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Gary Ablett (English footballer)

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Gary Ablett
Personal information
Full name Gareth Ian Ablett
Date of birth (1965-11-19)19 November 1965
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Date of death 1 January 2012(2012-01-01) (aged 46)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1982–1985 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1992 Liverpool 109 (1)
1985 → Derby County (loan) 6 (0)
1986 → Hull City (loan) 5 (0)
1992–1996 Everton 128 (8)
1996 → Sheffield United (loan) 12 (0)
1996–1999 Birmingham City 104 (1)
1999 → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 4 (0)
2000 Blackpool 10 (1)
2000–2001 Long Island Rough Riders 21 (2)
Total 399 (13)
International career
1988 England U21 1 (0)
1990 England B 1 (0)
Managerial career
2009–2010 Stockport County
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gareth Ian "Gary" Ablett (19 November 1965 – 1 January 2012) was an English professional footballer and manager. He played as a defender. He spent nine years with Liverpool, and went on to win the FA Cup with their city rivals Everton in 1995. He formerly was Liverpool F.C. Reserves manager, a position he left in May 2009 to join Stockport County, whom he left on 17 June 2010. Ablett died on 1 January 2012, following a 16-month battle against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Playing career

Liverpool

Liverpool-born Ablett joined Liverpool F.C. as an apprentice upon leaving school in 1982.

He finally made his Liverpool debut on 20 December 1986 in a goalless league away draw with Charlton Athletic, when regular defenders Barry Venison and Mark Lawrenson were absent due to injury.[1] He made five more appearances that season, scoring what would be his only goal for the club on 18 April 1987 in a 3–0 home league victory over Nottingham Forest.[2] Alongside experienced players in defence, such as Gary Gillespie, Steve Nicol and skipper Alan Hansen, Ablett helped Liverpool win the League championship and reach the 1988 FA Cup Final. Ablett only collected a runners-up medal in the latter competition due to Liverpool's 1–0 defeat by Wimbledon.[3]

In 1988–89, Liverpool made it to their second consecutive FA Cup final. This time they were successful, after a 3–2 victory over Merseyside rivals Everton. They lost the League title, however, to Arsenal with practically the last kick of the season. Ablett was now firmly established as the club's regular left back, missing just three league games that season.

Ablett flitted in and out of the squad over the next year, relegated in the pecking order following the arrival of Glenn Hysen and the progress of Steve Staunton and David Burrows. He was used more frequently as a central defender rather than left full-back after Hansen began suffering more with injuries. Eventually, he took the central role more often following the arrival of left back David Burrows from West Bromwich Albion and won the League again with Liverpool in 1990.

Everton

Kenny Dalglish resigned as Liverpool manager on 22 February 1991, and his successor, Graeme Souness, decided to sell Ablett for £750,000 to Everton in January 1992, after 147 appearances for the Reds. Ironically, his departure came at a time when he was getting more first team opportunities than he had done since the 1988–89 season.

He made his league debut for the Toffees on 19 January 1992 in a 1–1 draw with Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park.

Ablett won the FA Cup with Everton in 1995, becoming the only player to win the competition with both Merseyside teams. However, he lost his first team place to Andy Hinchcliffe in the 1995–96 season.

Later career

Ablett went on to make 128 league appearances and score five goals for Everton, and later went on to have a brief loan spell with Sheffield United before making a permanent move to Birmingham City for £390,000. At Birmingham he scored twice, with goals against Swindon in the league[4] and Leeds United in the FA Cup.[5]

He was released by Birmingham manager Trevor Francis in 1999, and after short spells with Blackpool (playing under former Anfield team-mate Steve McMahon, scoring once against Luton Town)[6] and Wycombe Wanderers, he signed for American A-League side Long Island Rough Riders in June 2000. In February 2002, at the age of 36, Ablett was taken on trial by Grimsby Town.

In 2006, Ablett appeared as a substitute in Replay 86, a charity match staged in aid of The Marina Dalglish Appeal, which pitted the Liverpool and Everton sides that had contested the 1986 FA Cup Final against each other one more. Ablett's inclusion was curious, because although on Liverpool's books at the time of the Final, he did not actually make his debut for the club until the December of that year. Regardless, his contribution ensured Liverpool won the game 1-0.

Coaching career

In the summer of 2002, Ablett moved into coaching, taking up a post as the coach of Everton's under-17 side. He worked as part of the club's youth academy for several years until the summer of 2006, when he returned to his first club, taking the vacant job of Liverpool F.C. Reserves team coach, replacing Paco Herrera.[7] The same career opportunities were not available at Everton with Andy Holden firmly established as reserve-team manager.

In April 2008, under Ablett's guidance, Liverpool's reserves were crowned champions of the Premier Reserve League North, and the following month they became national champions after a play-off final victory against Aston Villa's reserves. In July 2008 he completed his final UEFA coaching qualification by obtaining the UEFA Pro License.[8]

Ablett's son, Frazer (born 1991), signed for Chester City and has since played for Colwyn Bay since the demise of Chester City.

On the 28 May 2009, Liverpool announced that Ablett would be leaving his position as reserve team manager.[9]

On 8 July 2009 Ablett was announced as the new Stockport County manager.[10] The club was in administration for the whole of the 2009–10 season, during which his team managed only five league wins. The club also went on a record consecutive losing run of games. He left the club on 17 June 2010 when the 2015 Group took ownership of the club.

Ablett agreed a one-year contract with Ipswich Town in July 2010 to join their coaching staff.[11] After being taken ill on the training ground, he was diagnosed as suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.[12]

Death

On 1 January 2012 Ablett died aged 46, following a 16-month battle against non-Hodgkin lymphoma.[13]

Honours

with Liverpool
with Everton
  • FA Cup
    • Winner - 1994–95
  • FA Charity Shield
    • Winner - 1995–96

References

  1. ^ "Charlton Athletic 0 – 0 Liverpool". LFC History. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
  2. ^ "Liverpool 3 – 0 Nottingham Forest". LFC History. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
  3. ^ "Liverpool 0 – 1 Wimbledon". LFC History. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
  4. ^ "Swindon Town 3 – 1 Birmingham City". Swindon Town FC.co.uk. 26 February 1997. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  5. ^ "FA Cup – History and Hasselbaink favour Graham once again". The Independent. 16 February 1998. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Fixtures & Results – Saturday, 15 January 2000". Sky Sports. 15 January 2000. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  7. ^ "Watch now: Ablett's first interview". liverpoolfc.tv. Retrieved 14 December 2006.
  8. ^ "Ablett gains final UEFA licence". liverpoolfc.tv. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  9. ^ "Liverpool and Ablett part company". BBC Sport. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  10. ^ "Stockport confirm Ablett as boss". BBC Sport. 2009-07-08. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
  11. ^ "Assistant Not A Priority". Ipswich F.C. 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  12. ^ Henderson, Mel (2010-08-02). "Ex-Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett is diagnosed with cancer". Mail Online. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  13. ^ "Former Liverpool & Everton defender Gary Ablett dies". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Liverpool F.C. Reserves Coach
2006–2009 		Succeeded by

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