George Switzer Explained

George Switzer
Birth Date:13 October 1973
Birth Place:Salford, Lancashire, England
Position:Left-back
Currentclub:Salford United
Youthyears1:1982–1992
Youthclubs1:Manchester United
Years1:1992–1993
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1993–1994
Clubs2:Darlington
Caps2:14
Goals2:0
Years3:1994–2000
Clubs3:Hyde United
Caps3:139
Goals3:3
Years4:?–2006
Clubs4:Salford City
Caps4:?
Goals4:?
Years5:2006–2008
Clubs5:Irlam
Caps5:?
Goals5:?
Years6:2008–2013
Clubs6:AFC Monton
Caps6:?
Goals6:?

George Switzer (born 13 October 1973) is an English former footballer most famous for being part of Manchester United's 1992 FA Youth Cup-winning team. A left-back, Switzer played for Darlington, Hyde United, Salford City, Irlam and AFC Monton before his retirement in 2013.

Career

Born in Salford, Lancashire, Switzer began his career as a youth player at Manchester United, having joined the club in 1982 after being spotted playing for the local Barrhill Lads Club when he was only eight years old.[1] Switzer was part of the United youth team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992, playing with future United stars such as Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Paul Scholes. Following on from this success, Switzer was offered a professional contract with the Red Devils; however, unlike his team-mates, who received multi-year deals, Switzer was only offered one year.[2] Switzer was released at the end of the 1992–93 season.

Switzer then signed for Darlington on a free transfer in July 1993.[3] However, Switzer only played for the Quakers for one season, failing to hold down a regular place, before being given another free transfer in the summer of 1994. He then signed for Hyde United in the Northern Premier League, and played for them for six years from 1994 to 2000, making over 200 appearances for the East Manchester team. Since then, Switzer has played for Salford City, but left his home-town club in 2006 to sign for Irlam. After a short time there, he signed for AFC Monton.

Personal life

Outside of football, Switzer has had a number of careers, including working as an optical technician for Dolland & Aitchison at their factory in Salford,[4] and driving a van for a Manchester courier firm.

Notes and References

  1. News: Rob . Dawson . George Switzer tells the M.E.N. that, like his illustrious United Class of '92 team-mates, he is still enjoying his football 20 years on . Manchester Evening News . MEN Media . 15 May 2012 . 30 November 2013 .
  2. News: George Switzer, hvor ble det av deg i alt mylderet? . George Switzer, where were you in all the myriad? . dagbladet.no . DB Medialab . 14 November 2008 . 30 November 2013 .
  3. News: John . Ley . Alex Ferguson: Manchester United Transfers . https://web.archive.org/web/20080422022359/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/football/john_ley/sftman.xml . dead . 22 April 2008 . The Telegraph . Telegraph Media Group . 4 September 2001 . 19 August 2007 .
  4. News: Where are they now? . Manchester Evening News . M.E.N. media . 21 June 2002 . 19 August 2007 .