Garry Birtles

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Garry Birtles
Image:Replace this image male.svg
Personal information
Full name Garry Birtles
Date of birth 27 July 1956 (1956-07-27) (age 51)
Place of birth    Nottingham, England
Playing position Centre Forward
Club information
Current club None
Youth clubs
Long Eaton Rovers
Long Eaton United
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1976-80
1980-82
1982-86
1987-88
1989-91		 Nottingham Forest
Manchester United
Nottingham Forest
Notts County
Grimsby Town		 087 (32)
058 (11)
125 (38)
063 0(9)
069 0(9)   
National team
1979-80
1980
1980		 England Under-21s
England B
England		 002 0(1)
001 0(0)
003 0(0)
Teams managed
1997-99 Gresley Rovers

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Garry Birtles (born 27 July 1956 in Nottingham) is a former English football player. He was a skillful forward who never scored as many goals as his talent suggested.

Birtles was signed by Forest from non-league Long Eaton United for the princely sum of £2000, and less than 2 years later, he was a European Cup winner, scoring many vital goals on the way. Considering the small fee paid for his services, he thus proved to be one of Brian Clough's most outstanding pieces of business in the transfer market.

Birtles started his career with Nottingham Forest, helping them win two consecutive European Cups and a league title. In 1980, he transferred to Manchester United for a fee of £1.25M where he scored a disappointing 12 goals before returning to Nottingham Forest in a cut-price transfer. His initial run of only 1 goal in 32 games, was followed by 11 goals in his next 32, but this return to form was not enough. He ended his career with Grimsby Town, helping them to two successive promotions up until 1991, by which time he had accumulated more than 400 professional league appearances.

Birtles won three full international caps for England in 1980, when he was at the peak of his form.

He now co-commentates on Sky Sports, and previously co-commentated on Nottingham Forest matches on local radio. He also writes a weekly column for Nottingham's local newspaper The Nottingham Evening Post.

[edit] Honours

With Nottingham Forest:

With Grimsby Town:

[edit] External links

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England squad - UEFA Euro 1980
1 Clemence • 2 Neal • 3 Sansom • 4 Thompson • 5 Watson • 6 Wilkins • 7 Keegan • 8 Coppell • 9 Johnson • 10 Brooking • 11 Woodcock • 12 Anderson • 13 Shilton • 14 Cherry • 15 Hughes • 16 Mills • 17 McDermott • 18 Kennedy • 19 Hoddle • 20 Mariner • 21 Birtles • 22 Corrigan • Coach: Greenwood
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