Howard Gayle

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Howard Gayle
Gayle playing in a charity match for Liverpool in 2010
Personal information
Full name Howard Anthony Gayle[1]
Date of birth (1958-05-18) 18 May 1958 (age 65)[1]
Place of birth Toxteth, Liverpool, England[1]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward, winger
Youth career
1974–1977 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1983 Liverpool 4 (1)
1980 → Fulham (loan) 14 (0)
1982–1983 → Newcastle United (loan) 8 (2)
1983–1984 Birmingham City 46 (9)
1984–1986 Sunderland 48 (4)
1987 Stoke City 6 (2)
1987–1992 Blackburn Rovers 116 (29)
1992–1993 Halifax Town 5 (0)
Total 247 (47)
International career
1984 England U21 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Howard Anthony Gayle (born 18 May 1958) is an English former footballer who played for Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Halifax Town, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Stoke City.[1]

Gayle began his career with Liverpool, becoming the first black player to play for the team. After loan spells with Fulham and Newcastle United he joined Birmingham City in search of regular first team football. He then played for Sunderland and had a short spell in the United States playing indoor football with the Dallas Sidekicks. He returned to England and played for Stoke City, Blackburn Rovers and ended his career with Halifax Town.

Club career[edit]

Gayle was born in Toxteth and joined the youth ranks at local side Liverpool in 1974. He signed a professional contract with the club in 1977, becoming the first black player to play for Liverpool, which was seen as a "victory" for the black community in Liverpool.

"It was constantly in the press that I was the first black player to play for Liverpool. It was a landmark as far as black people were concerned, and I was proud to represent the black community of Liverpool"

— Gayle on his important landmark.[3]

His finest hour for Liverpool came in the 1980–81 European Cup semi-final second leg away at Bayern Munich when he came on as an early substitute to help Liverpool draw 1-1 and progress to the final on the away goals rule. Although he was a non-playing substitute in the final, he was rewarded with a winner's medal. After loan spells at Fulham and Newcastle United he left Anfield after making just five appearances.

Gayle joined Birmingham City where he played in the 1982–83 season scoring once against West Ham and then he hit 10 in 45 during the 1983–84 campaign. Gayle then signed for Len Ashurst's Sunderland, where he became a popular player playing in two seasons before moving to the United States to play for Dallas Sidekicks in the Major Indoor Soccer League.[1] He returned to England in April 1987 to play for Stoke City, playing six matches at the end of the 1986–87 season, scoring twice in a 3–2 defeat against Bradford City.[1]

He then spent five years at Blackburn Rovers, where he was that club's first black player.[4] He signed for them in 1987 and was a regular striker in their quest for top-flight football. However, by the time Blackburn were promoted to the newly-created Premier League in 1992, Gayle had fallen down the pecking order in favour of expensive new signings Mike Newell and David Speedie, and with the arrival of national record signing Alan Shearer that summer, it was clear that Blackburn manager Kenny Dalglish felt that Gayle was surplus to requirements at Ewood Park.

Gayle joined Halifax Town in the newly renamed Division Three but managed just five league appearances as they were relegated to the Football Conference. After leaving Halifax he had a brief trial at Carlisle United, before retiring from football.

International career[edit]

As an overage player, he helped England win the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, in which he scored a goal in the final against Spain.

Personal life[edit]

Gayle was born to a father from Sierra Leone and a mother from Ghana.[5] In August 2016, it was reported that Gayle had turned down a nomination for an MBE for his work with "Show Racism the Red Card", saying it would be "a betrayal to all of the Africans who have lost their lives, or who have suffered as a result of Empire."[6]

He released his autobiography in October 2016 titled 61 Minutes in Munich.[7]

Career statistics[edit]

Source:[8]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool 1979–80 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1980–81 First Division 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 1
1981–82 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1982–83 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 1
Fulham (loan) 1979–80 Second Division 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
Newcastle United (loan) 1982–83 Second Division 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 2
Birmingham City 1982–83 First Division 13 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 14 1
1983–84 First Division 33 8 4 0 8 2 0 0 45 10
Total 46 9 5 0 8 2 0 0 59 11
Sunderland 1984–85 First Division 25 2 1 0 7 1 0 0 33 3
1985–86 Second Division 23 2 2 0 1 0 2 0 28 2
Total 48 4 3 0 8 1 2 0 61 5
Stoke City 1986–87 Second Division 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2
Blackburn Rovers 1987–88 Second Division 13 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 16 1
1988–89 Second Division 45 19 3 0 4 1 6 3 58 23
1989–90 Second Division 36 5 2 0 1 0 2 0 41 5
1990–91 Second Division 24 4 2 0 1 0 0 0 27 4
1991–92 Second Division 4 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 7 0
Total 116 29 7 0 8 1 12 3 143 33
Halifax Town 1992–93 Third Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Career Total 247 47 15 0 24 4 15 3 300 54
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the European Cup, Full Members Cup, Football League play-offs, Football League Trophy.

Honours[edit]

Liverpool
Sunderland
England under-21

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ Jackman, Mike (1994). Blackburn Rovers: the official encyclopaedia. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 103. ISBN 1-873626-70-3.
  3. ^ "Forgotten Heroes: Howard Gayle". This is Anfield. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  4. ^ "Howard Gayle: 'Blackburn Rovers and my best ever football season – 1988/89'". Rovers Trust. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Howard Gayle - A pioneer and an activist - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC!". www.lfchistory.net.
  6. ^ "Ex-Liverpool player Howard Gayle turns down MBE". BBC. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Howard Gayle: I needed mental resilience to survive as Liverpool's first black player". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  8. ^ Howard Gayle at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

External links[edit]

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