Paul Gascoigne Officially Inducted Into The National Football Museum Hall of Fame 

Paul Gascoigne, once described as the most famous man in Britain in the aftermath of the 1990 World Cup, was officially inducted into The National Football Museum Hall of Fame on Friday 19 th August.

'Gazza' who won 57 caps for England and stared for amongst others Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Middlesbrough and Glasgow Rangers was presented with his Hall of Fame award whilst visiting Stafford on a business trip.

Gascoigne said: “For those who say I squandered my career this proves that I didn't. To be recognised alongside some of the legends I grew up following makes me very proud. I'm absolutely delighted with this award and I intend to support the Hall of Fame in forthcoming years and am looking forward to attending this year's event.”

Mark Bushell from the Museum who presented the award said : “The National Football Museum created its Hall of Fame in 2002 and it has now become one of the highlights of the football calendar. It has tremendous support from all those who have played and managed in England . It has fast become the ‘Oscars' of the English game.”

Each year a list of 60 Nominees has to be whittled down to 10 Inductees by an exceptional selection panel made up of the great and good of English football. Each years Inductees then go forward onto the selection panel to choose those greats who should enter the Hall of Fame in future years.

Those on the panel at present include: Sir Tom Finney, Sir Bobby Charlton, Nat Lofthouse, Peter Shilton, Sir Bobby Robson, Gordon Banks and Bryan Robson to name but a few. Gascgoine was originally nominated for Induction in 2002 but unfortunately he has been unavailable, until now, to receive his award.

The Nominations for this years Hall of Fame have recently been announced as has the venue, The Lowry Hotel, Manchester . At this years ‘Gala Awards Ceremony', on the 20th October a further 8 players and 2 managers will be Inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame.

Bushell continued: “It's unfortunate that Paul could not attend the event in 2002, the year in which he was inducted, but he deserves this recognition for an outstanding and lasting contribution to the English game. Already the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Dave MacKay, Johnny Haynes, Colin Bell, Jack Charlton, Howard Kendall, Bryan Robson and Ryan Giggs have agreed to attend this years Hall of Fame which clearly shows that this is now the definitive football awards ceremony.”