As Paul’s physio I was very close to him so we were all in tears when we realised how serious it was. I really wanted to go to hospital with him, but they told me: You can’t... there’s still a cup final going on
THIRTY years on, it remains one of the most iconic moments in FA Cup final history.
Paul Gascoigne, the biggest star in the English game, taken off on a stretcher after suffering a career-threatening injury during his challenge on Nottingham Forest’s Gary Charles in the 1991 Wembley showpiece.
The Tottenham midfielder was due to join Lazio in a huge summer transfer but suddenly his whole world was falling apart. Gazza faced a year-long rehabilitation battle to save his career and Spurs’ financial problems meant the whole future of the club even depended on the £5.5million move going ahead.
It was a dramatic incident which will inevitably be replayed in the build-up to this weekend’s final.
And one man who saw it close up was former Spurs physio John Sheridan, who has now spoken for the first time about a story which was so big he ended up appearing on the BBC’s Nine O’Clock News. Sheridan, 78, has written his own book – The Limping Physio, which is due to be published in the autumn – recounting his memories of his own remarkable career and that awful moment. “We both knew it was a serious injury straight away,” said Sheridan (left). “I remember, after he came off, waiting for the doctor and we both had tears in our eyes.
“As a physio, you are so close to the players. I was so close to Paul that I was ready to go to the hospital with him until the doctor said, ‘You can’t, there’s a game going on’.” Gascoigne had suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury. The tackle led to a free-kick from which Stuart Pearce put Forest ahead but Spurs came back to win 2-1, with Paul Stewart equalising before Des Walker’s extra-time own goal.
“I remember that day so clearly,” said Sheridan. “It was Clough’s Forest versus Terry Venables and Tottenham. Our great captain Gary Mabbutt, one of the nicest men you could ever meet, went up to lift the FA Cup and all my thoughts were with Paul. I went to the hospital early the next morning. I was in the operating theatre and watched the surgery. I remember there was a fear that he would not play at the top level again.”
Gazza recovered to join Lazio in the summer of 1992 and Sheridan said: “There was so much pressure at the time. Tottenham’s finances meant they were counting on the transfer and it was a huge deal. Lazio gave him a deadline to get fit.
“It was such a big story that the world’s media were there and I had to go out and read a statement and I ended up on the Nine O’Clock News. I always
‘I had to read a statement and ended up on the Nine O’Clock News’
FROM KISSING DIANA’S HAND TO ENDING UP IN HOSPITAL... GASCOIGNE’S FATEFUL DAY
believed in Paul and he trusted me. You have to have that between physio and player.
“We did revolutionary things back then which are still being done. Hydrotherapy, weights, working in the pool.
“When I was down, Paul would lift me. I went to Rome on numerous occasions and the pressure of that deadline was huge. He actually played more games for England after that injury than before and would a player who wasn’t fully fit have scored that goal against Scotland in Euro 96? I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved.”
A father of three, with three grandchildren, Sheridan hurt his leg falling off a bus as a teenager.
The title of his book (left) was inspired by the incident and he hopes his achievements with a disability may inspire others.
Sheridan added: “I remember running on to the pitch, scared how fans might react when the physio came on with a limp.
“I knew I’d get stick but I doffed my cap to them. They laughed and people like Cloughie or Fergie suddenly knew about you, the physio with a limp.”