BOOZE binges have been destroying soccer stars for more than 100 years, new research shows.

Tragic George Best and fallen England idol Paul Gascoigne are just the latest casualties of a trend that began when football went professional in the 1890s.

University of Ulster researcher Dr Neal Garnham said: "Even then, players were relatively well paid and had extensive leisure time.

"The result was that they resorted to the established working class pastime of the period - drinking."