Gary Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Gary Dean Sawyer is an English footballer who plays for Football League Two
club Bristol Rovers
as a defender
, having previously played for Plymouth Argyle
, Weymouth
, Exeter City
and Bristol City
.
, Devon
, and developed his football career in the youth system at Plymouth Argyle. In the 2003–04 season, Sawyer had a loan spell with Weymouth
, during which he made only one appearance. He joined Conference
club Exeter City on loan for the 2004–05 season, appearing regularly in the first team and playing in the club's FA Cup
ties against Manchester United, and remained at the club for the following season.
Sawyer made his debut in the Football League
on 8 August 2006, as a second-half substitute as Plymouth won 1–0 against Colchester United in the Football League Championship
. He signed a two-and-a-half-year deal in November 2006, and made his first start for Argyle later that month at home to Luton Town
. His performances during the season earned him Argyle's Young Player of the Season award for 2006–07 and a new three-year deal, contracting him to the club until 2010.
Sawyer went on to be a regular starter for the Pilgrims throughout the 2007–08 season, and scored his first goal for the club, against Colchester United on 4 March 2008.
In March 2010, Sawyer joined fellow Championship club Bristol City
on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. Out of contract at the end of the season, Sawyer had turned down the offer of a contract extension from Plymouth, and said he hoped to earn himself a permanent deal with Bristol City.
On 30 June 2010, Sawyer joined League 1 Club Bristol Rovers on a two year deal. Sawyer got his first sending off for the Pirates on 11 September 2010, against Brentford
, with two bookable offences.
Statistics accurate as of 13 March 2010.
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, having previously played for Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
, Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
and Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
.
Playing career
Sawyer was born in BidefordBideford
Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, and developed his football career in the youth system at Plymouth Argyle. In the 2003–04 season, Sawyer had a loan spell with Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
, during which he made only one appearance. He joined Conference
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...
club Exeter City on loan for the 2004–05 season, appearing regularly in the first team and playing in the club's FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
ties against Manchester United, and remained at the club for the following season.
Sawyer made his debut in 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...
on 8 August 2006, as a second-half substitute as Plymouth won 1–0 against Colchester United in the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. He signed a two-and-a-half-year deal in November 2006, and made his first start for Argyle later that month at home to 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...
. His performances during the season earned him Argyle's Young Player of the Season award for 2006–07 and a new three-year deal, contracting him to the club until 2010.
Sawyer went on to be a regular starter for the Pilgrims throughout the 2007–08 season, and scored his first goal for the club, against Colchester United on 4 March 2008.
In March 2010, Sawyer joined fellow Championship club Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. Out of contract at the end of the season, Sawyer had turned down the offer of a contract extension from Plymouth, and said he hoped to earn himself a permanent deal with Bristol City.
On 30 June 2010, Sawyer joined League 1 Club Bristol Rovers on a two year deal. Sawyer got his first sending off for the Pirates on 11 September 2010, against 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....
, with two bookable offences.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Weymouth Weymouth F.C. Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year... |
||||||||||
| 2003–04 2003-04 in English football The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game.... |
1 | 0 | ||||||||
| 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Exeter City Exeter City F.C. Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003... |
||||||||||
| 2004–05 2004-05 in English football The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League... |
32 | 2 | ||||||||
| 4 | 0 | |||||||||
| 36 | 2 | |||||||||
| 2005–06 2005-06 in English football The 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... |
30 | 0 | ||||||||
| 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| 31 | 0 | |||||||||
| Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
||||||||||
| 2006–07 2006-07 in English football The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five... |
22 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 26 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| 2007–08 2007-08 in English football The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool... |
31 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 35 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| 2008–09 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 13 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||
| 2009–10 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 32 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||
| Career | 158 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 174 | 7 | 7 | |
Statistics accurate as of 13 March 2010.
External links
- Gary Sawyer player profile at pafc.co.uk
- Gary Sawyer player profile at exetercityfc.co.uk