potential tragedy.
The aftermath of this incident saw the football legend placed on suicide watch at a hospital in Hampshire. Reflecting on his life then versus now, Gascoigne remarked that while his past was vastly different, he wouldn't change it. "I've been through so much that nothing can faze us," he told the publication, adding it was a "shame".
Confronting a Darker Chapter
This was not the only serious incident during their marriage. Gascoigne has previously spoken about a night in 1996 at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire where he left Sheryl "black and blue". In his memoir, published by Reach Sport, he described headbutting her and pushing her to the floor during an argument.
He wrote that this was an episode he would regret for the rest of his life, acknowledging that Sheryl's recollection of events differed from his own. The incident made the front page of the Daily Mirror, with headlines proclaiming 'GAZZA BEATS SHERYL BLACK AND BLUE'.
Looking to the Future
While Gascoigne also had a previously strained relationship with his son, Regan, he confirmed that is now firmly behind them. He proudly gushed about his son's victory on Dancing on Ice in 2022 with partner Karina Manta, calling him an "unbelievable dancer" and "amazing".
Despite multiple stints in rehab, Gascoigne told the Mirror he will never give up alcohol, stating it was impossible to explain why he cannot stop. He emphasised that his drinking is not driven by hatred for his family or the public, but simply "for the sake of it".
Paul Gascoigne's memoir, 'Paul Gascoigne Eight', is available now, published by Reach Sport.
