Graham Rodger
Encyclopedia
Graham Rodger is a Scottish
born English
former professional footballer and football manager. He played as a defender
from 1984 until 1998 for Wolverhampton Wanderers
, Coventry City
and Luton Town
before finishing his career with a six year stint at Grimsby Town
, where he retired in 1998 following the clubs promotion to Football League First Division
. He has since stayed at Grimsby progressing through the clubs coaching staff firstly serving as the "Sport in the Community coach" before later being appointed assistant manager in 2001 by Paul Groves
. He briefly took over as caretaker manager in 2004 and was eventually handed the job on a full time basis briefly in 2006 but was sacked after five months in charge. Despite this Rodger stayed with the club and reverted to his community coach role.
win in 1987. Playing against the favourites Tottenham Hotspur
, Coventry City
secured a memorable extra-time victory. Graham featured as a substitute for the injured captain Brian Kilcline
late in normal time, and played an important part in the winning goal with a superb pass through several players to Lloyd McGrath
which resulted in the goal seconds later. Rodger transferred to Grimsby Town
in 1992 and was an ever present Defender for the club for the next six seasons. He was a regular for the club up until his final season, in which he was apart of the historic 1997/1998 Promotion team. He was released by manager Alan Buckley
in the summer of 1998, and after training with Hull City
he retired from professional football.
and following the dismissal of manager Lennie Lawrence
and his assistant John Cockerill
in 2001, the new Town boss Paul Groves appointed Rodger as his new Assistant Manager. Graham was then given the managerial position on a caretaker basis when Groves was sacked in 2004. In his first game in charge of the club, The Mariners defeated local rivals Barnsley
6-1, with 4 goals coming from the ever popular Phil Jevons
. However, despite the good form under Rodger he was overlooked for the job and it in turn went to Nicky Law. With Grimsby suffering relegation to League Two a few months later, Law lost his job, and in stepped Russell Slade
. On 5 June 2006, Rodger would finally get his break, and was appointed as the clubs full time manager, when Slade departed to join Yeovil Town
. However, his managerial career was not a happy one, and after a poor start to the season he was sacked on 5 November after five months in charge, with Grimsby hoping for promotion, the club found itself in the bottom third of the table. His replacement was to be Alan Buckley
who in turn brought Rodger back to then club again as the Sports In The Community Officer, a previous position he had held from 1999 to 2001. Former Town midfielder Gary Childs
was also given the same job.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
born English
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 and football manager. He played as a defender
Defender
Defender usually refers to a position in association football .Defender or The Defender may also refer to:-Film and television:* The Defender or The Bodyguard from Beijing, a film starring Jet Li...
from 1984 until 1998 for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
before finishing his career with a six year stint at Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, where he retired in 1998 following the clubs promotion to Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. He has since stayed at Grimsby progressing through the clubs coaching staff firstly serving as the "Sport in the Community coach" before later being appointed assistant manager in 2001 by Paul Groves
Paul Groves
Paul Groves is an English former footballer who notably captained and managed Grimsby Town. He was naturally a central midfield player, but later in his career was used as a central defender...
. He briefly took over as caretaker manager in 2004 and was eventually handed the job on a full time basis briefly in 2006 but was sacked after five months in charge. Despite this Rodger stayed with the club and reverted to his community coach role.
Playing career
The highpoint of Graham's playing days was his FA CupFA 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...
win in 1987. Playing against the favourites 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....
, Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
secured a memorable extra-time victory. Graham featured as a substitute for the injured captain Brian Kilcline
Brian Kilcline
Brian Kilcline is an English former centre-half with Coventry City, Newcastle United, Notts County, Oldham Athletic, Swindon Town, Mansfield Town and Halifax Town, famous for his long hair and moustache....
late in normal time, and played an important part in the winning goal with a superb pass through several players to Lloyd McGrath
Lloyd McGrath
Lloyd McGrath is a retired English professional footballer.A hard-working midfielder, McGrath made his senior debut for Coventry City on 28 April 1984 in one of their heaviest defeats ever - an 8-2 Football League First Division defeat at Southampton...
which resulted in the goal seconds later. Rodger transferred to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in 1992 and was an ever present Defender for the club for the next six seasons. He was a regular for the club up until his final season, in which he was apart of the historic 1997/1998 Promotion team. He was released by manager Alan Buckley
Alan Buckley
Alan Peter Buckley is an English football manager. He was manager of League Two side Grimsby Town until his dismissal in September 2008...
in the summer of 1998, and after training with Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
he retired from professional football.
Managing career
After retiring from playing in 1998, Rodger was appointed Sports In The Community Officer at Grimsby a year later in 1999. Graham later moved onto the coaching staff at Blundell ParkBlundell Park
Blundell Park is a football ground in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England and home to Grimsby Town Football Club. The stadium was built in 1898, but only one of the original stands remain. The current capacity of the ground is 9546, though with the introduction of all seating in the late...
and following the dismissal of manager Lennie Lawrence
Lennie Lawrence
Robin Michael Lawrence, commonly known as Lennie Lawrence, is a British football manager who is assistant manager of Crystal Palace. He has managed a number of English clubs and one Welsh club in a coaching career spanning over 30 years...
and his assistant John Cockerill
John Cockerill (footballer)
John Cockerill is a former professional football player and manager. He is the son of Ron and brother of Glenn Cockerill, both also professional footballers...
in 2001, the new Town boss Paul Groves appointed Rodger as his new Assistant Manager. Graham was then given the managerial position on a caretaker basis when Groves was sacked in 2004. In his first game in charge of the club, The Mariners defeated local rivals Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
6-1, with 4 goals coming from the ever popular Phil Jevons
Phil Jevons
Phillip "Phil" Jevons is an English football player who currently plays for Football League Two side Morecambe. He is notably remembered for scoring a last minute 45 yard extra time winning goal for Grimsby Town against his home town club Liverpool in the third round of the League Cup in 2001...
. However, despite the good form under Rodger he was overlooked for the job and it in turn went to Nicky Law. With Grimsby suffering relegation to League Two a few months later, Law lost his job, and in stepped Russell Slade
Russell Slade
Russell Slade is an English football manager currently in charge of League One side Leyton Orient.-Notts County:Slade was assistant manager to Mick Walker at Notts County, and took over as caretaker manager when Walker was sacked in September 1994. When County appointed Howard Kendall as manager...
. On 5 June 2006, Rodger would finally get his break, and was appointed as the clubs full time manager, when Slade departed to join Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
. However, his managerial career was not a happy one, and after a poor start to the season he was sacked on 5 November after five months in charge, with Grimsby hoping for promotion, the club found itself in the bottom third of the table. His replacement was to be Alan Buckley
Alan Buckley
Alan Peter Buckley is an English football manager. He was manager of League Two side Grimsby Town until his dismissal in September 2008...
who in turn brought Rodger back to then club again as the Sports In The Community Officer, a previous position he had held from 1999 to 2001. Former Town midfielder Gary Childs
Gary Childs
Gary Paul Colin Childs is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made 422 appearances and scored 45 goals in the Football League playing for West Bromwich Albion, Walsall, Birmingham City and Grimsby Town....
was also given the same job.
Grimsby Town
- Football League TrophyFootball 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...
Winner: 1998 - Division Two Play Offs Winner: 1998