Gary Finley Explained

Gary Finley
Birth Date:14 November 1970[1]
Birth Place:Liverpool, England
Position:Central defender
Clubs1:Marine
Clubs2:Warrington Town
Clubs3:Vauxhall Motors
Clubs4:Warrington Town
Clubs5:Curzon Ashton
Clubs6:Netherfield
Years7:1997
Clubs7:Doncaster Rovers
Caps7:8
Goals7:0
Clubs8:Netherfield
Years9:1997–1998
Clubs9:Hyde United
Caps9:8
Goals9:0
Years10:1998–1999
Clubs10:Conwy United
Caps10:41
Goals10:3[2]
Years11:1999–2004
Clubs11:Aberystwyth Town
Caps11:116
Goals11:5
Years12:2004
Clubs12:Total Network Solutions
Caps12:1
Goals12:0
Years13:2004
Clubs13:Colwyn Bay (loan)
Years14:2004–2005
Clubs14:Witton Albion
Manageryears1:2001–2004
Managerclubs1:Aberystwyth Town
Manageryears2:2004–2005
Managerclubs2:Witton Albion
Manageryears3:2006
Managerclubs3:Lancaster City
Manageryears4:2007–2008
Managerclubs4:Colwyn Bay
Manageryears5:2008–2010
Managerclubs5:Witton Albion

Gary Finley (born 14 November 1970) is a former professional football central defender and non-league manager. He played in the Football League for Doncaster Rovers and was most recently Assistant Professional Development Coach at Blackburn Rovers .

Career

Born in Liverpool, Finley played for Marine, Warrington Town, Vauxhall Motors, Curzon Ashton and Netherfield before joining Doncaster Rovers. He made his debut in the League Cup in August 1997, as Doncaster lost 2–1 away to Nottingham Forest, and played eight times in the league that season as they were relegated to the Conference. Upon leaving Doncaster he returned to Netherfield, moving on to Hyde United and to Welsh side Conwy United in 1998 before joining Aberystwyth Town in November 1999.[1]

He became player-manager of Aberystwyth in December 2001,[3] a post he held until resigning less than a fortnight before the 2004–05 season, after the club's most successful period in 20 years. They reached their highest league placing, winning the MWC Cup and qualifying for the Inter Toto cup, drawing the home leg before finally bowing out to Dinaburg FC from Latvia.[4] On leaving Aberystwyth, he had a brief spell as a player with Total Network Solutions, also appearing for Colwyn Bay on seconds forms,[5] before becoming player-manager at Witton Albion in November 2004.[1] He and his assistant Lee Coathup left Witton by mutual consent in October 2005,[6] following the club stating that it would be reducing the playing budget.[7]

Finley was appointed assistant manager at Lancaster City in December 2005,[8] remaining in that post until July 2006 when he took over as manager from the departed Peter Ward.[9] In January 2007, he took over as manager of Colwyn Bay, where a massive upsurge in form saw them qualify for the Unibond playoffs, only to lose to Cammell Laird in injury time.[10] [11]

In 2008-15 Finley joined Blackburn Rovers category 1 academy, where he was Professional Development Coach.

For several years now, Gary Finley has been a full-time youth coach for Blackburn Rovers Football team academy where he is in charge of professional development for 18–23 age group.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Player profile – Gary Finley. Non League Daily. 2010-02-09. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111256/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/teams/players.php?pid=5176. 27 September 2012.
  2. Web site: Welsh Premier career details for Gary Finley. Welsh Premier League. 2010-02-09. 10 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161110173504/http://welsh-premier.com/player_detail_solo.php?player_id=407. dead.
  3. News: Departures hamper new boss Finley. NonLeagueDaily. 2001-12-05. 2010-02-09.
  4. News: Finley quits Aber. 2004-08-05. 2010-02-09. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111310/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=19454. 27 September 2012.
  5. News: Finley helps out Bay. NonLeagueDaily. 2004-10-18. 2010-02-09. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111650/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=21292. 27 September 2012.
  6. News: Finley goes at Witton. NonLeagueDaily. 2005-10-03. 2010-02-09. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111742/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=30046. 27 September 2012.
  7. News: Finley puts the record straight. 2005-10-21. 2010-02-09. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111747/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=30396. 27 September 2012.
  8. News: Ward and Finley take over at Lancaster. NonLeagueDaily. 2005-12-23. 2010-02-09. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111802/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=31875. 27 September 2012.
  9. News: Gary's promoted. Doncaster Rovers F.C.. 2006-07-24. 2010-02-09.
  10. News: Bay appoint Finley. NonLeagueDaily. 2007-01-24. 2010-02-09. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111815/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=39951. 27 September 2012.
  11. News: Finley goes at Bay. NonLeagueDaily. 2008-04-28. 2010-02-09. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111821/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=49677. 27 September 2012.