England legend Paul Gascoigne to resume football career at 47

Paul Gascoigne

Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne will resume his football career at the age of 47.

The catch? It’s for Sunday League Division Four side Abbey in Bournemouth.

Sunday League is an amateur football league organized by players who don’t have the time to play much football play on Sundays.

Gascoigne’s boss is a taxi driver

Abbey’s boss is Chris Foster – a taxi driver. And he signed the ex-Tottenham Hotspur player.

“I've offered to pick him up,” said Foster, who signed him up at a shop while buying cigarettes.

Gascoigne reportedly said, “If you're still playing at 51, then I could still play at 47."

Foster recalled the entire conversation he had with the player who represented England 57 times.

On seeing the required forms to sign the player, “He said, 'what's that for?',”

“I said, 'Are you going to sign on for me?' and he said, 'oh, go on then'.

“He said, 'who's it for', I said, 'Abbey FC' and he said, "OK then, mate, it's a deal. You give me my £8 change back, and I'll sign for you' and that was it.”

England player Paul Gascoigne celebrates after scoring the second goal during the 1996 EURO group match between against Scotland at Wembley

Gasciogne can start playing immediately

The Bournemouth FA confirmed that Gascoigne’s registration was accepted and that he could start playing as early as this weekend.

Foster even cheekily said that his involvement would depend on his fitness too.

‘Gazza’, as he is more popularly known, last played professionally for League Two side Boston United in 2004.

He has also played for various clubs like Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton, Burnley and even had a spell at Chinese side Gansu Tianma.

He also helped England reach the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup. He has scored 10 goals for country and 110 goals in his club career that lasted 20 years.