Gary Owers

Lore & Background

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Owers began his career with Sunderland, making his debut in 1986 and was an unused substitute in the 1992 FA Cup Final, which Sunderland lost to Liverpool. In December 1994 he moved to Bristol City for £250,000, spending four years there before joining Notts County in 1998. He was released by Notts County at the end of the 2001–02 season and signed for Forest Green Rovers in August 2002. He became player-coach at Bath City in October 2003 and was appointed manager the following month. He managed Forest Green Rovers from May 2005 to August 2006, then served as assistant manager at Aldershot Town from November 2009. He later worked as a scout and first team coach at Bristol City, coached youth and first team at Plymouth Argyle, was Head of Recruitment at Motherwell, and assistant manager at Gateshead. He returned as manager of Bath City in February 2016, then became head coach of Torquay United in September 2017, stepping down in September 2018.

In Their Own Story

The rain hammered down on the Goldstone pitch, turning the turf into a slick quagmire typical of an English winter in 1979. Gary Owers wiped mud from his eyes, the blue and white stripes soaked through. The score was level, time running out. He didn't shout for the ball; he simply positioned himself between two defenders, knowing exactly where the cross would fall. When it arrived, a heavy header sent the crowd into a roar that shook the stands. It wasn't just a goal; it was a statement of intent for a club hungry to rise.

Reader's Guide

Gary Owers is a former professional footballer and manager. He played as a midfielder for Sunderland, Bristol City, Notts County, and Forest Green Rovers. His managerial career includes spells at Bath City, Forest Green Rovers, and Torquay United. He also served as assistant manager at Aldershot Town, Plymouth Argyle, and Gateshead.

Did You Know?

• Owers was an unused substitute in the 1992 FA Cup Final for Sunderland, losing to Liverpool.
• He was appointed manager of Forest Green Rovers on 25 May 2005.
• He left Torquay United one day shy of a year in charge.