GAZZAMANIA swept Manchester when the former England soccer star arrived to sign copies of his autobiography.

Football fans might still be struggling through the heartbreak after Sven's men crashed out of the Euro 2004 championship on Thursday, but for a few hours yesterday, they managed to put their woes behind them as the Paul Gascoigne entourage rode into town.

It is 14 years since the Geordie star firmly secured his place in sporting history - famously breaking down in tears when England lost the 1990 World Cup semi-final.

With his cheeky smile and laddish banter, he quickly found a place in the nation's hearts - and he has rarely been out of the press ever since with a career featuring spells at Newcastle, Spurs, Middlesbrough, Everton, Glasgow Rangers, Lazio, and China.

More recently, his reputation suffered with tales of loutish behaviour, boozing, and wife beating.

His new book Gazza: My Story promises to reveal the full details of his turbulent lifestyle both on and off the pitch.

It is a story that has got footie fans hooked, with hundreds of people turning up to signings across the country. In Manchester, supporters queued for nearly two hours outside Waterstone's bookstore on St Ann's Square for a glimpse of their hero. When the man himself finally arrived, looking relaxed and suntanned - and sporting a sparkling diamond earring a la David Beckham - it was clear he was overwhelmed by the display of support.

However, behind the smile and the quick banter, there is an element of heartbreak to the real Gascoigne life story.

"It's a tough one," he said. "I'm touring the country and people are pleased for the book to go to number one in two days, but for me it's mixed feelings.

"I know what's in the book. There's good stuff, bad stuff, and mad stuff.

"The worst thing for me was that I wasn't sure what the public was going to think about what I put myself through and what I put the clubs through.

"Everyone has been really supportive. I knew I would have that anyway, but not to the extent of each shop I went to being jam-packed.

"It's been a two-hour signing and I have stayed for three. I deserve to give something back to the fans after the support they have given me.

"It's been heart-breaking emotionally. But it's helped for therapeutic reasons."

Gazza has put a stop to his drinking and is lending his support to a clinic being built in Liverpool to help battle alcoholism.

Now, although he still appears nervous when talking about his past, he says he hopes his book can help others to beat the bottle.

"I'm an alcoholic and I don't mind admitting that. There's three million alcoholics and three million suffering alcoholics.

"I was saved by my counsellor. If I can help one person from dying that's good for me. There's a lot of stuff in there and I'm not proud of what I did. I was caught up in the middle of something as I call it. I'm stuck with it, but I don't mind that because I can remember my last drink, I was a down and out drunk.

"But at the end of the day I had a great career. I have won a lot of awards and made a lot of people happy. Unfortunately, when I was trying to make everyone happy, inside I was hurting.

"I was sad and I did one thing - and I hope a lot of people don't do this - I didn't ask for help. There's help out there.

"I thought I could do it on my own but I couldn't. I wanted fame, I must admit that, I wanted to be famous. But when I got all that I didn't want the pressures with it.

"I only hope by doing this book I can let everyone know that hopefully I have moved on now and hopefully be a better person for everyone and hopefully be a better person for myself."

helen.tither@men-news.co.uk

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