England’s national teams were embarrassed during their tour of Asia ahead of Euro 96 when British media published photos of people tied to a dentist’s chair and forced to drink alcohol, but one team member claims he won the competition.
Paul Gascoigne managed to brighten up the alcohol-fuelled night in spectacular fashion after staging a ‘dentist’s chair’ celebration following his iconic goal against Scotland while Euro96lying on the ground and pouring the contents of a water bottle on himself.
Among the players present at the evening in which England players were caught in the dentist’s chair Newcastle defenseman Steve Howey. He made four appearances for the Three Lions during his career, all of which came in the two years leading up to the 1996 tournament, although he believes his fame will surpass that of his teammates that night in Hong Kong.
The England international claims to have won the dental chair competition in Hong Kong
“It was an iconic summer,” Howey says FourFourTwo. “I was in Hong Kong before the tournament and many people don’t know that I actually won the dentist chair challenge!
“This might be my biggest claim to fame. I’m in photos and beers and they still make me laugh. The press was outraged.”
Despite being included in the squad for the home tournament, Howey did not play a single minute at Euro 96, and an early injury kept him out until the end.
“After the first match against SwitzerlandTerry told me I would have a part to play in the next game against Scotland,” explains Howey. “But while running before that match, I tore all the ligaments in my ankle and that ended my tournament.
“I was devastated and Terry was angry with me too. He told me to stay with the guys and be a part of it. Instead, I supported them as a fan and tried to keep everyone entertained between games. I’m still grateful to Terry for letting me come anyway.”
