A jury has been sworn at Teesside Crown Court in England to hear the case of former England footballer Paul Gascoigne, who denies a charge of sexual assault.
The 52-year-old is accused of kissing a woman on a train between York and Newcastle on August 20 last year.
Prior to the swearing-in of the jury of eight men and four women, Judge Peter Armstrong asked them whether they had worked for any of Gascoigne's past clubs, including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Middlesbrough, Ranges and Everton.
The judge told the jury that Gascoigne faces a charge of sexual assault, which he denies.
Wearing sunglasses, a blue suit and a patterned tie, Gascoigne was mobbed by photographers as he walked into the court building.
As he entered, one member of the public was heard shouting "Go on Gazza lad", to which the former footballer responded: "Ah right, lad."
At a previous hearing earlier this year, the court heard how Gascoigne's defence will be that he has a propensity to kiss people "in a non-sexual manner".
His trial is scheduled to last five days.
Australian Associated Press
