Greg Downs (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Gregory Downs is a former professional English
footballer. Originally a centre-forward, he switched to left full-back early in his career.
Downs began his career with Norwich City
where he was player of the year
in 1982, the year they won promotion to the First Division a year after relegation.
He remained at Carrow Road
until 1985, when moved to Coventry City
where he won an FA Cup
winner's medal in the 1987 final
, where they achieved a surprise 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur
. He spent five years at Highfield Road
, playing 146 league games and scoring four goals.
On leaving in 1990, he dropped down to the Third Division to sign for Birmingham City
, playing 17 times in the disappointing 1990-91
campaign where the Blues recorded their lowest ever finish of 13th place. He was then signed by Hereford United
, who had appointed former Coventry boss John Sillett
as manager for the 1991-92 season
. Sillett left Edgar Street after one disappointing season in charge, and Downs was appointed player-manager in his place, an arrangement which lasted for two seasons until he was succeeded by John Layton
. In three seasons at the Bulls, he played 108 times in the league's basement division, scoring twice.
After retiring from professional football in 1995, Downs joined the police. However, he continued playing non league football into his mid forties.
In 2006 he joined Wroxham
as assistant to player-manager Damian Hilton. The pair resigned in November 2007; though Hilton had second thoughts and was re-appointed manager, Downs left the club.
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...
footballer. Originally a centre-forward, he switched to left full-back early in his career.
Downs began his career with Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
where he was player of the year
Norwich City player of the year
The Norwich City player of the year award is voted for annually by Norwich City's supporters, in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season...
in 1982, the year they won promotion to the First Division a year after relegation.
He remained at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
until 1985, when moved to 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...
where he won an 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...
winner's medal in the 1987 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...
, where they achieved a surprise 3-2 win over 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....
. He spent five years at Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
, playing 146 league games and scoring four goals.
On leaving in 1990, he dropped down to the Third Division to sign for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, playing 17 times in the disappointing 1990-91
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
campaign where the Blues recorded their lowest ever finish of 13th place. He was then signed by Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
, who had appointed former Coventry boss John Sillett
John Sillett
John Charles Sillett is a former football player and manager.His father Charlie Sillett was a footballer with Southampton between 1931 and 1938. He is the younger brother of Peter Sillett, also a footballer.Sillett played for Chelsea, Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle...
as manager for the 1991-92 season
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...
. Sillett left Edgar Street after one disappointing season in charge, and Downs was appointed player-manager in his place, an arrangement which lasted for two seasons until he was succeeded by John Layton
John Layton
John Henry Layton is an English former footballer, and coach who spent much of his career at Hereford United both as a player and a manager. He played in the position of centre back....
. In three seasons at the Bulls, he played 108 times in the league's basement division, scoring twice.
After retiring from professional football in 1995, Downs joined the police. However, he continued playing non league football into his mid forties.
In 2006 he joined Wroxham
Wroxham F.C.
Wroxham Football Club is an English football club based in Wroxham, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Trafford Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
as assistant to player-manager Damian Hilton. The pair resigned in November 2007; though Hilton had second thoughts and was re-appointed manager, Downs left the club.