FOOTBALL legend Paul Gascoigne was a special guest at the Betway Premier League in Bournemouth on Thursday.
The former Newcastle, Spurs, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and England midfielder enjoyed the Premier League action at The BIC and also met with stars of the tournament backstage.
Gascoigne revealed that he has previously played against the legendary Phil Taylor in Stoke, and that he jumped at the chance to finally see the Betway Premier League live in person.
"I'm so excited to be here," Gascoigne told the PDC in an exclusive interview. "I missed the one last year and said I'd definitely come this year - I love my darts.
"It's great to be here - I watch it every week. It's good to see the guys having a bit of banter before they go out there.
"It's a great sport and it's taken off all around the world. Everywhere they go it's a full house, which is incredible."
Gascoigne has previously played darts with Phil Taylor when the 16-time World Champion owned a pub in Stoke, but expressed his admiration for the sport's new superstar, Michael van Gerwen.
He smiled: "Phil beat me on his knees - it was unbelievable! The things he's achieved are unbelievable and darts is massive now and it's all down to Phil and what Mr Hearn's done.
"If Phil plays the way he can do I think no-one can stop him but he's some player as well, van Gerwen, an unbelievable kid who's just come through and thrown darts like the way I played - he's got his heart on his sleeve but he's some player and he's progressed and progressed and become an unbelievable player."
Click below to watch our exclusive interview with Paul Gascoigne