In his new book, which will soon be released, former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne spoke honestly about the incident involving him and his ex-wife Sheryl in 1996
Patrick Austen-Hardy Senior Sports Journalist
13:42, 12 Oct 2025
Paul Gascoigne had a troubled marriage with ex-wife Sheryl(Image: Dave Benett, Getty Images)
Ex-England footballer Paul Gascoigne has bared all about the night he physically assaulted his former wife Sheryl and left her “black and blue” before confessing their marriage was a “mistake.”
The violent episode occurred in 1996 at the Gleneagles hotel in Perthshire, where he headbutted and shoved Sheryl, resulting in her departing with her arm in a bandage. After just one year of matrimony, Sheryl sought a divorce, leading to the ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder paying her a settlement of £700,000 plus monthly maintenance payments of £10,000.
Despite their brief marriage, their relationship continued in various forms, with Sheryl supporting him when he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2008 and returning in 2013 after he reached out to her. In a new book, Gascoigne has shed light on the infamous incident, which was depicted as ‘GAZZA BEATS SHERYL BLACK AND BLUE’ on the front page of the Daily Mirror.
The excerpt, serialised by the Daily Mail, reads: “Just three months into our marriage, in October 1996, the disharmony between us erupted into a terrible episode I will regret for the rest of my life. We were on a break at The Gleneagles Hotel close to Perth with the kids.
“I started to argue with Sheryl over something stupid while we were in the restaurant. She went upstairs to the room, and I followed her there and put my head against hers. Instinctively, I pushed her away from me, throwing her to the floor.
“‘F*** off’, I told her. As she landed she hurt her hand, and cried out in agony. I knew I’d truly messed up and once she’d calmed down, I left – there was nothing left for me to do or say.
“A few days later, the headline on the Daily Mirror’s front page read ‘GAZZA BEATS SHERYL BLACK AND BLUE,’ and there were pictures of Sheryl outside the hotel, with her arm in a sling.
1996: Gascoigne admitted he had beaten Sheryl during their time together. The pair divorced in 1999.(Image: Mirrorpix)This picture of Sheryl Gascoigne, ex-wife of Paul Gascoigne, leaving the hotel in 1996 after their argument shocked the country(Image: Press Association)
“It’s only fair I mention that Sheryl’s recollection of what happened is very different from my own. Regardless, I will always be sorry for the pain I caused Sheryl that night, and I am sure a lot of people will believe I fully deserved what happened next.”
Gascoigne also revealed opposing supporters would routinely chant “Wife beater, wife beater” following the reports. He confessed the incident left a “dark shadow” hanging over his existence and acknowledged that he and Sheryl “were never quite the same again, despite brief spells of reconciliation.”
The former midfielder also conceded he viewed their marriage as an enormous error, with doubts creeping in during their actual wedding ceremony.
Paul Gascoigne Eight (published by Reach Sport) is on sale October 23rd
Paul Gascoigne Eight (published by Reach Sport) is on sale October 23rd
You can buy your copy here.
Gascoigne added: “In July 1996, the month after I was part of the England team knocked out of the Euros by Germany, Sheryl and I had a lavish wedding at Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire.
“It cost £150,000, a lot of money back then, but the whole thing was covered by the rights we sold to Hello! magazine. Facing Sheryl at the altar of the chapel in front of all our family and friends, including England team-mates David Seaman, Paul Ince, Chris Waddle, Ian Wright and pals Danny Baker and Chris Evans, was terrifying.
“The very instant we made our vows to each other, I knew I’d made a mistake. Straight away, I felt trapped, but it was too late. I just had to make the best of the situation and put on a brave face.”
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