Gary Elkins
Encyclopedia
Gary Elkins was an English
football
player; most notable for the unusual statistic of his having started exactly 100 league games for both Fulham F.C.
and Wimbledon F.C.
He has also proved a source of fascination for fans of both those clubs as he was signed for £20,000 by Wimbledon - at that time an established top-flight club - following seven years of largely unheralded and irregular service for a then third-tier Fulham side. Indeed, less than a year prior to his move he had been loaned out to lowly Exeter City
. It was thought that new Wimbledon manager Ray Harford
remembered Elkins fondly from his own time as Fulham manager in the mid-1980s. Most unbelievably of all, and adding to the fascination that exists about this workmanlike defender, Steve Perryman
has revealed that he resigned as manager of Brentford F.C.
solely on account of his chairman's refusal to let him sign Elkins for a nominal fee. The reason given by the chairman was that the player had 'shifty eyes' http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-8190160-details/Football+Notebook+/article.do.
Once at Wimbledon, Elkins achieved status as a cult hero of sorts, albeit one often criticised by fans of the club. He was a sturdy and tough defender, slow to commit to a rash challenge but instead prone to holding up wingers by strong positioning. Indeed, some of the game's best wide-men, in particular Andrei Kanchelskis
and Anders Limpar
, found Elkins tough to negotiate, their game preferring defenders to put a foot in. Elkins finest moment was probably a last-minute equaliser, albeit heavily deflected, against Liverpool F.C.
at Selhurst Park
in 1994.
In 1996, Elkins career took a turn for the worse as he was signed by Steve McMahon
at Swindon Town
. Signed for £100,000 by a club facing financial difficulties, the pressure was on Elkins to help inspire a promotion bid to the Premiership
. As it was, he started only 19 games for the club, his form and fitness (in particular his weight) in doubt. He soon moved into non-league football, working too as a coach at the Elms Soccer School in Middlesex
.
In 2006, Gary joined BGB Southern League South & West team Didcot Town FC as Reserve Team Manager but was then promoted the season after to First Team Coach
Elkins was also a successful Sunday Morning Soccer Coach for The Royal Standard in Wallingford, a team that played in the Reading Sunday League.
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player; most notable for the unusual statistic of his having started exactly 100 league games for both Fulham F.C.
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
and Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
He has also proved a source of fascination for fans of both those clubs as he was signed for £20,000 by Wimbledon - at that time an established top-flight club - following seven years of largely unheralded and irregular service for a then third-tier Fulham side. Indeed, less than a year prior to his move he had been loaned out to lowly Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. It was thought that new Wimbledon manager Ray Harford
Ray Harford
Raymond Thomas Harford was an English footballer, better known for his successes as a coach and manager than as a player. He is considered to have been one of the top coaches of his generation.-Playing career:...
remembered Elkins fondly from his own time as Fulham manager in the mid-1980s. Most unbelievably of all, and adding to the fascination that exists about this workmanlike defender, Steve Perryman
Steve Perryman
Stephen John "Steve" Perryman MBE is a former English international football player and current manager who is best remembered for his successes with Tottenham Hotspur during the 1970s and early 1980s...
has revealed that he resigned as manager of Brentford F.C.
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
solely on account of his chairman's refusal to let him sign Elkins for a nominal fee. The reason given by the chairman was that the player had 'shifty eyes' http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-8190160-details/Football+Notebook+/article.do.
Once at Wimbledon, Elkins achieved status as a cult hero of sorts, albeit one often criticised by fans of the club. He was a sturdy and tough defender, slow to commit to a rash challenge but instead prone to holding up wingers by strong positioning. Indeed, some of the game's best wide-men, in particular Andrei Kanchelskis
Andrei Kanchelskis
Andrei Antanasovich Kanchelskis is a Ukrainian-born Russian football manager and former association footballer who played as a right winger. Kanchelskis is the only player in history to have scored in each of the Glasgow, Merseyside and Manchester local derbies.Currently, he is managing FC...
and Anders Limpar
Anders Limpar
Anders Erik Limpar is a Swedish former footballer of Hungarian origin, who played as a winger...
, found Elkins tough to negotiate, their game preferring defenders to put a foot in. Elkins finest moment was probably a last-minute equaliser, albeit heavily deflected, against Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
in 1994.
In 1996, Elkins career took a turn for the worse as he was signed by Steve McMahon
Steve McMahon
Stephen Joseph McMahon is an English former football midfielder who most notably played for Liverpool in the late 1980s...
at Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
. Signed for £100,000 by a club facing financial difficulties, the pressure was on Elkins to help inspire a promotion bid to the Premiership
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
. As it was, he started only 19 games for the club, his form and fitness (in particular his weight) in doubt. He soon moved into non-league football, working too as a coach at the Elms Soccer School in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
.
In 2006, Gary joined BGB Southern League South & West team Didcot Town FC as Reserve Team Manager but was then promoted the season after to First Team Coach
Elkins was also a successful Sunday Morning Soccer Coach for The Royal Standard in Wallingford, a team that played in the Reading Sunday League.