Gazza in 'good company' for drink driving

News that troubled former England ace Paul Gascoigne could face jail for his second drink driving misdemeanour this year hardly came as a surprise.

British footballers have a notorious reputation for motoring offences at all levels, but what is perhaps surprising is the number of Gazza's fellow England internationals who have been convicted for drink driving.

Ironically, twice-capped Gary Charles (who was famously on the receiving end of the horror-challenge which saw Gazza rupture his cruciate knee ligaments and arguably heralded his descent into alcoholism) once passed out at the wheel of his Mercedes sports car in a pub car park following a rampage on four wheels through the town of Long Eaton in Derbyshire and has served two prison sentences in his time.

Undoubtedly the most famous instance of a footballing drink driving case involved Tony Adams. After a long battle with alcoholism, the Arsenal captain careered his Ford Sierra into a wall near his home in Southend-on-Sea. On breathalysing the Arsenal captain police found him to be four times over the legal limit and Adams was imprisoned for four months.

Rio Ferdinand, known for his love for fast cars, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in 1997. The then 18-year old was banned from driving and was dropped from the England team.

Meanwhile, former England international Seth Johnson admitted charges of speeding and drink driving in August 2003, when he was speeding at 135mph near Bradford. He was banned from driving for two years and was sentenced to 100 hours community service.

But, perhaps the most surprising case involved Peter Shilton who was banned from driving for 15 months and was fined a sum of £350 for drink driving back in his 1980 pomp. The great keeper admitted in his autobiography he lost control of his car and crashed into a lamp post in a desperate attempt to escape his mistress' husband!