Robson’s loss proved to be Magpies’ gain
SIR BOBBY REJECTED SIGNING GASCOIGNE WHILE IPSWICH BOSS
With the club’s tight budget, Robson thought it a gamble he could not afford to take, and Gascoigne soon made the grade at St James’ Park
NEWCASTLE United fans may never have enjoyed the immense talent of Paul Gascoigne in a black and white shirt had Sir Bobby Robson not rejected him years earlier.
Incredibly, the former England and Newcastle boss invited Gazza for a trial to Ipswich Town as a 14-year-old but opted against signing the future World Cup star.
Of course, Gazza and Sir Bobby did eventually hook up after winning a call-up to play in Italia 90 and becoming player of the tournament in the eyes of many.
In a new book rapidly selling out over the festive period, author Bob Harris - a close aide of Robson - said: “One of the unforgettable images of the 1990 World Cup was Bobby consoling his tearful midfield dynamo and inspiration Paul Gascoigne after the dramatic semi-final defeat to West Germany.
“The two North Easterners may have formed a player-manager partnership nine years earlier, when Gascoigne was just a teenager and Robson in charge of Ipswich Town.
“Gascoigne may have never played for Ipswich in the end, but he was mighty close. Aged 14 at the time when he travelled south from Newcastle to Portman Road in 1981 – another player ready to leave the North East if the opportunity was good enough – he was clearly a youngster of immense talent and promise.
“He was also as broad as he was tall, a roly-poly who looked more like a trainee Sumo wrestler than an apprentice footballer.
“With the club’s tight budget, Robson thought it a gamble he could not afford to take and Gascoigne soon made the grade at St James’ Park.
“Years later he did take the plunge with Gascoigne, introducing him to the England setup shortly before Italia ’90 and the country’s most prodigious talent rewarded his manager by being elected the best young player in the World Cup.
“How Bobby loved him and how he loved Bobby.
“It was a football partnership made in heaven between two icons of the country born just over 10 miles away from each other.”
The book also takes a closer look at Italia 90, where iconic images of Gazza crying against West Germany emerged in Turin.
Harris added: “Nine minutes into extra time of the 1990 World Cup semi-final with West Germany there was a moment which went down in football folklore.
“It was not a great goal nor a save, not a miss or a horrendous foul.
“It was that jovial young character
Paul Gascoigne who had delighted his manager, his fellow players and the England fans with his ebullient spirit, his approach to life and his skill on the ball. “He had run his heart out for his team again and the legs were beginning to go when he raised one more gallop as he chased Thomas Berthold by the touchline, mistiming a challenge right in front of the German bench. “They leapt to their feet as one, screaming for retribution and the referee capitulated. “Gazza was given his second yellow of the tournament, meaning he would miss the final if England were to get through. “Gascoigne knew the consequences immediately and, with tears streaming down his face, begged and pleaded with the Brazilian official to change his mind - not something which was ever going to happen. “Robson’s heart bled for him. “It had been such a sporting, well-contested semi-final and he truly believed it was Berthold’s reaction to the challenge and the orchestrated complaints from the German bench which persuaded the referee to take action, totally out of character with what had gone before in the game.”
■ BOBBY Robson: The Ultimate Patriot by Bob Harris from deCoubertin Books is out now priced £20. The book also includes a foreword by Gary Lineker.