Garry Birtles

Infobox Football biography
playername = Garry Birtles


fullname = Garry Birtles
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1956|7|27|df=y
cityofbirth = Nottingham
countryofbirth = England
height =
position = Centre Forward (retired)
currentclub = Retired
youthyears =
youthclubs = Long Eaton Rovers
Long Eaton United
years = 1976–1980
1980–1982
1982–1986
1987–1988
1989–1991
clubs = Nottingham Forest
Manchester United
Nottingham Forest
Notts County
Grimsby Town
caps(goals) = 087 (32)
058 (11)
125 (38)
063 0(9)
069 0(9)
nationalyears = 1979–1980
1980
1980
nationalteam = England Under-21s
England B
England
nationalcaps(goals) = 002 0(1)
001 0(0)
003 0(0)
manageryears = 1997–1999
managerclubs = Gresley Rovers

Garry Birtles (born 27 July 1956 in Nottingham) is a former English football player who played as a forward.

Career

Birtles was signed by Nottingham Forest from non-league Long Eaton United for £2,000. He made his Forest debut as a winger in March 1977 in the old Second Division, against Hull City. From that point on he disappeared from first team contention, not making his second appearance until September 1978. Peter Withe had been sold to Newcastle and "prodigy" Steve Elliott failed to make the grade, allowing Birtles an unexpected chance which he grasped, scoring his first goal for the club in his third match, in the European Cup against Liverpool. Birtles kept his place for the rest of the season, capping his success with a fantastic display in the 3-2 win over Southampton in the 1979 League Cup Final and a European Cup winner's medal via the 1-0 victory over Malmö of Sweden in Munich's Olympic Stadium.

More success and three England caps followed, then in 1980, he transferred to Manchester United for a fee of £1.25 million, where he scored a disappointing 12 goals before returning to Nottingham Forest in a cut-price transfer. His initial run of only one goal in 32 games, was followed by 11 goals in his next 32, but this return to form was not enough.

His second spell at Forest included a spell at centre-half. After a successful 1986-87 in which Birtles formed an effective strike partnership with Nigel Clough, Forest manager Brian Clough allowed Birtles to part from the club on a free transfer.

After a stint with Notts County, Birtles 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.

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.

Honours

As a player

;Nottingham Forest
*First Division
**Winner (1): 1977–1978
*League Cup
**Winner (1): 1978–79
**Runner-up (1): 1979–80
*European Cup
**Winner (2): 1978–79, 1979–80
*UEFA Super Cup
**Winner (1): 1979

;Grimsby Town
*Fourth Division
**Runner-up: 1989–90
*Supporters Player of the Year: 1990

External links

*soccerbase|id=691|name=Garry Birtles
* [http://www.englandstats.com/playerreport.php?pid=114 Englandstats.com profile]