Gary Cohen (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Gary Dane Cohen is an English former professional footballer who played from 2002 until 2010. He notably played for Grimsby Town
having also represented Watford
, Scarborough
, Gretna
, Workington
and St Albans City
at Scarborough where he enjoyed a short but fruitful spell at the McCain Stadium
. His next port of call was to sign for Gretna
, who were racing up the Scottish Football League
.However Cohen struggled to make an impact on the first team and was put on the Loan list The pacey striker enjoyed a successful stint on loan at Unibond side Workington
in the 2004-2005 season where he found the net twenty times and finished as the club's top scorer, helping them to gain promotion to the Conference North
.
In June 2005 he became one of the first new signings of the 2005-2006 season for Grimsby Town
joining Terry Barwick
, Jermaine Palmer
and John Lukic jnr as the first new additions. He linked up with Russell Slade once more who signed Cohen on a season long loan deal from his Scottish parent club. Primarily used as a forward at his previous clubs, Cohen became a make shift right and left sided midfielder and his performances soon earned him respect amongst the Grimsby supporters. In February 2006, Slade signed Cohen for an undisclosed fee and he went on to feature in the clubs Play-Off campaign.
Cohen would go on to miss the entire 2006-2007 season due to an injury picked up in pre-season, and at the end of the season he was released by the club, however the English Football Association gave Grimsby the registering forms for Cohen and the first option to sign him back up if the situation ever came about.
He would spend the entire 2007-2008 season without a club and still suffering from injury. He opted for retirement from the game but in a u-turn he signed for St Albans City
in August 2008. Cohen retired from football at the end of the 2009-2010 season to work in the Ambulance
service.
Gary now works as an entertainer on a cruise ship.
ran 400m for Great Britain and went to two Olympic Games
; Gary's mother, Eleanor Thomas, ran 100m also represented Great Britain. He is the nephew of Shirley Thomas
who ran 100m for Great Britain at the Olympic Games.
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
having also represented Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
, Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
, Workington
Workington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
and St Albans City
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
Career
Cohen started his career as a trainee at Watford but never played a first team match and was released by The Hornets at end of the 2002-2003 season. He then teamed up Russell SladeRussell Slade
Russell Slade is an English football manager currently in charge of League One side Leyton Orient.-Notts County:Slade was assistant manager to Mick Walker at Notts County, and took over as caretaker manager when Walker was sacked in September 1994. When County appointed Howard Kendall as manager...
at Scarborough where he enjoyed a short but fruitful spell at the McCain Stadium
McCain Stadium
The McCain Stadium was a football stadium located on Seamer Road in Scarborough, England. It was the home of Scarborough FC, a defunct football club who last played in the English Conference North before they were dissolved on 20 June 2007 with debts of £2.5 million.The ground was first opened...
. His next port of call was to sign for Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
, who were racing up the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
.However Cohen struggled to make an impact on the first team and was put on the Loan list The pacey striker enjoyed a successful stint on loan at Unibond side Workington
Workington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
in the 2004-2005 season where he found the net twenty times and finished as the club's top scorer, helping them to gain promotion to the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
.
In June 2005 he became one of the first new signings of the 2005-2006 season for Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
joining Terry Barwick
Terry Barwick
Terence Patrick "Terry" Barwick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern Premier League Division One South side Goole AFC, where he is in his third stay with the club....
, Jermaine Palmer
Jermaine Palmer
Jermaine Ashley Clifton Palmer is an English footballer who plays for Holbeach United as a striker. He played professionally for Stoke City and Grimsby Town before moving into non-League.-Career:...
and John Lukic jnr as the first new additions. He linked up with Russell Slade once more who signed Cohen on a season long loan deal from his Scottish parent club. Primarily used as a forward at his previous clubs, Cohen became a make shift right and left sided midfielder and his performances soon earned him respect amongst the Grimsby supporters. In February 2006, Slade signed Cohen for an undisclosed fee and he went on to feature in the clubs Play-Off campaign.
Cohen would go on to miss the entire 2006-2007 season due to an injury picked up in pre-season, and at the end of the season he was released by the club, however the English Football Association gave Grimsby the registering forms for Cohen and the first option to sign him back up if the situation ever came about.
He would spend the entire 2007-2008 season without a club and still suffering from injury. He opted for retirement from the game but in a u-turn he signed for St Albans City
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
in August 2008. Cohen retired from football at the end of the 2009-2010 season to work in the Ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
service.
Gary now works as an entertainer on a cruise ship.
Family sporting ties
His dad Glen CohenGlen Cohen
Glendon Howard "Glen" Cohen is a Jamaican-born British athlete . He represented Great Britain at the Olympic games of 1976 and 1980 in the 400 metres. He represented Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club. His personal best of 45.49 was achieved in 1978....
ran 400m for Great Britain and went to two Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
; Gary's mother, Eleanor Thomas, ran 100m also represented Great Britain. He is the nephew of Shirley Thomas
Shirley Thomas
Shirley Thomas is the name of:*Shirley Thomas , radio/television actress/writer/producer, advocate for United States Space Program & professor of technical writing*Shirley Thomas , women's track runner...
who ran 100m for Great Britain at the Olympic Games.
Grimsby Town
- Coca Cola League Two Play-off runner up: 2005-062005-06 in English footballThe 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
- Supporters Young Player of the Year: 2006