Gary Phillips
Encyclopedia
Gary Phillips is a retired football goalkeeper who was last attached to Hemel Hempstead Town
as manager.
He started his career as a schoolboy at Southampton
before moving to non-League
Chalfont St Peter in 1978. He moved to Brighton & Hove Albion
the same year. Phillips joined West Bromwich Albion
in 1979, but failed to make an appearance in two years. He dropped back into non-League football signing for Barnet
in 1981 before being sold to Brentford
for £
5,000. He then joined Reading
, where he was loaned out to Barnet and Hereford United
.
Phillps rejoined Barnet on a permanent basis in 1989, where he eventually became player-manager in 1993. He was appointed as player-manager of Aylesbury United
in March 1996, but left in November 2007, before returning as player-manager in October 1999. In between appointments at Aylesbury, Phillips had a spell playing for Aldershot Town
. He left Aylesbury in November 2001. Phillips joined Hemel Hempstead Town
as manager in 2001, but quit after just 17 games. After a number of coaching roles, he was appointed as manager of Grays Athletic
until the end of the 2008–09 season, before being reappointed as manager the following season taking over from Craig Edwards. He left Grays in early September, after the club announced their intentions to look for a new manager. Phillips was appointed manager of Hemel Hempstead Town
in October, before being sacked in March 2010.
on trial. In 1976 he signed schoolboy terms with Southampton
, where he played for two years. He then moved on to play for Chalfont St Peter in non-League
, before signing non-contract terms with Brighton & Hove Albion
in early 1978 where he stayed for eight months.
, failing to make an appearance. Phillips moved to non-League Barnet
at the start of 1981. He was voted as Player of the Year for Barnet in 1982 and 1984. He was transfer listed due to financial troubles at Barnet, and therefore sold to Brentford
for £
5,000 in 1984. During his time with Brentford, Phillips was a runner-up in the Associate Members' Cup
when Wigan Athletic
defeated Brentford 3–1 at Wembley Stadium.
Phillips then had a spell at Reading
, before rejoining Barnet on loan in 1988 to provide cover for injured goalkeepers Steve Humphries and Andy Lomas. He then joined Hereford United
on loan in 1989, making six League appearances before signing for Barnet on a permanent basis. During the 1990–91 season, Barnet won the Football Conference
and Phillips was an integral part of the team that won promotion into The Football League
. Barnet gained promotion during the 1992–93 season, after they finished third in the Third Division
, in which Phillips won the Player of the Year for the third season.
, Phillps was appointed as player-manager by new chairman Ricky George
, at the start of the 1993–94
season. He was replaced by Ray Clemence
in January 1994 who was bought in as "general manager", whilst Phillips retained his title of "manager".
On 21 March 1996, Phillips joined Aylesbury United
as player-manager, taking over from Steve Ketteridge. He left Aylesbury in November 1997, and had a spell at Aldershot Town
. He returned to Aylesbury United as player-manager in October 1999, making a total of 43 appearances in all competitions before leaving in October 2000. In the summer of 2001, he was appointed manager of Hemel Hempstead Town
, before quitting 17 games later in November 2001. He has since been on to coach at Queens Park Rangers
, Colchester United
, Wycombe Wanderers
, Luton Town
, Southend United
and Barnet, as well as managing their reserve side.
Phillips arrived at Grays as a coach, before being promoted to assistant manager in September 2008. He took over from Wayne Burnett
as Grays Athletic
manager in January 2009, until the end of the 2008–09 season, when he helped Grays to avoid relegation. He was replaced by Craig Edwards for the following 2009–10 season, but remained at Grays as a coach. He was then appointed manager again following Edwards sacking at the start of the next season, taking charge from Grays' first game of the new season. Phillips was placed on gardening leave on 10 September, after the club announced its intent to appoint a new manager a few days prior.
Hemel Hempstead Town
announced Phillips had been appointed as manager after former manager Dennis Grenne stepped down. After a poor run of results and leaving Hemel Hempstead Town second from bottom in the Southern Football League
, in the relegation zone, Phillips was sacked from his post as manager.
In March 2011, Phillips rejoined Barnet as a goalkeeping coach to aid manager Martin Allen
and the club's battle against relegation back to the Conference National
.
, where he still lives. He is married with three daughters. His father was a policeman
.
Barnet:
Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.
Hemel Hempstead Town are a football club based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division. They are known as the Tudors and play their games at Vauxhall Road...
as manager.
He started his career as a schoolboy at Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
before moving to non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
Chalfont St Peter in 1978. He moved to Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
the same year. Phillips joined West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in 1979, but failed to make an appearance in two years. He dropped back into non-League football signing for Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
in 1981 before being sold to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
5,000. He then joined Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, where he was loaned out to Barnet and Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
.
Phillps rejoined Barnet on a permanent basis in 1989, where he eventually became player-manager in 1993. He was appointed as player-manager of Aylesbury United
Aylesbury United F.C.
Aylesbury United are a football club based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the Spartan South Midlands League, nicknamed the Ducks....
in March 1996, but left in November 2007, before returning as player-manager in October 1999. In between appointments at Aylesbury, Phillips had a spell playing for Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
. He left Aylesbury in November 2001. Phillips joined Hemel Hempstead Town
Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.
Hemel Hempstead Town are a football club based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division. They are known as the Tudors and play their games at Vauxhall Road...
as manager in 2001, but quit after just 17 games. After a number of coaching roles, he was appointed as manager of Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
until the end of the 2008–09 season, before being reappointed as manager the following season taking over from Craig Edwards. He left Grays in early September, after the club announced their intentions to look for a new manager. Phillips was appointed manager of Hemel Hempstead Town
Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.
Hemel Hempstead Town are a football club based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division. They are known as the Tudors and play their games at Vauxhall Road...
in October, before being sacked in March 2010.
Early career
Phillips started his footballing life as a centre forward until the age of 13 when he played as goalkeeper for his school team. He represented the South East Schools football team and was invited to join WatfordWatford 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...
on trial. In 1976 he signed schoolboy terms with Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, where he played for two years. He then moved on to play for Chalfont St Peter in non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
, before signing non-contract terms with Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in early 1978 where he stayed for eight months.
Club career
On his 17th birthday, he signed for West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, failing to make an appearance. Phillips moved to non-League Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
at the start of 1981. He was voted as Player of the Year for Barnet in 1982 and 1984. He was transfer listed due to financial troubles at Barnet, and therefore sold to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
5,000 in 1984. During his time with Brentford, Phillips was a runner-up in the Associate Members' Cup
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
when Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
defeated Brentford 3–1 at Wembley Stadium.
Phillips then had a spell at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, before rejoining Barnet on loan in 1988 to provide cover for injured goalkeepers Steve Humphries and Andy Lomas. He then joined Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
on loan in 1989, making six League appearances before signing for Barnet on a permanent basis. During the 1990–91 season, Barnet won the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
and Phillips was an integral part of the team that won promotion into The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. Barnet gained promotion during the 1992–93 season, after they finished third in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, in which Phillips won the Player of the Year for the third season.
Management and coaching career
Following the departure of manager Barry Fry to Southend UnitedSouthend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, Phillps was appointed as player-manager by new chairman Ricky George
Ricky George
Ricky George is a former English footballer, businessman and columnist. He is notable for scoring the winning goal for Hereford United in the famous 1971-72 FA Cup match against Newcastle United...
, at the start of the 1993–94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
season. He was replaced by Ray Clemence
Ray Clemence
Raymond Neal "Ray" Clemence, MBE is one of English and European football's most decorated goalkeepers ever and was part of the Liverpool team of the 1970s.-Scunthorpe United:...
in January 1994 who was bought in as "general manager", whilst Phillips retained his title of "manager".
On 21 March 1996, Phillips joined Aylesbury United
Aylesbury United F.C.
Aylesbury United are a football club based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the Spartan South Midlands League, nicknamed the Ducks....
as player-manager, taking over from Steve Ketteridge. He left Aylesbury in November 1997, and had a spell at Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
. He returned to Aylesbury United as player-manager in October 1999, making a total of 43 appearances in all competitions before leaving in October 2000. In the summer of 2001, he was appointed manager of Hemel Hempstead Town
Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.
Hemel Hempstead Town are a football club based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division. They are known as the Tudors and play their games at Vauxhall Road...
, before quitting 17 games later in November 2001. He has since been on to coach at Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
, Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and Barnet, as well as managing their reserve side.
Phillips arrived at Grays as a coach, before being promoted to assistant manager in September 2008. He took over from Wayne Burnett
Wayne Burnett
Wayne Burnett is an English former footballer who is most notable for playing at Plymouth Argyle, Huddersfield Town and Grimsby Town. Having also had spells with Leyton Orient, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Woking, Grays Athletic, Fisher Athletic and Peterborough United...
as Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
manager in January 2009, until the end of the 2008–09 season, when he helped Grays to avoid relegation. He was replaced by Craig Edwards for the following 2009–10 season, but remained at Grays as a coach. He was then appointed manager again following Edwards sacking at the start of the next season, taking charge from Grays' first game of the new season. Phillips was placed on gardening leave on 10 September, after the club announced its intent to appoint a new manager a few days prior.
Hemel Hempstead Town
Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.
Hemel Hempstead Town are a football club based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division. They are known as the Tudors and play their games at Vauxhall Road...
announced Phillips had been appointed as manager after former manager Dennis Grenne stepped down. After a poor run of results and leaving Hemel Hempstead Town second from bottom in the Southern Football League
2009–10 Southern Football League
The 2009-10 season was the 106th in the history of the Southern League.-Premier Division:The Premier Division featured five new clubs:*Didcot Town, promoted from Division One South & West*Hednesford Town, transferred from Northern Premier League...
, in the relegation zone, Phillips was sacked from his post as manager.
In March 2011, Phillips rejoined Barnet as a goalkeeping coach to aid manager Martin Allen
Martin Allen
Martin James Allen is a former football player and current manager of Notts County. He played more than 100 games for each Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United before finishing his playing career with Portsmouth and Southend United. Five years later, he took his first job in management, at...
and the club's battle against relegation back to the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
.
Personal life
Phillips was born in St AlbansSt Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, where he still lives. He is married with three daughters. His father was a policeman
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
.
Honours
Brentford:- Associate Members' CupFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
: 1984–85
Barnet:
- Football ConferenceFootball ConferenceThe Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
: 1990–91 - Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
: third place (promoted) – 1992–93