Gerry died on 10th. October 2016 aged 64 from lung cancer.
|
Manchester City failed to win any of their first 12 games of the 1980/81
season. When this was added to the disappointments of the previous year
(17th in Division One and an FA Cup defeat at 4th Division Halifax) it
spelt the end of the managerial partnership of Tony Book and Malcolm
Allison. The new man in charge was former Norwich boss John Bond. Within
weeks of his arrival City's fortunes had changed dramatically and had
been brought about mainly by the arrival of three experienced players.
First to arrive were the Coventry duo of full-back Bobby McDonald and
winger Tommy Hutchison, followed on October 23rd by Gerry Gow, a £175,000 buy from Bristol City. Gow had played nearly 400 games for Bristol
City over the previous eleven seasons and immediately gave City some
bite and tenacity in the middle of the park, something that had been
missing in previous months.
Following his debut at Norwich on November
1st, The Blues embarked on a run of eleven League games until the New
Year and suffered just two defeats. If City's League form improved,
things got even better in both Cup competitions. Having lost
controversially in the semi-final of the League Cup to Liverpool, the
Blues went one better in the FA Cup, only to lose in a replay of the
100th Final to Tottenham. Gow's enthusiasm rubbed off on his other
team-mates, many of whom, at least until October, had looked far from
happy in a sky-blue shirt. His no-nonsense tackling and ball winning
made scoring opportunities for the likes of Kevin Reeves and Dennis
Tueart although he wasn't averse to finding the net himself on occasion.
Gerry scored five times in his first seven League games for the club as
well as two more in the FA Cup campaign, a more than useful return for a
midfield player. He was 29 when the 1981/82 season started and,
especially with the impending return of Asa Hartford, City fans could
already sense his stay at Maine Road would be a short - but none the
less welcome and memorable - one. He played just six more League games
before being transferred to Rotherham in January 1982 for £75,000. In
total, he scored six times in 36 League and Cup appearances for the
Blues. (Ian Penney - author of The Legends of Manchester City)
.
|
Gerry Gow is pictured playing for Bristol City during the match against Manchester City
on 11th. September 1976. Bristol had risen up to the top Division at the time and stayed there
for four seasons. Gerry then transferred to Man City after The Robins were relegated.
Photograph George Herringshaw. ©
| Bristol City: |
1968-1969 |
Played |
0 |
Scored |
0 |
goals |
(Division 2) |
| |
1969-1970 |
Played |
1 |
Scored |
0 |
goals |
(Division 2) |
| |
1970-1971 |
Played |
38 |
Scored |
4 |
goals |
(Division 2) |
| |
1971-1972 |
Played |
39 |
Scored |
9 |
goals |
(Division 2) |
| |
1972-1973 |
Played |
42 |
Scored |
12 |
goals |
(Division 2) |
| |
1973-1974 |
Played |
41 |
Scored |
1 |
goal |
(Division 2) |
| |
1974-1975 |
Played |
24 |
Scored |
2 |
goals |
(Division 2) |
| |
1975-1976 |
Played |
42 |
Scored |
5 |
goals |
(Division 2) |
| |
1976-1977 |
Played |
30 |
Scored |
1 |
goal |
(Division 1) |
| |
1977-1978 |
Played |
38 |
Scored |
4 |
goals |
(Division 1) |
| |
1978-1979 |
Played |
38 |
Scored |
5 |
goals |
(Division 1) |
| |
1979-1980 |
Played |
31 |
Scored |
4 |
goals |
(Division 1) |
| |
1980-1981 |
Played |
11 |
Scored |
0 |
goals |
(Division 2) |
| |
| Transferred to Manchester City in October 1980. |
| |
1981 Manchester City 26 (5)
1981–1983 Rotherham United 58 (4)
1983–1984 Burnley 9 (0)
National team
1974 Scotland U23 1 (0)
Teams managed
1984–1987 Yeovil Town (player-manager)
1989–1990 Weymouth |