Wes Saunders
Encyclopedia
Wes Saunders is an English
former professional footballer and football club manager
.
Saunders was born in Sunderland and brought up in Boldon Colliery, attending Boldon Comprehensive school. He began his career as a junior with Newcastle United
, turning professional in June 1981.
Increasingly out of the first team picture at Newcastle, Saunders joined Bradford City
on loan in March 1985, moving to Carlisle United
for a fee of £20,000 in August 1985.
Saunders subsequently joined Dundee
before joining Torquay United
in July 1990 for a then club record fee of £60,000. He captained the Torquay side to promotion the following season, Torquay beating Blackpool
on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley. The following season he had a lengthy spell as caretaker manager of the team following the sacking of John Impey
, and reverted to his playing role upon the appointment of Ivan Golac
as manager. His professional playing career was ended by a knee ligament injury just a couple years later.
On leaving Torquay he played non-league football for Spennymoor United
and went on to play for and coach a number of non-league sides in the north east of England while working in his family's textile firm.
In summer 1998, Saunders became manager of Torquay United, this time on a permanent basis, after the departure of Kevin Hodges
. He struggled to maintain the progress made by Hodges and in the 2000–01 season, Torquay struggled to the extent that former player Colin Lee
was brought in as a consultant. Saunders was dismissed by Torquay on March 28, 2001 after a 1-0 defeat to Carlisle United F.C.
the previous week had left the club at the bottom of the league and facing relegation to the Football Conference
.
He subsequently became a player agent and his players included former England
international Paul Gascoigne
.
He is the brother-in-law of former Torquay United players Matt Elliott
and Micky Holmes.
He now lives in East Boldon with his wife, Tina and two children, Lola and Harris.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer and football club manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Saunders was born in Sunderland and brought up in Boldon Colliery, attending Boldon Comprehensive school. He began his career as a junior with Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, turning professional in June 1981.
Increasingly out of the first team picture at Newcastle, Saunders joined Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
on loan in March 1985, moving to Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
for a fee of £20,000 in August 1985.
Saunders subsequently joined Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
before joining Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in July 1990 for a then club record fee of £60,000. He captained the Torquay side to promotion the following season, Torquay beating Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley. The following season he had a lengthy spell as caretaker manager of the team following the sacking of John Impey
John Impey
John E. Impey is an English former professional football player and manager. As player, he made 461 appearances in the Football League representing Cardiff City, A.F.C. Bournemouth, Torquay United and Exeter City, and spent a season in the North American Soccer League with the Seattle Sounders...
, and reverted to his playing role upon the appointment of Ivan Golac
Ivan Golac
Ivan Golac is a former Yugoslav football player and manager.A Yugoslav international right back, he is best known as a player and manager of FK Partizan, of Belgrade...
as manager. His professional playing career was ended by a knee ligament injury just a couple years later.
On leaving Torquay he played non-league football for Spennymoor United
Spennymoor United F.C.
Spennymoor United F.C. was an English association football club based in Spennymoor, County Durham.In 1905, they joined the Northern League and won the league title six times in their history. In the 1936-37 season, they reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to top-flight side West...
and went on to play for and coach a number of non-league sides in the north east of England while working in his family's textile firm.
In summer 1998, Saunders became manager of Torquay United, this time on a permanent basis, after the departure of Kevin Hodges
Kevin Hodges
Kevin Hodges is a retired English footballer and manager who played as a midfielder, and now works as a coach. He spent the majority of his playing career with Plymouth Argyle of the Football League, where he is the club's all-time appearance record holder...
. He struggled to maintain the progress made by Hodges and in the 2000–01 season, Torquay struggled to the extent that former player Colin Lee
Colin Lee
Colin Lee is an English football manager and former footballer. He is currently Chief Executive of League Two side Torquay United and President of Buckfastleigh Rangers Football & Social Club.-Playing career:...
was brought in as a consultant. Saunders was dismissed by Torquay on March 28, 2001 after a 1-0 defeat to Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
the previous week had left the club at the bottom of the league and facing relegation to 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...
.
He subsequently became a player agent and his players included former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international Paul Gascoigne
Paul Gascoigne
Paul John Gascoigne , commonly referred to as Gazza, is a retired English professional footballer.Playing in the position of midfield, Gascoigne's career included spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton and Gansu Tianma, where he scored at least a goal...
.
He is the brother-in-law of former Torquay United players Matt Elliott
Matthew Elliott (footballer)
Matthew Stephen "Matt" Elliott is a former professional footballer, most notably as a defender for Leicester City. Although born in England, he was never selected to play for them on an international level; he instead played for Scotland, for whom he was eligible due to his Scottish...
and Micky Holmes.
He now lives in East Boldon with his wife, Tina and two children, Lola and Harris.