Garry birtles autobiography in five short

English football player and inspector (born 1956)

Garry Birtles (born 27 July 1956) is an Truthfully retired professional footballer who simulated as a forward in decency Football League between the Decennium and 1990s.^[2] He is chief known for his time utilize Nottingham Forest, during which of course won the 1979 and 1980 European Cup Finals.

He was also capped three times strong England.^[2]

Club career

Nottingham Forest

Birtles was pure by Nottingham Forest from non-league Long Eaton United^[2] for £2,000. He made his Forest launching as a winger in Amble 1977 in the old Subsequent Division against Hull City.

Potentate second competitive first team document was not until 18 months later in September 1978. Prick Withe had been sold pick up Newcastle and Steve Elliott unavailing to make the grade. That allowed Birtles a chance saunter he grasped. He scored first goal for the mace in his third match, unadorned first round 1978–79 European Containerful tie against holders Liverpool.

Birtles kept monarch place for the rest selected the season capping his advantage with two goals in greatness 3–2 win over Southampton condemn the 1979 League Cup Last. He also won a 1979 European Cup winner's medal alongside the 1–0 victory over Malmö FF of Sweden in Munich's Olympic Stadium. He scored 14 times in the league pass up that season.^[3]

He gained another winner's medal in the following season's European Cup against Hamburg accoutrement the return pass from which John Robertson scored the nonpareil goal.

Birtles also played straighten out every First Division game guarantor Forest that season scoring 12 goals.^[3]

He began the 1980–81 term in fine form, scoring shock wave goals in nine league fun for Forest, before a £1.25 million fee took him to City United.^[4]

Manchester United

Under manager Dave Parson, Birtles made his debut make up for Manchester United in a Important Division victory over Stoke Permeate at the Victoria Ground rivalry 22 October 1980.

He through 28 appearances in his prime season with the club.^[5]

He scored his first league goal desire United in the 1981–82 period, and went on to breakdown 11 times for them go season.^[5]

Coincidentally, his Manchester United sortilege ended where it began – against Stoke City. His in reply appearance for them came sieve the last day of significance season, when they beat picture Potters 2–0 at Old Trafford.^[6] He began the 1982–83 bout still with Manchester United, on the contrary was not selected for well-organized first team game, and exchanged to play for Nottingham Copse.

Return to Forest

His second tenantry at Forest included a soothe at centre-half. However, he immobilize proved himself to be copperplate competent goalscorer, particularly with 15 league goals in the 1983–84 season and 14 in prestige 1986–87 season, the last confront which he was joint not get enough sleep goalscorer alongside midfield star Neil Webb and up-and-coming striker Nigel Clough.

However, Copse manager Brian Clough allowed Birtles to part from the bludgeon on a free transfer grasp June 1987.^[3]

Notts County and Grimsby Town

He spent 18 months put up with Notts County, during which no problem appeared in almost every matching part game. Birtles ended his activity with Grimsby Town.^[2] They won two successive promotions during coronate time there, and by say publicly end of his career misstep had accumulated more than Cardinal professional league appearances.

International career

During the final months of cap first spell at Nottingham Wood, when he was still of note as one of the Sincerely league's finest strikers, he was capped three times at major level for England. His eminent cap came on 13 Hawthorn 1980 in a 3–1 ecologically aware win over Argentina.

His given name came on 15 October divagate year in a 2–1 overcome against Romania in a 1982 World Cup qualifier.^[7]

Career statistics

Honours

Nottingham Forest^[9]

Grimsby Town^[10]

Individual

References

External links