Gary Mabbutt
Encyclopedia
Gary Mabbutt MBE
(born 23 August 1961 in Bristol
) is an English former professional footballer who made more than 600 appearances in the Football League
and Premier League playing for Bristol Rovers
and Tottenham Hotspur
, and won 16 caps
for the England national team
. He was most regularly seen in central defence but was a versatile player who excelled also in midfield. His father is Ray Mabbutt
and brother Kevin Mabbutt
.
He his best remembered for his 16-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur
, where he played from 1982 until 1998.
He became one of the best known defenders in English football in the 1980s, playing initially for Bristol Rovers
before joining the first division club Tottenham Hotspur
, where he became captain and won 16 caps for England
, scoring against Yugoslavia in 1986.
Mabbutt also has type 1 diabetes, and became an icon for many children with the condition. He famously appeared on the BBC
's children's television programme Blue Peter
where he demonstrated injecting insulin
into an orange to show how he dealt with his condition on a daily basis.
Another CBBC
appearance came in the drama series The Queen's Nose
, an adaptation of the book by Dick King-Smith
. Mabbutt appeared in a cameo
as himself, appearing in the nick of time to help save a children's football team from defeat.
With Spurs, he won the UEFA Cup
in 1984 and the FA Cup
in 1991 (as captain). In the 1987 FA Cup Final
against Coventry City, Mabbutt had an eventful game where he scored Spurs' second goal to put them 2-1 up but, after Coventry had equalised to force extra time, he scored an own goal to give Coventry a 3-2 win.
He suffered a broken leg on the opening day of the 1996-97 season
and did not return until the following campaign
, at the end of which he retired from playing after 16 years at White Hart Lane
. By this stage, he was the club's longest-serving player. His final appearance for the club came against Southampton on the last day of the 1997-98 season.
He is currently serving as an ambassador for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa. He is also working with the Deloitte Street Child World Cup
, training and encouraging street children and ex-street children in football and for street children's rights in Durban, South Africa. This is run by the Amos Trust. He has type 1 diabetes.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 23 August 1961 in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
) is an English former professional footballer who made more than 600 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and Premier League playing for Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
and Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, and won 16 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the England national team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. He was most regularly seen in central defence but was a versatile player who excelled also in midfield. His father is Ray Mabbutt
Ray Mabbutt
Raymond William Mabbutt is a retired English footballer, the father of former players Gary Mabbutt and Kevin Mabbutt. Mabbutt played for Oxford City, Bristol Rovers, Newport County and Trowbridge Town. He later played for Clevedon Town for one season between 1974 and 1975, becoming the club's...
and brother Kevin Mabbutt
Kevin Mabbutt
Kevin Mabbutt is a retired English-born football player who played for Bristol City and Crystal Palace in the Football League.He played over 100 league games for Bristol City, before joining Crystal Palace in October 1981...
.
He his best remembered for his 16-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, where he played from 1982 until 1998.
He became one of the best known defenders in English football in the 1980s, playing initially for Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
before joining the first division club Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, where he became captain and won 16 caps for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, scoring against Yugoslavia in 1986.
Mabbutt also has type 1 diabetes, and became an icon for many children with the condition. He famously appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's children's television programme Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
where he demonstrated injecting insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
into an orange to show how he dealt with his condition on a daily basis.
Another CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
appearance came in the drama series The Queen's Nose
The Queen's Nose
The Queen's Nose is a book, written by Dick King-Smith, that was adapted into a successful BBC television series.-The book:The book by Dick King Smith features the story of Harmony Parker, a 10 year old girl who wants an animal of her own but is not allowed by her parents who think they are dirty...
, an adaptation of the book by Dick King-Smith
Dick King-Smith
Ronald Gordon King-Smith OBE, Hon.M.Ed. , better known by his pen name Dick King-Smith, was a prolific English children's author, best known for writing The Sheep-Pig, retitled in the United States as Babe the Gallant Pig, on which the movie Babe was based...
. Mabbutt appeared in a cameo
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
as himself, appearing in the nick of time to help save a children's football team from defeat.
With Spurs, he won the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
in 1984 and the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1991 (as captain). In the 1987 FA Cup Final
1987 FA Cup Final
The 1987 FA Cup Final took place on 16 May 1987 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Coventry City and Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs were appearing in their third final in seven seasons, having won the trophy in 1981 and 1982 and were strong favourites, while unfancied Coventry were appearing...
against Coventry City, Mabbutt had an eventful game where he scored Spurs' second goal to put them 2-1 up but, after Coventry had equalised to force extra time, he scored an own goal to give Coventry a 3-2 win.
He suffered a broken leg on the opening day of the 1996-97 season
1996-97 in English football
The 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 :...
and did not return until the following campaign
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
, at the end of which he retired from playing after 16 years at White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
. By this stage, he was the club's longest-serving player. His final appearance for the club came against Southampton on the last day of the 1997-98 season.
He is currently serving as an ambassador for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa. He is also working with the Deloitte Street Child World Cup
Street Child World Cup
Street Child World CupThe first Street Child World Cup was held in Durban, South Africa, in March 2010The event brought together teams of street children and former street children from Brazil, South Africa, Nicaragua, Ukraine, India, the Philippines and Tanzania...
, training and encouraging street children and ex-street children in football and for street children's rights in Durban, South Africa. This is run by the Amos Trust. He has type 1 diabetes.
As a player
Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
winner 1984 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner 1991FA Cup Final 1991The 1991 FA Cup Final saw Tottenham Hotspur win the FA Cup for a then-record eighth time, by beating Nottingham Forest 2–1 at Wembley in the 110th FA Cup Final....