Gazza Consortium Makes Bid For Kettering - 5/10/2005

A consortium involving former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne have made a bid to buy Nationwide Conference North side Kettering Town. Consortium leader Imraan Ladak said that he was confident a deal would be concluded soon. Gazza recently visited the Poppies to see them play Stafford Rangers, accompanied by his best friend Jimmy Five Bellies. The consortium, made up of Spurs fans based in Milton Keynes, had a look at clubs as high as League One, but found that the price tag was too high. One of the attractions of Kettering (and there aren't many) is that Gazza could play for the Northamptonshire side. Peterborough owner Barry Fry who has been advising Gazza commented, 'I know he's knocked his body around, but he could play for Kettering standing on his head.' Fans of Rushden and Diamonds, based in the nearby town of Irthlingborough, would probably agree with that. Poking fun at Kettering is one of their favourite activities, one of the more repeatable remarks being to dub the Rockingham Road home of the Poppies, Rocking Horse Road.