Tony Green (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Green | ||
| Date of birth | 13 October 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder (retired) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 19??-1964 | St. Mungo's Academy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1964-1966 | Albion Rovers | 64 | (21) |
| 1966-1971 | Blackpool | 123 | (13) |
| 1971-1973 | Newcastle United | 33 | (3) |
| – | Career | 220 | (37 ) |
| National team | |||
| 1971-1972 | Scotland | 6 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Anthony "Tony" Green (born 13 October 1946) is a Scottish former professional footballer.
Contents |
[edit] Club career
Glasgow-born Green began his career at Albion Rovers in his native Scotland.
[edit] Blackpool
He was transferred south of the border to Blackpool for an initial £13,500 in May 1967 on a four-year contract. Albion would receive a further £2,000 when he had played in twenty first-team games.[1]
Green suffered an injury that kept him out of the game for a year. His return to the fold came on 19 September 1970 for the visit of Everton to Bloomfield Road.[1]
[edit] Blackpool Hall of Fame
Green was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006.[2] Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Green is in the 1960s.[3]
[edit] Newcastle United
In 1971, after Green had put in a transfer request,[1] Newcastle United came in for his services with an offer of £150,000, in a part-exchange deal involving Keith Dyson. Becoming Newcastle's second most expensive signing, after Malcolm Macdonald who was signed the previous summer from Luton Town for £180,000. [4] [5] On 2 September 1972, an "horrendous"[1] tackle by Crystal Palace's Bobby Kellard ended Green's career at the age of 25,[4] 33 games and three goals into his Magpies career; he had suffered a cartilage injury, and was never to play professionally again.
United got their £150,000 back through an insurance company after Green's retirement at Christmas 1973, but it was little consolation. Newcastle manager Joe Harvey said: "After they made Tony Green, they threw away the mould. I couldn't hope to buy a similar player, not even for twice the amount." [4]
In 2008 Green said: "You think about things for about six months, and you look back wistfully. But in a way, I'm glad that if I had to finish like I did, I did it at Newcastle. I had a chance to play for a big club every week, in front of big crowds. You can't regret that. I'd have loved to have played on, but if you keep looking back it would drive you crackers." [4]
[edit] Newcastle United Hall of Fame
Green was inducted into a black and white hall of fame at the star-studded Toon Reunion at Dunston's Lancastrian Suite on July 9, 2008 at the age of 61. Green said "I get back maybe once a year and it's nice – it probably wouldn't happen anywhere else but the north east. If I'm coming back from Newcastle and get to the M6, my wife will say 'You're a normal person now'. It's lovely, and I always enjoy coming back. I'm just a supporter now, waiting for something better to happen than in the previous years. I follow Celtic, Blackpool and Newcastle, but probably Newcastle more than anyone else." [4]
[edit] International career
He made six appearances for Scotland between 1971 and 1972.
[edit] Post-retirement
After his football career ended Green became a maths teacher at Hodgson High School in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, and later at Millfield, in nearby Thornton. Since 1976, he has also served on the pools panel, a four-strong panel of experts who predict results of postponed fixtures.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC on This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1905411502.
- ^ Singleton, Steve, ed. (2007). Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC (1 ed.). Blackpool: Blackpool Gazette. pp. 50–53. ISBN 9781845471828.
- ^ "The Hall Of Fame - 1960's". Blackpool Supporters Association. http://www.bsaweb.info/HOF60.aspx. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Legend: Tony Green", Blackpool Gazette
- ^ "supermac the official website"
[edit] Further reading
- Calley, Roy (20 October 1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992. Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 187362607X.
- Singleton, Steve, ed. (2007). Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC (1 ed.). Blackpool: Blackpool Gazette. ISBN 9781845471828.
- Joannou, Paul (1996). The Black 'n' White Alphabet: A Complete Who's Who of Newcastle United. Polar Print Group Ltd. ISBN 1899538038.
- Canning, Tommy; Joannou, Paul (23 October 1989). Ha'way the Lads!: Illustrated Story of Newcastle United. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 1851582576.
[edit] External links
- 1946 births
- Living people
- Scottish footballers
- Scotland international footballers
- Albion Rovers F.C. players
- Blackpool F.C. players
- Newcastle United F.C. players
- Sportspeople from Glasgow
- Scottish Football League players
- The Football League players
- Association football midfielders
- People educated at St Mungo's Academy
- People from Poulton-le-Fylde
