Steve Cherry
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Steven Richard Cherry[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 5 August 1960||
Place of birth | Nottingham, England[1] | ||
Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
Youth career | |||
1975β1978 | Derby County | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Appsβ | (Gls)β |
1978β1984 | Derby County | 77 | (0) |
1980β1981 | β Port Vale (loan) | 4 | (0) |
1984β1986 | Walsall | 71 | (0) |
1986β1989 | Plymouth Argyle | 73 | (0) |
1988β1989 | β Chesterfield (loan) | 10 | (0) |
1988β1995 | Notts County | 266 | (0) |
1995 | Watford | 4 | (0) |
1995β1996 | Plymouth Argyle | 16 | (0) |
1996β1997 | Rotherham United | 20 | (0) |
1997β1998 | Rushden & Diamonds | 18 | (0) |
1998β1999 | Mansfield Town | 1 | (0) |
1999β2000 | Oldham Athletic | 0 | (0) |
2003β2003 | Lincoln City | 0 | (0) |
2003β2004 | Kidsgrove Athletic | ||
2004β200? | Belper Town | ||
Total | 559 | (0) | |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Steven Richard "Steve" Cherry (born 5 August 1960) is an English former footballer. A goalkeeper, he made 541 league appearances in a 24-year career in the Football League, playing in all four divisions of the league.
He began his career at Derby County in 1979. Loaned out to Port Vale in November 1980, he managed to win the first team jersey at Derby, and was voted Player of the Year in 1983. Sold on to Walsall for a Β£25,000 fee in August 1984, he was moved on to Plymouth Argyle for a Β£17,000 fee in October 1986. He was voted Plymouth's Player of the Year in 1988, before he was sold on to Notts County in February 1989 for a Β£70,000 fee, following a short loan spell with Chesterfield. He helped Neil Warnock's County to win successive promotions from the Third Division to the First Division via the play-offs in 1990 and 1991. He moved on to Watford in July 1995, before rejoining Plymouth Argyle in February 1996. He helped the club win the Third Division play-offs in 1996, his third such success with Neil Warnock. He then saw out his career with brief stays at Rotherham United, Rushden & Diamonds, Mansfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Lincoln City, Kidsgrove Athletic, and Belper Town. He later coached at Lincoln City and Macclesfield Town.
Playing career
Cherry started his career with Derby County, who lost their First Division status at the end of the 1979β80 season. He joined Port Vale on loan in November 1980.[1] Manager John McGrath had sold regular custodian Trevor Dance, and was forced to enter the loan market after Mark Harrison was struck down with injury.[1] Cherry was in goal for four Fourth Division and four FA Cup games.[1] In his final game for the "Valiants" he conceded 'a comic goal' in a devastating 3β0 defeat at non-league Enfield in a Third Round FA Cup Replay on 6 January 1981.[1] He managed to put his experience at Vale Park behind him though, and played 77 league games for Derby. The "Rams" finished sixth and 16th in the Second Division in 1980β81 and 1981β82 under Colin Addison's stewardship. Despite Peter Taylor's best efforts, the almost bankrupt club finished 13th in 1982β83 before suffering relegation in 20th place in 1983β84. Cherry was voted the club's Player of the Year in 1983.
Cherry left the Baseball Ground in August 1984, after new boss Arthur Cox sold him on to Walsall for a Β£25,000 fee.[2] The "Saddlers" finished 11th in the Third Division in 1984β85. Alan Buckley took the Fellows Park club up to sixth in 1985β86, before he sold Cherry on to Plymouth Argyle for a Β£17,000 fee in October 1986.[2] The "Pilgrims" missed out on the Second Division play-offs by three points in 1986β87. However they dropped down to 16th in 1987β88, and manager Dave Smith left Home Park at the end of the campaign. Despite having been voted Player of the Year, new boss Ken Brown loaned Cherry out to Chesterfield mid-way through the 1988β89 campaign. He played ten Third Division games for the "Spireites", before he was sold on to Notts County in February 1989 for a Β£70,000 fee.[2]
County narrowly missed out on the Third Division play-offs at the end of the season before qualifying for the play-offs after finishing third in 1989β90. They won the play-off final with a 2β0 victory over Tranmere Rovers at Wembley. Manager Neil Warnock then took the club to a second successive promotion, as County finished fourth in the Second Division in 1990β91, before beating Brighton & Hove Albion 3β1 in the play-off final. Cherry kept goal for County in 1991β92, as the "Magpies" were relegated out of the top-flight in 21st place. They finished 17th in the second tier in 1992β93, before new boss Mick Walker took the club to three points outside the play-offs in 1993β94. Cherry's last season at Meadow Lane, 1994β95, saw a managerial merry-go-round as Walker begat Russell Slade, who begat Howard Kendall, who begat Steve Nicol β County were relegated in last place at the end of the campaign.
He signed for Glenn Roeder's Watford in July 1995, but featured in just four First Division matches in 1995β96 as Kevin Miller was the club's regular custodian.[2] Graham Taylor replaced Roeder as manager in February 1996, and Cherry left Vicarage Road to return to former club Plymouth Argyle, in a move that reunited him with former boss Neil Warnock. He kept a clean sheet for Plymouth in the Third Division play-off final at Wembley, as his team won promotion with a 1β0 victory over Darlington. Cherry then moved on to Rotherham United, after being offered a first team contract at the Don Valley Stadium by management duo Archie Gemmill and John McGovern. He played 23 league and cup games for the "Millers", who went on to suffer relegation out of the Second Division at the end of the 1996β97 season. He joined Rushden & Diamonds in March 1997, and played 18 Conference games under manager Brian Talbot in 1997β98 and 1998β99.[3] He left Nene Park in September 1997, and had brief non-contract spells at Mansfield Town, Oldham Athletic, and Lincoln City.[3] Cherry later played for non-league sides Kidsgrove Athletic, and Belper Town.[3]
Coaching career
Cherry spent some time as Lincoln City's goalkeeping coach.[4] He was appointed as goalkeeping coach at Macclesfield Town in July 2008, but left the job in May 2010 after an illness required that he undergo heart surgery.[2]
Honours
- Individual
- Derby County F.C. Player of the Year winner: 1983
- Plymouth Argyle F.C. Player of the Year winner: 1988
- with Notts County
- Football League Third Division play-off winner: 1990
- Football League Second Division play-off winner: 1991
- with Plymouth Argyle
- Football League Third Division play-off winner: 1996
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 60. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Profile" (PDF). watfordfcarchive.com. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Steve Cherry". thediamondsfc.com. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- β Alan Marriott says Scott Loach's dedication is behind the keeper's rise to the top, thisislincolnshire.co.uk
External links
|
|