Gary Finley
Encyclopedia
Gary Finley is an English former professional football central defender and non-league manager. He played in the Football League for Doncaster Rovers
and was most recently manager of Witton Albion
.
Born in Liverpool
, Finley played for Marine
, Warrington Town
, Vauxhall Motors
, Curzon Ashton
and Netherfield before joining Doncaster Rovers
. He made his debut in the League Cup in August 1997, as Doncaster lost 2-1 away to Nottingham Forest
and played 8 times in the league that season as Doncaster finished bottom and were relegated to the Conference
. On leaving Doncaster he returned to Netherfield, moving on to Hyde United and to Welsh side Conwy United
in 1998 before joining Aberystwyth Town
in November 1999.
He became player-manager of Aberystwyth in December 2001, a post he held until resinging less than a fortnight before the 2004-05 season. On leaving Aberystwyth, he had a brief spell as a player with Total Network Solutions, also appearing for Colwyn Bay
on seconds forms, before becoming player-manager at Witton Albion
in November 2004. He and his assistant Lee Coathup left Witton by mutual consent in October 2005, following the club stating that it would be reducing the playing budget.
Finley was appointed assistant manager at Lancaster City
in December 2005, remaining in that post until July 2006 when he took over as manager from the departed Peter Ward. He resigned early the following season as a financial crisis, that would end in administration, relegtation and further demotion, hit the club. In January 2007, he took over as manager of Colwyn Bay
, but was sacked in April 2008 after the club had failed to reach the play-offs.
In November 2008, Finley was reappointed as manager of Witton Albion
. After a brief change in the club's fortunes, when Witton moved out of the relegation zone, they finished third bottom, and were relegated to the Northern Premier League First Division South. Although consistently in the top half of the league during the 2009-10 season, Witton never appeared to be serious promotion contenders and Finley resigned from the club prior to the last game of the season.
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
and was most recently manager of Witton Albion
Witton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
.
Born in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Finley played for Marine
Marine F.C.
Marine Football Club is an English football club in Crosby, Merseyside. The club, which was founded in 1894, is a member of both the Liverpool County and Lancashire County Football Associations, and currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.Marine is notable for having the...
, Warrington Town
Warrington Town F.C.
Warrington Town F.C. are a football club based in Warrington, Cheshire, England. They were established in 1949 under the name of Stockton Heath Albion. In 1961, they changed to their present name...
, Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors F.C.
Vauxhall Motors Football Club is an English football club based in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, who play in the Conference North. It was originally the works team of the car manufacturer Vauxhall...
, Curzon Ashton
Curzon Ashton F.C.
Curzon Ashton F.C. are a football club who currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One North. Nicknamed "The Blues", the club play their home games at the Tameside Stadium in Ashton-under-Lyne.-History:...
and Netherfield before joining Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
. He made his debut in the League Cup in August 1997, as Doncaster lost 2-1 away to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
and played 8 times in the league that season as Doncaster finished bottom and were relegated to the Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
. On leaving Doncaster he returned to Netherfield, moving on to Hyde United and to Welsh side Conwy United
Conwy United F.C.
Conwy United F.C. are a Welsh amateur football club based in Conwy, playing in the Cymru Alliance league.-Club history:Following the demise of Borough United in 1967, Welsh representatives in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963/64, there was a void of Welsh League clubs in the Conwy area...
in 1998 before joining Aberystwyth Town
Aberystwyth Town F.C.
Aberystwyth Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Welsh Premier League.The club was founded in 1884, and plays at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, where their ground accommodates 5,000 spectators with 1,002 of that capacity seated....
in November 1999.
He became player-manager of Aberystwyth in December 2001, a post he held until resinging less than a fortnight before the 2004-05 season. On leaving Aberystwyth, he had a brief spell as a player with Total Network Solutions, also appearing for Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay F.C.
Colwyn Bay F.C. are a Welsh football club, as of the 2011–12 season are playing in the Conference North. Nicknamed the Seagulls, the club play at Llanelian Road in Old Colwyn.-History:...
on seconds forms, before becoming player-manager at Witton Albion
Witton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
in November 2004. He and his assistant Lee Coathup left Witton by mutual consent in October 2005, following the club stating that it would be reducing the playing budget.
Finley was appointed assistant manager at Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
in December 2005, remaining in that post until July 2006 when he took over as manager from the departed Peter Ward. He resigned early the following season as a financial crisis, that would end in administration, relegtation and further demotion, hit the club. In January 2007, he took over as manager of Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay F.C.
Colwyn Bay F.C. are a Welsh football club, as of the 2011–12 season are playing in the Conference North. Nicknamed the Seagulls, the club play at Llanelian Road in Old Colwyn.-History:...
, but was sacked in April 2008 after the club had failed to reach the play-offs.
In November 2008, Finley was reappointed as manager of Witton Albion
Witton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
. After a brief change in the club's fortunes, when Witton moved out of the relegation zone, they finished third bottom, and were relegated to the Northern Premier League First Division South. Although consistently in the top half of the league during the 2009-10 season, Witton never appeared to be serious promotion contenders and Finley resigned from the club prior to the last game of the season.