Garry Thompson (footballer, born 1959)

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Garry Thompson
Personal information
Full name Garry Lindsey Thompson [1]
Date of birth (1959-10-07) 7 October 1959 (age 65)
Place of birth Kings Heath, England [2]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [3]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
–1977 Coventry City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1977–1983 Coventry City 134 (38)
1983–1985 West Bromwich Albion 91 (39)
1985–1986 Sheffield Wednesday 36 (7)
1986–1988 Aston Villa 60 (17)
1988–1990 Watford 34 (8)
1990–1991 Crystal Palace 20 (3)
1991–1993 Queens Park Rangers 19 (1)
1993–1995 Cardiff City 43 (5)
1995–1997 Northampton Town 50 (6)
Total487(124)
International career
1981–1982 England U21 6 (3)
Managerial career
2001 Bristol Rovers (caretaker)
2001–2002 Bristol Rovers
2004 Brentford (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Garry Lindsey Thompson (born 7 October 1959) is an English former professional footballer and manager who made over 480 appearances in the Football League, most notably for Coventry City, West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa. After his retirement as a player, Thompson moved into coaching and management.

Contents

Playing career

A forward, Thompson had a long playing career and club level, making 487 appearances and scoring 124 goals in the Premier League and throughout the Football League. [4] His peak years were earlier in his career with Coventry City, for whom he scored 49 goals in 158 appearances and West Bromwich Albion, [4] for whom he was voted the club's 1984–85 Player of the Year. [5] Late in the 1989–90 season Thompson joined Crystal Palace to provide cover for the injured Ian Wright, but was cup-tied for the 1990 FA Cup Final. [6] He was a part of the 1990–91 Full Members' Cup-winning squad.[ citation needed ] Thompson briefly played in the Premier League for Queens Park Rangers during the 1992–93 season and made one European appearance for Cardiff City in September 1993. [7] [8] Thompson retired at the end of the 1996–97 season and finished his career with 584 appearances and 153 goals. [4]

Managerial and coaching career

Bristol Rovers

Thompson began his coaching career while still a player at Northampton Town and later moved to Bristol Rovers as a coach and reserve team manager. [9] [10] In January 2001, after the sacking of manager Ian Holloway, [10] he was named in caretaker charge and managed the first team until the end of the 2000–01 Second Division season and was unable to prevent the Gas' relegation to the Third Division. [11] [12] Thompson became assistant to new manager Gerry Francis in June 2001 and after Francis' resignation in December 2001, [13] he took over the role as permanent manager on a 2+12-year contract. [11] By 9 April 2002 and with a double relegation into non-League football looking likely, Thompson was sacked. [14]

Brentford

In October 2002, Thompson was named as assistant to manager Wally Downes at Second Division club Brentford. [15] He continued in the role until 15 March 2004, when, with the prospect of relegation looming, Downes was sacked. [16] Thompson was named caretaker manager and his one match in charge resulted in a 1–1 draw with Blackpool the following night. [17] He left the club following the appointment of Martin Allen on 18 March. [18]

Farnborough Town

Thompson served as a coach at struggling Conference Premier club Farnborough Town during the 2004–05 season and quit the club on 31 March 2005. [19]

Hucknall Town

In February 2006, Thompson joined Conference North club Hucknall Town as assistant to manager Kevin Wilson. [20] He was released from his contract in December 2006. [20]

Personal life

Thompson is of Saint Kitts and Nevis descent. [21] His younger brother Keith was also a professional footballer and he is the uncle of athlete Daniel Caines. [22] Thompson is an Aston Villa supporter and has worked in PR, as a driver and as a summariser for BBC WM. [2] [23] [24] He released an autobiography, Don't Believe a Word, [21] in December 2020. [25]

Career statistics

Player

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Coventry City 1977–78 [3] First Division 62000062
1978–79 [3] 2082011239
1979–80 [3] 1760000176
1980–81 [3] 35841764615
1981–82 [3] 361032204115
1982–83 [3] 2242130275
Total1343811413715849
West Bromwich Albion 1982–83 [26] First Division127127
1983–84 [27] 371441434518
1984–85 [28] 422010524822
Total9139519510545
Sheffield Wednesday 1985–86 [4] First Division3675130448
Aston Villa 1986–87 [3] First Division31620411 [a] 0387
1987–88 [3] Second Division 241120111 [a] 02812
1988–89 [3] First Division50101 [a] 070
Total60174062307319
Watford 1988–89 [29] Second Division2176000277
1989–90 [29] 131201000161
Total348801000438
Crystal Palace Total203001110225
Queens Park Rangers 1991–92 [30] First Division15100321 [a] 0191
1992–93 [7] Premier League 4000200060
Total191005310251
Cardiff City Total43571201083619
Northampton Town 1996–97 [31] Third Division 1000000010
Total506002010536
Career total487124407421910143584153

Manager

TeamFromToRecordRef
PWDLWin %
Bristol Rovers (caretaker)29 January 200127 June 2001237511030.4 [32]
Bristol Rovers24 December 20019 April 2002247512029.2
Brentford (caretaker)15 March 200418 March 20041010000.0
Total48141123029.2

Honours

Aston Villa

Crystal Palace

Individual

References

  1. "Garry Thompson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 Villa Till I Die: Garry Thompson. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Garry Thompson". 11v11.com. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Garry Thompson at Soccerbase
  5. 1 2 "Player Archive : Player Of The Year Awards". Albion Till We Die – An Independent West Bromwich Albion Website. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  6. "Dogs, doughnuts and the day Palace pipped Liverpool to the FA Cup final". Guardian. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Seasonal Stats – Files – 1992–93". QPRnet. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  8. "Garry Thompson". 11v11.com. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  9. "Garry Thompson". League Managers Association. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Culkin backs Thompson". 2001. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Thompson gets Rovers job". BBC Sport. 28 December 2001. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  12. "Bristol Rovers Complete History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  13. "Francis happy to be home". 27 June 2001. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  14. "Ailing Rovers sack Thompson". BBC Sport. 9 April 2002. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  15. "Thompson Confirmed As Assistant Manager". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  16. "Downes gets sack from troubled Brentford". Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  17. "Blackpool 1 Brentford 1". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  18. "Two Leave The Club". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  19. "Farnborough caretaker boss quits". 31 March 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  20. 1 2 "Thompson Becomes Latest Victim Of Hucknall Cuts". NonLeagueDaily.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  21. 1 2 Richardson, Andy (2 January 2021). "Garry Thompson's 'lucky' life in the beautiful game". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  22. "Birmingham Your Community – Birmingham and Black Country Black Hall of Fame". BBC. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  23. "Villan on the Spot: Garry Thompson". www.avfc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  24. Maher, Matt. "Derby memories still vivid for Aston Villa hero Garry Thompson". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  25. "'Don't Believe A Word'". Online Store. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  26. "Season Archive : Player Stats – 1982/83". Albion Till We Die – An Independent West Bromwich Albion Website. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  27. "Season Archive : Player Stats – 1983/84". Albion Till We Die – An Independent West Bromwich Albion Website. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  28. "Season Archive : Player Stats – 1984/85". Albion Till We Die – An Independent West Bromwich Albion Website. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  29. 1 2 "Seasons – 1980–81 to 1989–90" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2017. pp. 10–11. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  30. "Seasonal Stats – Files – 1991–92". QPRnet. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  31. "Games played by Garry Thompson in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  32. Garry Thompson management career statistics at Soccerbase
  33. "Aston Villa Complete History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2018.