FAREWELL TO OUR DAVE

Gascoigne, and apart from ghost-writing his column he also persuaded him to dress up as Father Christmas in Selfridge’s.

He also somehow convinced renowned hard man Vinny Jones, and his Wimbledon team-mate John Fashanu, to transform themselves into the Ugly Sisters for another memorable photoshoot.

Another time, he brought a feature idea to life by getting Swansea City, then a lower league outfit, to allow him to turn out for their reserves in a pre-season game – only to steal the show with a fourgoal display.

But his greatest coup was undoubtedly in 1989 when he talked Liverpool’s legendary striker – and magazine columnist – Ian Rush into posing in an Everton shirt.

There he was on the Shoot! front cover with a ‘World Exclusive’ headline.

Thousands of Liverpool followers then bombarded the Anfield switchboard to check if it the story was true, but were oblivious to the April 1 dateline. Derby County fan Dave made many friends in the world of football, including England stars Dave Beasant, Gary Stevens, Neil Ruddock and Trevor Steven, for whom he co-wrote autobiographies.

In his later years, Dave worked for the Professional Footballers’ Association, and spent his Saturday afternoons covering matches for the Sunday Mirror.

Dave leaves a widow Carole and sons Joshua and Ben.