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{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Football player infobox
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
⚫
| playername= Gary Briggs
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox football biography
⚫
| name= Gary Briggs
| image =
| image =
| fullname = Gareth Briggs
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1959|6|21}}
| nickname = Briggsy, Rambo
| dateofbirth = [[June 21]], [[1959]]
| birth_place = [[Leeds]], England
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}
| cityofbirth = [[Leeds]]
| position = [[Defender (football)#Centre back|Centre back]]
| countryofbirth = [[England]]
| height =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| currentclub = [[Retired]]
| years1 = 1977–1978
| position = [[Central defence]]
| years2 = 1978–1989
| youthyears =
| years3 = 1989–1995
| youthclubs =
| years4 = 1995–19??
| years = 1977<br/>1977-1989<br/>1989-1995
| clubs = [[Middlesbrough FC|Middlesbrough]]<br/>[[Oxford United]]<br/>[[Blackpool FC|Blackpool]]<br/>'''Total'''
| clubs1 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
| clubs2 = [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]
| caps(goals) = 0 (0)<br/>418 (18)<br/>137 (4)<br/>'''555 (22)'''
| clubs3 = [[Oxford United F.C.|Blackpool]]
| nationalyears =
| clubs4 = [[Chorley F.C.|Chorley]]
| nationalteam =
| caps1 = 0
| nationalcaps(goals) =
| caps2 = 420
| pcupdate = [[23 July]] [[2006]]
| ntupdate = [[23 July]] [[2006]]
| caps3 = 137
| caps4 = ?
| totalcaps = 557
| goals1 = 0
| goals2 = 18
| goals3 = 4
| goals4 = ?
| totalgoals = 22
}}
}}
⚫
'''Gary Briggs''' (born 21 June 1959) is an English retired professional [[association football|footballer]]. He made over 500 league appearances in an eighteen-year playing career, during which he became known as a no-nonsense, tough-tackling defender, hence his "[[John Rambo|Rambo]]" nickname.

⚫
'''Gareth "Gary" Briggs''' (born [[June 21]], [[1959]] in [[Leeds, Yorkshire]]) is a former professional [[football (soccer)|football]] player. He made over 500 league appearances in an 18-year playing career, during which time he would become known as a no-nonsense, tough-tackling defender.


==Career==
==Career==
In 1977, at the age of 18, Briggs signed for [[Middlesbrough FC|Middlesbrough]], but didn't make any first-team appearances for the club. Later that year, he moved to [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]. The fee was settled at the Football League's first ever transfer tribunal. Briggs spent twelve happy years at the Manor Ground, where he received the nickname "Rambo" and became a cult hero. He formed a successful central-defensive partnership with club captain [[Malcolm Shotton]] as United won three trophies between 1984 and 1986 (the Third Division championship in 1983/4, the Second Division championship the following season, and the League Cup in 1986 [http://www.thisisunited.com/history/?subject=matches3]).
In the [[1977-78 in English football|1977–78]] season, at the age of eighteen, Briggs signed for [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] but didn't make any first-team appearances for the club. Later that season, he moved to [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]. The fee was settled at the [[The Football League|Football League]]'s first-ever transfer tribunal.<ref>[http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/oxfordunited/clubhistory/pastplayers/ Past Players at OxfordMail.co.uk]</ref> Briggs spent eleven years at the [[Manor Ground, Oxford|Manor Ground]], where he received the nickname "[[John Rambo|Rambo]]" and became a cult hero, winning the club's "Player of the Year" accolade three times. He formed a successful central-defensive partnership with club captain [[Malcolm Shotton]] as United won three trophies between 1984 and 1986: the [[Football League Third Division|Division Three]] championship in [[1983-84 in English football|1983–84]], the [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]] championship the [[1984-85 in English football|following season]], and the [[1986 Football League Cup Final|League Cup in 1986]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/feb/27/the-forgotten-story-of-oxford-united-winning-the-1986-league-cup "The forgotten story of … Oxford United winning the 1986 League Cup"] - ''[[The Guardian]]'', 27 February 2016</ref>

In May, 1989, after 418 league games and 18 league goals for Oxford, Briggs moved back north to [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], where he would see out the rest of his career.

His first season in Lancashire was not a successful one: the Seasiders finished second-to-bottom in the Third Division and were relegated to the league's basement division. Manager [[Jimmy Mullen]] had left the club with seven league games remaining. Briggs made 17 league appearances and scored two goals. His season was ended by injury in late January.

[[Graham Carr]] was installed as the new manager prior to the 1990/91 season, but he too would leave just five months into the job. Carr's assistant, [[Billy Ayre]], was promoted to the hot seat. It was under Ayre's guidance that Briggs' career would once more flourish. After Ayre's appointment (at which point the team lay 18th in the table), Blackpool went on to lose only five of their remaining thirty league games. It was during this period that a new (and still existing) club record was set: thirteen consecutive wins during an eventual 24-game unbeaten run at home. Blackpool finished the 1991/92 season in 5th place (missing automatic promotion by a single point) and qualified for the play-offs. After defeating [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe]] in the two-legged semi-final, Blackpool were returning to [[Wembley]] for the first time in 38 years, where they would face [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay]] in the final. Briggs missed out on the crunch match due to an injury sustained in the second leg of the semi-final against Scunthorpe. He made thirty appearances during the league campaign. In said final, Torquay won on penalties (recent signing [[Dave Bamber]] put the final spot-kick well wide of the right-hand post), and Blackpool were condemned to another season of fourth-division football.

The following 1991/92 season followed along the same lines. After finishing 4th (again missing out on automatic promotion by a point), Blackpool made the play-offs again. After defeating [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] in the semi-final, the Tangerines met Scunthorpe in the final. Frustratingly for Briggs, he sat out a second Wembley appearance because of injury (this one picked up in a defeat at Rotherham with only two games remaining). Briggs made 26 starts in a start-stop season.

In the final, and in another penalty shoot-out, Blackpool this time came out on top and would be playing the 1992/93 season in the new Division Two.

Briggs' fourth season at the seaside saw Blackpool finish in 18th place, just four points above the relegation zone. Local rivals [[Preston North End]] were one of the four teams that made the drop.

The 1993/94 campaign ended in nailbiting fashion. A final-day 4-1 victory over [[Leyton Orient]] at Bloomfield Road meant the Seasiders had avoided relegation by one point.


In May 1989, after 418 league games and 18 league goals for Oxford, Briggs moved back north to [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], where he saw out the rest of his career. "Blackpool looked a club going places – and I want to go with them," he said at the time.<ref name=Gillatt>{{cite book|last=Gillatt|first=Peter|title=Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year |publisher=Pitch Publishing Ltd|date=30 November 2009|isbn=978-1-905411-50-4}}</ref> In the [[1991–92 Blackpool F.C. season|1991–92 season]] he made 26 appearances in a start-stop season, and was voted the club's Player of the Month for September, October and November 1991.<ref>''[[Blackpool Gazette|Blackpool Evening Gazette]]'', 6 December 1991</ref> The [[1993–94 Blackpool F.C. season|1993–94 campaign]] ended in nail-biting fashion: a final-day 4–1 victory over [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] at Bloomfield Road meant the Seasiders avoided relegation by one point.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2014/may/the-past-last-day-survivals/ |title=The Past: Last Day Survivals |publisher=Blackpool F.C. |date=2 May 2014 |first=Mark |last=Ridgway |access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref>
Billy Ayre ended his three-and-a-half-year association with Blackpool in the summer of 1994, to be replaced by [[Sam Allardyce]], and Briggs hung up his playing boots the following May. His league record for Blackpool: 137 games/4 goals.


In 2002, Briggs played for Bispham Juniors,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/it-s-prize-day-at-last-for-gary-1-400651 |title=It's prize day at last for Gary |newspaper=Blackpool Gazette |date=14 March 2002 |access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref> whom he later managed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.where-are-they-now.co.uk/footballer/Briggs+Gary/5784 |title=Gary Briggs |publisher=Where Are They Now? |access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref>
==Miscellanea==


*In March 2005, Briggs unveiled Executive Box 27 at Oxford United's [[Kassam Stadium]] in his name [http://utdwestand.ms11.net/iframes/March%202005%20News.htm].
In March 2005, Briggs unveiled Executive Box 28 at Oxford United's [[Kassam Stadium]] in his name.


==External links==
==References==
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.thisisunited.com/history/?subject=players4 Oxford United profile]
*[http://www.oufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LegendsDetail/0,,10342~76937,00.html Oxford Legends]


==Sources==
{{England-footybio-stub}}
*{{cite book | first=Roy | last=Calley| title=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992 | publisher=Breedon Books Sport | year=1992 | isbn=1-873626-07-X}}
*[https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=976 Briggs' profile at soccerbase.com]
*[https://www.oufc.co.uk/teams/dream-team/defender/gary-briggs/ Oxford Dream Team]
● Playfair football annuals 1978-79 to 1995-96


[[Category:1959 births|Briggs, Gary]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Briggs, Gary}}
[[Category:Living people|Briggs, Gary]]
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players|Briggs, Gary]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Oxford United F.C. players|Briggs, Gary]]
[[Category:Footballers from Leeds]]
[[Category:Blackpool F.C. players|Briggs, Gary]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players]]
[[Category:Oxford United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Blackpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:Chorley F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]

Latest revision as of 04:49, 14 April 2024

Gary Briggs
Personal information
Date of birth (1959-06-21) 21 June 1959 (age 65)
Place of birth Leeds, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1978 Middlesbrough 0 (0)
1978–1989 Oxford United 420 (18)
1989–1995 Blackpool 137 (4)
1995–19?? Chorley ? (?)
Total 557 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gary Briggs (born 21 June 1959) is an English retired professional footballer. He made over 500 league appearances in an eighteen-year playing career, during which he became known as a no-nonsense, tough-tackling defender, hence his "Rambo" nickname.

Career

[edit]

In the 1977–78 season, at the age of eighteen, Briggs signed for Middlesbrough but didn't make any first-team appearances for the club. Later that season, he moved to Oxford United. The fee was settled at the Football League's first-ever transfer tribunal.[1] Briggs spent eleven years at the Manor Ground, where he received the nickname "Rambo" and became a cult hero, winning the club's "Player of the Year" accolade three times. He formed a successful central-defensive partnership with club captain Malcolm Shotton as United won three trophies between 1984 and 1986: the Division Three championship in 1983–84, the Division Two championship the following season, and the League Cup in 1986.[2]

In May 1989, after 418 league games and 18 league goals for Oxford, Briggs moved back north to Blackpool, where he saw out the rest of his career. "Blackpool looked a club going places – and I want to go with them," he said at the time.[3] In the 1991–92 season he made 26 appearances in a start-stop season, and was voted the club's Player of the Month for September, October and November 1991.[4] The 1993–94 campaign ended in nail-biting fashion: a final-day 4–1 victory over Leyton Orient at Bloomfield Road meant the Seasiders avoided relegation by one point.[5]

In 2002, Briggs played for Bispham Juniors,[6] whom he later managed.[7]

In March 2005, Briggs unveiled Executive Box 28 at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium in his name.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Past Players at OxfordMail.co.uk
  2. ^ "The forgotten story of … Oxford United winning the 1986 League Cup" - The Guardian, 27 February 2016
  3. ^ Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-50-4.
  4. ^ Blackpool Evening Gazette, 6 December 1991
  5. ^ Ridgway, Mark (2 May 2014). "The Past: Last Day Survivals". Blackpool F.C. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  6. ^ "It's prize day at last for Gary". Blackpool Gazette. 14 March 2002. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  7. ^ "Gary Briggs". Where Are They Now?. Retrieved 19 December 2018.

Sources

[edit]

● Playfair football annuals 1978-79 to 1995-96

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