Tony Green (footballer)

Tony Green

Personal information
Full name	Anthony Green
Date of birth	(1946-10-13) 13 October 1946
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
19??-1964	St. Mungo's Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1964–1966	Albion Rovers	64	(21)
1966–1971	Blackpool	123	(13)
1971–1973	Newcastle United	33	(3)
Total		220	(37)
International career
1971–1972	Scotland	6	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Anthony "Tony" Green (born 13 October 1946) is a Scottish former professional footballer.

Club career

Green began his career at Albion Rovers in his native Scotland.

Blackpool

Green was transferred south of the border to Blackpool for an initial £13,500 in May 1967 on a four-year contract. Albion would receive a further £2,000 when he had played in twenty first-team games.

Green suffered an injury that kept him out of the game for a year. His return to the fold came on 19 September 1970 for the visit of Everton to Bloomfield Road.

Green was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006. Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Green is in the 1960s.

Newcastle United

In 1971, after Green had put in a transfer request, Newcastle United came in for his services with an offer of £150,000, in a part-exchange deal involving Keith Dyson. He became Newcastle's second most expensive signing, after Malcolm Macdonald who was signed the previous summer from Luton Town for £180,000. On 2 September 1972, Green suffered a knee injury which ultimately ended his career at the age of 25, 33 games and three goals into his Magpies career; he had suffered a cartilage injury, and was never to play professionally again. Green later attributed the injury to a tackle by Crystal Palace's Mel Blyth but felt that any contact was accidental.

United got their £150,000 back through an insurance company after Green's retirement at Christmas 1973, but it was little consolation. Newcastle manager Joe Harvey said: "After they made Tony Green, they threw away the mould. I couldn't hope to buy a similar player, not even for twice the amount."

In 2008 Green said: "You think about things for about six months, and you look back wistfully. But in a way, I'm glad that if I had to finish like I did, I did it at Newcastle. I had a chance to play for a big club every week, in front of big crowds. You can't regret that. I'd have loved to have played on, but if you keep looking back it would drive you crackers."

Green was inducted into a black and white Hall of Fame at the Toon Reunion at Dunston's Lancastrian Suite on 9 July 2008 at the age of 61.

International career

Green made six appearances for Scotland between 1971 and 1972.

Personal life

Green was born in Glasgow.

Post-retirement

After his football career ended Green became a maths teacher at Hodgson High School in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, and later at Millfield High School, in nearby Thornton. Since 1976, he has also served on the Pools Panel, a three-strong panel of experts who predict results of postponed football fixtures.

Further reading

• Calley, Roy (20 October 1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.
• Singleton, Steve, ed. (2007). Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC (1 ed.). Blackpool: Blackpool Gazette. ISBN 978-1-84547-182-8.
• Joannou, Paul (1996). The Black 'n' White Alphabet: A Complete Who's Who of Newcastle United. Polar Print Group Ltd. ISBN 1-899538-03-8.
• Canning, Tommy; Joannou, Paul (23 October 1989). Ha'way the Lads!: Illustrated Story of Newcastle United. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 1-85158-257-6.

External links

• Tony Green at the Scottish Football Association
• Tony Green Blackpool Supporters Association Hall of Fame
• Independent site profile
• A-Z of players in 1970–71 season