Garry Thompson (footballer born 1959)
Encyclopedia
Garry Thompson is a former professional footballer and football manager, who played as a striker
. His younger brother, Keith Thompson
, was also a professional footballer.
He began his 20 year-long career at Coventry City
as a trainee and earned his first professional contract at that club. A fast and exciting player, he was a fans favourite and was part of the Sky Blues team which reached the 1981 League Cup
semi-final. He was also a prominent member of the Aston Villa team that gained promotion to the old first division in the 1987-88 season. Besides Coventry, Thompson went on to play for West Bromwich Albion
, Sheffield Wednesday
, Aston Villa
, Watford
, Crystal Palace
, Queens Park Rangers
, Cardiff City
and Northampton Town
, making a total of 487 league appearances and scoring 124 league goals. Thompson played his final professional game for Northampton in 1997. Whilst at Cardiff in December 1993 it was his goal which gave them a 1-0 win over South Wales rivals Swansea, however the goal and the victory sparked off a mass pitch invasion and subsequent violence in what was to become one of the most notorious moments in Welsh football.
Although he spent several seasons as an inventive and influential player at top-flight clubs, he was never selected for the England international squad, though his name was regularly mentioned prior to call-ups. His non-selection is thought to be because he never played for any of the more illustrious top-flight English clubs rather than a lack of international-class ability. This was all the more surprising considering he played six times as an England Under-21 international whilst playing at his peak during the 1981-1982 season, scoring on three occasions.
After retiring as a player, he became a coach
and in 2001 he took over as caretaker manager
of Bristol Rovers
following the sacking
of Ian Holloway
. He remained in charge for 23 games, until the appointment of Gerry Francis
. When Francis resigned
five months later, Thompson was given the Bristol Rovers job on a permanent basis, although he lasted only four months before being dismissed. In 2004 he was caretaker manager of Brentford
for one game between Wally Downes
and Martin Allen.
He joined Conference North
side Hucknall Town
in February 2006 as assistant to then manager Kevin Wilson, combining his position with a full-time role in promotions. With Hucknall struggling financially, Thompson was released from his contract in December 2006. The Hucknall chairman has denied the reason was financial.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. His younger brother, Keith Thompson
Keith Thompson (footballer)
Keith Thompson is a retired professional footballer from England, playing mainly as a winger. He was born in Birmingham in 1965, and is the younger brother of another professional footballer, Garry Thompson...
, was also a professional footballer.
He began his 20 year-long career at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
as a trainee and earned his first professional contract at that club. A fast and exciting player, he was a fans favourite and was part of the Sky Blues team which reached the 1981 League Cup
League Cup
In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
semi-final. He was also a prominent member of the Aston Villa team that gained promotion to the old first division in the 1987-88 season. Besides Coventry, Thompson went on to play for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
and Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
, making a total of 487 league appearances and scoring 124 league goals. Thompson played his final professional game for Northampton in 1997. Whilst at Cardiff in December 1993 it was his goal which gave them a 1-0 win over South Wales rivals Swansea, however the goal and the victory sparked off a mass pitch invasion and subsequent violence in what was to become one of the most notorious moments in Welsh football.
Although he spent several seasons as an inventive and influential player at top-flight clubs, he was never selected for the England international squad, though his name was regularly mentioned prior to call-ups. His non-selection is thought to be because he never played for any of the more illustrious top-flight English clubs rather than a lack of international-class ability. This was all the more surprising considering he played six times as an England Under-21 international whilst playing at his peak during the 1981-1982 season, scoring on three occasions.
After retiring as a player, he became a coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and in 2001 he took over as caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
of Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
following the sacking
Termination of employment
-Involuntary termination:Involuntary termination is the employee's departure at the hands of the employer. There are two basic types of involuntary termination, known often as being "fired" and "laid off." To be fired, as opposed to being laid off, is generally thought of to be the employee's...
of Ian Holloway
Ian Holloway
Ian Scott Holloway is an English football manager and former player. He became the manager of Blackpool in May 2009. Holloway is well-known amongst football fans for his off-the-wall interviews, with a wide selection of quotes and soundbites being printed. Holloway's playing career spanned 18...
. He remained in charge for 23 games, until the appointment of Gerry Francis
Gerry Francis
Gerald Charles James Francis is an English former footballer and manager, now working as First Team coach at Stoke City.-Playing career:Francis made his debut for Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool in March 1969...
. When Francis resigned
Resignation
A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
five months later, Thompson was given the Bristol Rovers job on a permanent basis, although he lasted only four months before being dismissed. In 2004 he was caretaker manager of Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
for one game between Wally Downes
Wally Downes
Walter John "Wally" Downes is an English former football player and manager, he is currently a first team coach at West Ham UnitedHe is the nephew of former world middleweight boxing champion Terry Downes.-Playing career:...
and Martin Allen.
He joined Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
in February 2006 as assistant to then manager Kevin Wilson, combining his position with a full-time role in promotions. With Hucknall struggling financially, Thompson was released from his contract in December 2006. The Hucknall chairman has denied the reason was financial.