Gary Pierce (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Gary Pierce is an English
former professional football goalkeeper.
Pierce began his football career in 1970 at non-league Mossley
, before being quickly snapped up by First Division Huddersfield Town
for £2,250, where he featured for two seasons. In 1973, he joined top flight Wolverhampton Wanderers
for £45,000. Here, he was largely second choice to Phil Parkes, but after Parkes suffered injury, he played in the 1974 League Cup Final
. Pierce made a series of outstanding saves in the game, helping Wolves defeat Manchester City
2-1 at Wembley.
Pierce was an ever-present in the 1976–77 season as Wolves won the Second Division at the first attempt, but the club bought Paul Bradshaw upon their return, relegating Pierce to reserve status again. He left Molineux
in 1979 for Third Division Barnsley
, where he played three seasons, before ending his league career with a season at Blackpool
.
At Blackpool, he made 27 consecutive League appearances during the 1983–84 campaign as Sam Ellis
' fourth goalkeeping change in seventeen matches. He took over from the on-loan Barry Siddall
on 26 November 1983, as the Seasiders won 2–1 at Hereford United
. His final game for the club occurred on 5 May 1984, a 3–2 defeat at Aldershot
. Drew Brand
became Blackpool's fifth goalkeeper used that season when he took over for the three remaining League games. His contract was cancelled later that month and his professional career was over at the age of 33.
Pierce then returned to non-league football with Accrington Stanley
, Rossendale United
and Chorley
. In 1986, he returned to his original club Mossley
and played through the 1986-87 season before retiring from playing completely.
After retiring as a player, he later had a spell as manager of Netherfield
but is now no longer involved in football.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional football goalkeeper.
Pierce began his football career in 1970 at non-league Mossley
Mossley A.F.C.
Mossley Association Football Club are an English football club from the town of Mossley, Greater Manchester, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They were founded in 1903 and are nicknamed the Lilywhites, owing to their colours...
, before being quickly snapped up by First Division Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
for £2,250, where he featured for two seasons. In 1973, he joined top flight Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
for £45,000. Here, he was largely second choice to Phil Parkes, but after Parkes suffered injury, he played in the 1974 League Cup Final
1974 Football League Cup Final
The 1974 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 1973–74 Football League Cup, the 14th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in The Football League...
. Pierce made a series of outstanding saves in the game, helping Wolves defeat Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
2-1 at Wembley.
Pierce was an ever-present in the 1976–77 season as Wolves won the Second Division at the first attempt, but the club bought Paul Bradshaw upon their return, relegating Pierce to reserve status again. He left Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
in 1979 for Third Division Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
, where he played three seasons, before ending his league career with a season at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
At Blackpool, he made 27 consecutive League appearances during the 1983–84 campaign as Sam Ellis
Sam Ellis
Samuel "Sam" Ellis is an English football coach and former player. He left his post as assistant manager of on December 30, 2010.-Career:...
' fourth goalkeeping change in seventeen matches. He took over from the on-loan Barry Siddall
Barry Siddall
Barry Alfred Siddall is an English former professional football goalkeeper. When he retired from the game he had made 614 appearances to his name over a 21-year career in the Football League, playing for numerous clubs....
on 26 November 1983, as the Seasiders won 2–1 at Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
. His final game for the club occurred on 5 May 1984, a 3–2 defeat at Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
. Drew Brand
Drew Brand
Andrew Scougal "Drew" Brand is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played in the Football League for several different clubs.He won two caps for the Scotland national under-21 football team....
became Blackpool's fifth goalkeeper used that season when he took over for the three remaining League games. His contract was cancelled later that month and his professional career was over at the age of 33.
Pierce then returned to non-league football with Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
, Rossendale United
Rossendale United F.C.
Rossendale United F.C. was an English football club based in Newchurch, near Rawtenstall, Lancashire. The club was formed in 1898 but was expelled from the North West Counties League Premier Division on 18 June 2011....
and Chorley
Chorley F.C.
Chorley Football Club are a football club from Chorley, Lancashire, England. They were founded as a rugby union club in 1875 but switched to football in 1883. They have reached the FA Cup second round twice in 1986–87 and 1990–91. Their best performance in the FA Trophy was in 1995–96 when they...
. In 1986, he returned to his original club Mossley
Mossley A.F.C.
Mossley Association Football Club are an English football club from the town of Mossley, Greater Manchester, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They were founded in 1903 and are nicknamed the Lilywhites, owing to their colours...
and played through the 1986-87 season before retiring from playing completely.
After retiring as a player, he later had a spell as manager of Netherfield
Kendal Town F.C.
Kendal Town F.C. is an English football club based in Kendal, Cumbria. The club are currently members of the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League and play at Parkside.-History:...
but is now no longer involved in football.