What's it like having your lifelong pal becoming a world superstar?

When you start out in life you never plan it that way, but from the very first time I saw Gazza I knew he was a brilliant footballer in the making.

Mind you it was tough sometimes. When Jack Charlton became manager of Newcastle he'd made his mind up to kick Gazza out because he was overweight and unfit. Only the famous Gascoigne charm gave him two weeks grace and morning noon and night yours truly was helping Paul to make the deadline.

And it's not always like you read it in the newspapers. Not many people know that Vinny Jones and Gazza are chums and we've all been fishing quite a few times. All the papers were interested in after THAT photo was the “afters”. Gazza sent Vinny a single red rose and he sent back Gazza a bog brush.

I've been the victim of many of Gazza's pranks and even played up front as his “target man “ in a couple of friendlies. When Ron Atkinson talks about every team needing “a big man to put it about a bit” I don't think he had exactly me in mind.

Starting from Dunston to the nightclubs of London , the hills of Rome the bustling streets and warmth and charm of China I've been right alongside Gazza and I look forward to sharing many stories exclusively with you.

Each week, we'll take the best emails and the best footie jokes that you send in and publish them. Both Gazza and I believe that football is fun, about characters and personalities and having the courage to express your talents.