Former England and Newcastle United legend Paul Gascoigne has been remembered for a touching act of kindness towards a Rangers supporter during his playing days. The 58-year-old, who played for Rangers between 1995 and 1998, surprised a fan with an unexpected home visit that went largely unreported at the time.
Football agent John Viola, who represented Gascoigne, shared the story on LinkedIn to highlight the player's generous nature. According to Viola, he and Gascoigne were in a regular pub in Glasgow one Sunday afternoon when a man approached them and politely asked if the former midfielder would sign something for his father, a devoted Rangers fan. Gascoigne obliged before briefly excusing himself to go to the toilet.
When Gascoigne failed to return after two hours, Viola and the others assumed he had left. However, Gascoigne later walked back in, explaining that he had accompanied the man to his father's house nearby. He spent two hours there, drinking tea and chatting with the elderly fan. 'No cameras. No fuss. Just being himself,' Viola wrote.
Viola emphasised that Gascoigne, despite his well-documented struggles with alcohol and mental health, was one of the kindest and most down-to-earth people he had ever met. 'Most people only ever see the headlines on players... but being an agent gives you a rare window into who these players really are,' Viola added.
