Gazza will be dead in a year

Alcoholism is an addiction, obviousley a lot of you have had no experience with alcoholics and addiction, don't be so quick to judge others... you never know what is round the corner and maybe will be in the same position someday whether it is yourself, a friend or family, think on.

By S.. Posted October 11 2009 at 12:42 PM.

This is so shameful...how are the mighty fallen

By John.. Posted June 9 2009 at 4:30 AM.

I am an alcoholic. I have fallen of the wagon once in the past four years and did not like it at all. It reminded me of the things I very nearly lost.
The only person who can tell Paul he is an alcoholic and make the difference, is Paul.
And he has to tell that to himself everyday, for the rest of his life.

By Norman Mills.. Posted June 8 2009 at 7:40 PM.

Freya " very little help out there" - all I can say is you haven't looked very hard. My father was an alcholic, and I remember from the age of 8 to 34 as he let everything in his life go rather than give up drink, his marriage, his work, his daughter, his self-respect and finally his life. During that time we had support offered by various social services departments and charities and its thanks to the social security system in the UK that he still had a flat, and money to live with. I think the people who say they are not offered help are those who want it to be sorted out for them with no effort or difficulty on their part. Many people do turn their lives around and they are the ones who deserve the recognition and acknowledgement of what a fantastic achievement that is.

By Lisa M.. Posted June 7 2009 at 10:37 PM.

It is very sad but nobody can help Gazza now as he didnt help himself first.

By Eternal12.. Posted June 7 2009 at 6:57 PM.

people are so judgemental, if you cant say something nice then dont bother. I feel sorry for Paul. All the fame hasnt gone to his head, he still has time to talk to young footballers, a lot of the other players wont give them the time of day and charge for photos and autographs. Paul is a gent

By hazel.. Posted June 7 2009 at 6:34 PM.

It's very sad.
There's nothing anyone can do to help Gazza.
He'll either hit rock bottom and do it himself or he won't.
Until he decides to care more about himself that the booze, he's never going to climb out of his pit.
And fancy expensive rehab centers are a waste of time if he's being taken there without asking to go in the first place.
Poor sod. Maybe he should be allowed to fade away in peace.

By James B.. Posted June 7 2009 at 5:05 PM.

Alcoholism is a disease which never goes away and the sufferer has to live with it one day at atime.........just thnk about good old Jimmy Greaves, doing ok as far as I know but still waging war against his addiction. Are any of us in a position to judge Gazza and his drinking habits?...I know i,m not....many is the time I have over indulged and wished I had not and I bet Gazza feels the same way but he's stuck with this terrible predicament now. Perhaps more education about alcohol abuse would help next generations......I sadly feel all is lost for blokes like Gazza.

By miranda.. Posted June 7 2009 at 4:35 PM.

It's his life and if this is his choice so what? Just as long as the taxpayer doesn't have to spend on any hospital treatment for him.

By Jim Spooner.. Posted June 7 2009 at 3:17 PM.

Gazza, pull yourself together! People cannot save you unless you are fully committed to saving yourself first! Get a hobby, do some charity work, get a job, focus your mind on something worthwhile, just do something mate! Drinking is not going to solve any problems, and you know it!

By Nathalie H.. Posted June 7 2009 at 2:49 PM.

Its as simple as this - you can go days months without a drink, but it will never go away - horrible thing to have - destroys you. Its like needing food, so no one can judge uless they have alcaholism. AA helps yes, but tha means youhave to go EVERY night more or less for the rest of your days - come on who is going to do that!

By Mark Brittain.. Posted June 7 2009 at 3:11 PM.

Who needs a 'friend' like five bellies??

By Rooster Cogburn.. Posted June 7 2009 at 1:17 PM.

@ Lee R you must be a mackem ;-)

gazza see you in the metz sometime

By tc.. Posted June 7 2009 at 1:16 PM.

Until he is ready to accept help and admit this is his problem he will never get any better.

My mother was an alcoholic and for years I had to put up with her drunken vitriolic phonecalls and the fear she would die young. In 2002 I decided to stop rescuing her (this took me quite some time to do) and realized there was nothing I could do except look after me and my children. My mother then began to see her own issues and tried very hard to cut down on her drinking. Christmas 2002 was hard for her as it was 3 years since my dad died. Sadly she turned back to drinking heavily. She died on her own after suffering ruptured gastric erosions. Her neighbour found her the next day. No one deserves to die in this way but if you have hit self destruct then nothing is going to stop this happening.

Those who care for Gazza need to stop rescuing him and look after themselves.

By Mutteroo.. Posted June 7 2009 at 12:56 PM.

gazza you are my favourite player ever an absoloute bloody genius , no one could touch you
it seems since you have come out of football you have given up on life.
stop kidding yourself your ok , knock the bottle on the head and get some passion and pride back, get back involved in the game you loved
all the best

By stuart davies.. Posted June 7 2009 at 12:21 PM.

Best English footballer you must be a youngster.. Stanley Mathews ? Gazza and Best sorry for them both but it's self inflicted

By davandra... Posted June 7 2009 at 11:47 AM.

you say he needs help but as soon as you start to help and support them they turn on you because they want to hurt you so they can go on drinking personally i think he's had all the help you can give him and any saying he's there hero well you bring up your kids to be like him then ,no i don't think so

By tim flaherty.. Posted June 7 2009 at 11:43 AM.

He just wont help himself will he,when it looks like hes turning it round he starts drinking again,what a waste.If he got his head together he could get a job as a pundit or something,its a shame to see someone i regard as a hero like this

By mark.. Posted June 7 2009 at 10:56 AM.

he as got a something that will kill him,and cant stop drinking,he doesnt need people condeming him,he needs help,and a propper friend,to stay with him untill the end.

By timo... Posted June 7 2009 at 10:56 AM.

Whats all the fuss about? He's no different from every other geordie ;-)

By Lee R.. Posted June 7 2009 at 11:09 AM.

Gazza was the best English footballer we have ever produced......the FA should be ashamed of themselves of how he has ended up. Was always obvious he woud struggle when his carreer was over. What does the PFA get their money for?

Ultimately, Paul will do what he wants to.....maybe he has got a Georgie Best Death Wish

By Joe H.. Posted June 7 2009 at 11:09 AM.

Ultimate idol.

By STE.. Posted June 7 2009 at 11:09 AM.

Good on you Gazza. See you in Wetherspoons.

By Patrick Guiness.. Posted June 7 2009 at 10:01 AM.

gazza dead in a year good sooner the better then we wont have to read all crap in the papers about how good he 's suposed to have been

By samdman.. Posted June 7 2009 at 10:03 AM.

I think he needs a good night out with the lads, what makes you bad makes you better.

By davy .. Posted June 7 2009 at 9:57 AM.

Are any of you Alcoholics? You cant pass judgement on someone unless you have suffered or been close to someone who has its an evil addiction.

By Lesley.. Posted June 7 2009 at 9:09 AM.

I am sorry but this guy is not intelligent enough to know booze is killing him. I only hope they do not decide to give him a liver transplant when his liver packs up. I bet he will be died by Christmas.

By David .. Posted June 7 2009 at 8:02 AM.

every time i met him whether he was drunk or sober he was a prat .so save your simpathy for sick kids or abused animals as he wont give a toss about you .

By mccoll.. Posted June 7 2009 at 6:14 AM.

GAZZA YOUR A BLOODY FOOL YOU USED TO HAVE THE WORLD AT YOUR FEET. KIDS LOOKED UP TO YOU. NOW LOOK YOUR NOTHING BUT A DRUNKEN BUM

By GRAHAM.. Posted June 7 2009 at 5:48 AM.

from experience you can not appease an alcoholic, I tried to help a friend at least three times or more, a nice guy who I liked a lot as a friend whose marriage broke up and was out of work and on the slide down hill. I was in a position at the time to offer him a life line which he took, and later relapsed and I felt kicked in the nuts ,back ,legs, head,and any other parts of the body that you can think of. MY ADVICE TO ANYONE HELPING AN ALCOHOLIC IS IF THEY RELAPSE MORE THAN TWICE GIVE UP AND MAKE THEM GET PROFESSIONAL HELP.

By dwreck.. Posted June 7 2009 at 4:52 AM.

Shove him in a cell for 6 months! Away from all his hanger oners! And the new blonde bimbo young enough to be his daughter!

By Hazza.. Posted June 7 2009 at 4:16 AM.

This guy has had people bend over backwards to help him.I think he just craves the attention.
He can still write a best selling book,he must still be well off,because he stays in good Hotels.
At the end of the day he a complete out and out lush.

By Martayus.. Posted June 7 2009 at 1:58 AM.

My Uncle Died last year from multiple organ failiure....he had cancer of his liver and lungs mainly and most likely caused by drinking and smoking. He had no dependants unlike George or Gazza but as his niece it was still a horrible thing to see him go through.

Gazza has got too many hangers on still....too many yes people and not enough people around to tell him he's being a selfish prat and not thinking about those around him that care...

Anyone that's done anything for him has probably tried until they have turned blue....Alcoholism is a very selfish disease. If he wanted to get better for those around him he would do.

Yes Alcoholism is a terrible disease but with the money that Gazza has got he could easily get the help he wants....I feel pity for those who don't have his money but he is in a position where he could help himself so I wish people would stop pitying him....

By H.. Posted June 7 2009 at 1:36 AM.

Gazza there is only one way out of this it is called AA ring the national helpline and you will get the help support and unconditional love. The Medical profession can only ever get you through dettox AA is the only thing that works. Put your pride in your pocket and ring them. It will be your last chance.

By Anon.. Posted June 7 2009 at 1:17 AM.

Look at the picture of George Best, Paul.

By Sam.. Posted June 7 2009 at 12:53 AM.

Ive seen this numerous times before happening, rehab and the way the powers that be decide who gets taken into rehab is all wrong, celebs or so called celebs get all the help they want handed to them on a plate and it sickens me to the pit of my stomach, its all the wrong people who get rehab places and thats a fact, my husbands mother is an alcoholic, I dont think she would have turned into an alccie had she got off her backside when she was young and got herself a job,my husbands memories are of his mum and dad drinking constantly, his holiday memories are off his mum embarrassing them on the flight by being so wrecked out her face they threatened to land the plane immediately after take off!, this woman has now been in rehab THREE TIMES, each time spending 6months to a year paid for by us the tax payers at a standard cost of £6000 A WEEK! that does not include funded therapies by us the taxpayers, or trips again funded by us the taxpayers, for her to be released and hit the cheap cider a week after getting out, yet I know people who have died sudddenly trying to come off the booze themselves as they couldnt get the proper help they needed to help them come off it, its all wrong

By Gilly.. Posted June 6 2009 at 11:36 PM.

FOR THOSE WHO SAY HE CAN HELP HIMSELF..I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU ALL.... ALCOHOLISM IS A DREADFUL ADDICTION THAT KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES...AND SADLY THERE IS VERY LITTLE HELP OUT THERE FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER

By freya...WHO KNOWS .. Posted June 6 2009 at 11:34 PM.

i know about harmful drinking you naff. do you drinking and how to stop. i dont think so

By colin mc keegan.. Posted June 6 2009 at 11:17 PM.

what a stupid comment....re helping yourself and telling him to get a grip....get some knowledge about harmful drinking before making naff comments.

By mary.. Posted June 6 2009 at 10:22 PM.

I agree with the last comment I have no sympathy. It's a waste of time and money to our health service. There are people who need that time and money because of no fault of there own. Sort yourself out Gazza!!

By Paul Nish.. Posted June 6 2009 at 10:47 PM.

You have done your best guys with this guy. But at the end of the day, its his choice that determines what his future will be. Let it be. who can blame you

By nnnnnnnnnn.. Posted June 6 2009 at 10:52 PM.

what a waste of a great man and a great talent. but you cant help someone who do not want to help themselves. get a ....... grip paul.

By colin mc keegan.. Posted June 6 2009 at 9:46 PM.