Q & A With Garry Nelson

Plymouth Vital continues its occasional series of interviews with former Argyle personalities with an exclusive Question and Answer session with Argyle Legend Garry Nelson.

Garry played in the Argyle side that won promotion from Division Two in 1986, sealing second place with an unforgettable 4-0 win against Bristol City at Home Park, a game that saw Garry score a superb goal.

Garry was a key player in Dave Smith's side, operating as a left-winger and scoring 22 goals from 74 appearances over a two-year spell.
The Green Army hold Garry in such high regard that they voted him into the Argyle Team of the Century, ensuring his deserved legendary status.

Garry left Home Park in 1987 to join Brighton where he notched up an incredible 32 goals in his first season. Garry briefly appeared for Notts County on-loan before moving to Charlton where he stayed for five years.

In 1996 Garry returned to Devon as player-coach at Torquay United and called time on his footballing career a year later. Garry is also the author of two best-selling books 'Left Foot Forward' and 'Left Foot In The Grave', chronicling his time at the Valley and Plainmoor, both books told the real-life story of a lower league professional footballer and were short-listed for the Sports Book Of The Year award.

After retiring from football Garry worked for the Professional Footballers Association as Commercial Executive, instigating the Masters Football League as well as securing deals for ex-pros to work as statisticians at matches for the Press Association.
After a short spell at ITV Digital Garry is now currently Managing Director at Oakwood Promotions, where he negotiates benefits for employee groups and unions.

As a small tribute Garry would like to dedicate this article to his friend and Argyle fan Richard Phillips.
Richard, who sponsored Garry during his time at Home Park, sadly passed away last week, aged 89.

Q: What would be your greatest personal achievement from your time at Argyle and also during your football career?
GN: Without a doubt winning promotion in what was initially a struggling team that through great collective team spirit and determination surprised many people including possibly ourselves. With very few personnel changes we also proved that we were more than capable of playing at a higher level, which was from a career perspective very important.

In terms of one season I think scoring 32 goals in my first season at Brighton when I was at last given the freedom to play week in week out as an out and out forward. From an overall career perspective making 753 first team appearances and scoring 156 goals (only 1 of which was a penalty)!

Q: What was your most memorable Argyle match?
GN: On a positive note it has to be that wonderful promotion-winning match against Bristol City - unforgettable!!
On a negative note that amazing game against Reading at Elm Park when we were absolutely cruising at 3-0 only to lose 4 goals in the last 20 minutes. We took some time to get over that result but again the character of the squad eventually bought us back on track.

Q: Do you still keep in touch with your old Argyle team-mates and have you recently returned to Home Park for a visit?
GN: The person who I have most kept in touch with is Kevin Hodges and I saw him last time I was at Home Park for the Plymouth v Charlton game a year ago.
I also still speak with Dave Smith. I did speak to and see Stevie Cooper up until he moved to Scotland to play for Aidrie. With Steve's tragic early death that losing touch is something I really regret now - he was a great lad.

Q: Who is the best player you have played with, both at Argyle and in your career as a whole?
GN: There are a lot of players that I can pay tribute to in the Argyle team. The senior hands such as Geoff Crudge, Nissie and John Matthews who were all great pros. Hodgy for his tireless running and great big heart. Leigh Coops for his amazing consistency particularly in the 85/86 season and of course Tommy T who not only gave a master-class in finishing but was a very clever all round footballer who could link play very well.
But without doubt however the classiest player was for me Russell Coughlin.

In my career as a whole I would have to plump for Rob Lee whose talent was always there for all to see but who really blossomed once he was surrounded by better players.

Lee Bowyer made the biggest first impression when as a 16 year old he came into our team and looked like he had played there forever.

Q: Do you have a favourite Argyle goal?
GN: All of them are special and I can remember each and every one of them but it has to be the screamer I hit against Bristol City in that promotion winning night.

Q: Who was the best manager you played under during your career?
GN: They are all different and each has their own strengths and styles. I was very lucky in that I worked with only 6 managers up until I left Charlton and all of them played me so on the whole I got on well with them all.

Dave Smith had a massive influence on my career and for turning that team into promotion winners and genuine contenders in the 2nd division I would have to plump for him (he may also read this!!) but I must also make mention of Neil Warnock who I only worked with for a month at Notts County where I went on loan but he really impressed me with the way he got the most out of his players.

Q: After the success of your two books do you have plans to write a third book, perhaps about your life after your football career ended?
GN: There were plans in the early days after I retired and I actually had a topic which I felt would have worked really well but having had 2 best sellers the publishers wanted something a bit more hard hitting which I felt would have compromised my position at the PFA so it all fizzled out.
I lack the raw material that daily involvement in football brings but it may be something that I pick up gain later in life when I have hopefully a bit more time.

Q: Do you still follow the results at Argyle and do you have an opinion on this season and the recent takeover of the club?
GN: I follow the results of all my former teams and always hope that they do well. The takeover looks very interesting and exciting. I always felt that the club was a very attractive proposition for someone looking to invest in a potentially big club but it is very true these days that to make the next step to change you require people with very deep pockets. It would be great to see Argyle do what Hull for example have done. One day soon hopefully they will.

Clubs struggling at the bottom in this year's Championship seem to have the same problem - a real shortage of goals in a very competitive league.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your previous role as Commercial Executive at the Professional Footballers Association?

GN: I was responsible for developing commercial relationships with businesses who could use the PFA logo and access to players past and present to achieve certain marketing objectives. The commercial revenue we generated in turn was ploughed back into the three charities operated by the PFA - The Accident Fund, The Education and Re-training fund and the Benevolent Fund.

The areas that I am most proud of during my time there were the development of Masters Football that was a concept that evolved into a competition that still runs today and the Press Association Initiative where I helped set up the scheme that still sees ex-pros working at very professional game in England, Scotland and Wales reporting live statistical information back to the Press Association during the course of the match.

Q: Do you still play or have any plans to return to the game as a coach or manager?
GN: I do still play. In 2008 I represented an England seniors Team that played in a Seniors World Cup in Thailand. I have played for the past 2 years for Kowloon Cricket Club in the Hong Kong Soccer 7's.

I play regularly for Charlton Vets and also every Sunday morning in the Premier League of the Southend and District Borough Combination Vets League (there are 5 divisions) for Old Southendian FC. I am still getting around the pitch pretty well but play a holding role in midfield these days!

I finally got round to converting my FA Full Licence to a UEFA A Licence last year and did some coaching whilst in Hong Kong which I really loved.
I would like to do an awful lot more but running a couple of businesses means invariably that there is just not enough time. If a decent offer came along though I may be seriously tempted. I may let my heart rule my head again like I did when I opted to leave the security of the PFA to join ITV Digital - not the wisest career move!

Q: Finally, the fans hold you in such high regard and still talk about your time at Argyle; do you have a message for them?
GN: Only to say that it is lovely for me to go back to the West Country and particularly Home Park because the fans who are old enough to remember me and that great team are always so pleased that you make the effort to go back.

I have great memories of my short spell at Home Park and Plymouth will always be a special place for me not only because of the special times that we had but also because my son was born in the City.

Green Army!!

Thank you to Garry for taking part in this interview.

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