Colin Greenall
Encyclopedia
Colin Greenall is an English
former professional footballer who made over 600 Football League appearances between 1980 and 1999. Starting his career at Blackpool
as an apprentice, Greenall had spells at Gillingham
, Oxford United
, Bury
, Preston North End
, Chester City
and Lincoln City
before finishing his career at his hometown club, Wigan Athletic
.
in 1989). Three days later, he appeared in a League Cup
game against Everton
at Goodison Park
.
Greenall was one of a host of young players brought to Blackpool by Alan Ball during his short managerial reign at the seaside. Unlike most of the others, however, he remained at the club for years and developed into a dependable defender. He eventually took over the central role, combining with captain Steve Hetzke
and Mike Conroy to form a successful defensive partnership.
Greenall won England Youth honours and, at 20, was voted the Fourth Division
's Player of the Year by the PFA
.
Gillingham for £40,000. Blackpool had lost one of their most influential players.
, as he enjoyed a brief taste of top-flight football before they were relegated at the end of the season.
, before departing for Preston North End during 1991-92
- a move in his favour as Preston narrowly beat the drop from Division Three while Bury were relegated. Unfortunately Preston would follow suit 12 months later.
) and a spell with Lincoln, Greenall joined Wigan in 1995. At Wigan, he helped guide the team to Third Division success as an ever-present captain in 1997. After coming out of retirement, Greenall made his Wembley
debut in 1999 when he defied his advancing years to help Wigan beat Millwall 1-0 to win the Auto Windscreens Shield
.
In June 2002 he was appointed Head of Youth Development at Rochdale and in June 2004 Director of the Centre of Excellence at Rochdale. In August 2005 he was appointed to the role of Coach Education Manager at the Lancashire FA.
Chester City
Wigan Athletic
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 who made over 600 Football League appearances between 1980 and 1999. Starting his career at 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...
as an apprentice, Greenall had spells at Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
, Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
and Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
before finishing his career at his hometown club, Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
.
Blackpool
At Blackpool, Greenall made his professional debut on September 23, 1980, at the age of 16 years and 237 days, becoming the club's then-youngest-ever league player (a record broken by Trevor SinclairTrevor Sinclair
Trevor Lloyd Sinclair is an English former professional footballer. Sinclair was a versatile winger, able to play on both the left and right flanks who played in the Premier League and made twelve appearances for the England national team.He retired in 2008, after a nineteen-year professional...
in 1989). Three days later, he appeared in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
game against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
.
Greenall was one of a host of young players brought to Blackpool by Alan Ball during his short managerial reign at the seaside. Unlike most of the others, however, he remained at the club for years and developed into a dependable defender. He eventually took over the central role, combining with captain Steve Hetzke
Steve Hetzke
Stephen Edward Richard Hetzke is an English former professional footballer. He played as a defender....
and Mike Conroy to form a successful defensive partnership.
Greenall won England Youth honours and, at 20, was voted the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
's Player of the Year by the PFA
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
.
Gillingham
After 183 league appearances in just over five years, Greenall had a contractual dispute with Blackpool, and in September 1986 he moved to Third DivisionFootball League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Gillingham for £40,000. Blackpool had lost one of their most influential players.
Oxford United
Greenall joined Oxford in February 1988 for £235,000, and the U's soon made him skipper following the departure of Tommy CatonTommy Caton
Thomas Stephen "Tommy" Caton was an English football player.Born in Kirkby, Liverpool, Caton was a centre half who played for England schoolboys, before signing for Manchester City as an apprentice in 1978...
, as he enjoyed a brief taste of top-flight football before they were relegated at the end of the season.
Bury and Preston North End
In July 1990, he moved to Bury for £100,000 after a loan spell at Gigg LaneGigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
, before departing for Preston North End during 1991-92
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
- a move in his favour as Preston narrowly beat the drop from Division Three while Bury were relegated. Unfortunately Preston would follow suit 12 months later.
Latter years
After a happy year at Chester (where he won promotion and player of the season in 1993-941993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
) and a spell with Lincoln, Greenall joined Wigan in 1995. At Wigan, he helped guide the team to Third Division success as an ever-present captain in 1997. After coming out of retirement, Greenall made his Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
debut in 1999 when he defied his advancing years to help Wigan beat Millwall 1-0 to win the Auto Windscreens Shield
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
.
Coaching career
In 2001, Greenall became caretaker-manager of Wigan for six games, losing only once, but he did not get the job permanently and was to lose his coaching job at Wigan shortly afterwards. He returned to playing with Rossendale United http://www.yeoldetreeandcrown.34sp.com/a-zlaticsmain-g.htm while searching for new coaching opportunities.In June 2002 he was appointed Head of Youth Development at Rochdale and in June 2004 Director of the Centre of Excellence at Rochdale. In August 2005 he was appointed to the role of Coach Education Manager at the Lancashire FA.
Honours
Blackpool- PFAProfessional Footballers' AssociationThe Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
Fourth Division Player of the Year: 1980–81
Chester City
- Player of the Season: 1993-941993-94 in English footballThe 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
.
Wigan Athletic
- Football League Division Three (IV) champions: 1996-971996-97 in English footballThe 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
. - Auto Windscreens ShieldFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
winners: 1998-991998-99 in English football-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
.