Tommy Gaynor
Encyclopedia
Tommy Gaynor was an Irish
soccer player during the 1980s and 1990s.
He made his League of Ireland
debut on the 13th of September 1981 for Limerick United
before signing for Shamrock Rovers in 1982. He scored 2 goals in 3 appearances for the club in the UEFA Cup
. He left to sign for Dundalk
in 1983. Moved back to Limerick where he was joint top scorer in 1984-85 and top scorer in 1985-86 http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html.
He signed for Nottingham Forest in 1987 spending 5 years there before signing for Millwall
in 1992.
At the City Ground
he helped Forest win the Football League Cup
and Full Members Cup
in 1989, when they also finished third in the Football League First Division
. However, he was left out of the side for the League Cup final of 1990, when Forest retained their trophy.
In his time at the City Ground
, Gaynor was one of the Forest players who had to cope with the horrors of the Hillsborough disaster
during the opening minutes of their FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. Gaynor played in the rescheduled game at Old Trafford
, which Liverpool won 3-1. Despite scoring regularly for the Forest
first team he spent the majority of his time as a reserve player, often behind considerably less prolific strikers.
Gaynor Close is the name of the road which bears witness to the impact Tommy made on Forest's fans.
He then returned to his homeland and despite guesting for Shelbourne
in a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur he signed for Cork City
in August 1993, initially on a months loan http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1993/0814/Pg017.html#Ar01705. This deal became permanent but Gaynor had a turbulent relationship with the then Bishopstown
based club. In December 1994 he failed to turn up for a league game http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1994/1216/Pg023.html#Ar02301.
He signed for Athlone Town
in October 1995 and scored twice on his debut http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1995/1007/Pg017.html#Ar01707. He was Athlone's top scorer that season with 12 league goals. Rejoined Cork in September 1996 but was back playing for Athlone in early 1997.
Transferred to Bohemians
in February 1997 and again scored on his debut http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1997/0203/Pg031.html#Ar03108.
He had further spells with St Patrick's Athletic (where he scored against Celtic
in a friendly http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1997-07-18:+St+Pat's+1-1+Celtic,+Amstel+Challenge, Limerick
and Kilkenny City
.
He was appointed Kilkenny City manager on 11 July 2007.
Nowadays, Tommy works in McLoughney menswear in Nenagh
, and contents himself with a game of golf, which he plays off a handicap of nine in Nenagh GC.
Gaynor became the first player to win the League Cup in Ireland and England.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
soccer player during the 1980s and 1990s.
He made his League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
debut on the 13th of September 1981 for Limerick United
Limerick F.C.
Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
before signing for Shamrock Rovers in 1982. He scored 2 goals in 3 appearances for the club in 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...
. He left to sign for Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
in 1983. Moved back to Limerick where he was joint top scorer in 1984-85 and top scorer in 1985-86 http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html.
He signed for Nottingham Forest in 1987 spending 5 years there before signing for Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in 1992.
At the City Ground
City Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
he helped Forest win the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
and Full Members Cup
Full Members Cup
The Full Members Cup was an association football cup competition held in English football from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems Cup from 1989 to 1992....
in 1989, when they also finished third in the 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....
. However, he was left out of the side for the League Cup final of 1990, when Forest retained their trophy.
In his time at the City Ground
City Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
, Gaynor was one of the Forest players who had to cope with the horrors of the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
during the opening minutes of their FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. Gaynor played in the rescheduled game at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, which Liverpool won 3-1. Despite scoring regularly for the Forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
first team he spent the majority of his time as a reserve player, often behind considerably less prolific strikers.
Gaynor Close is the name of the road which bears witness to the impact Tommy made on Forest's fans.
He then returned to his homeland and despite guesting for Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
in a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur he signed for Cork City
Cork City F.C.
Cork City Football Club is an Irish football team that plays in the League of Ireland. Founded and elected to the league in 1984 to continue the long tradition of Association Football in Cork, City's traditional colours are green and white with red trim, and the crest is a variant of the Cork...
in August 1993, initially on a months loan http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1993/0814/Pg017.html#Ar01705. This deal became permanent but Gaynor had a turbulent relationship with the then Bishopstown
Bishopstown
Bishopstown is a southwestern suburb of Cork, Ireland with a population of 24,136 people. Baile an Easpaig, anglicised Bishopstown, consists of two townlands which are Ballineaspigmore and Ballineaspigbeg...
based club. In December 1994 he failed to turn up for a league game http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1994/1216/Pg023.html#Ar02301.
He signed for Athlone Town
Athlone Town A.F.C.
Athlone Town F.C. is an Irish football club from Athlone, playing in the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1887. First elected to the League of Ireland in 1922, they play their home matches in Lissywoollen their new stadium which opened in 2007...
in October 1995 and scored twice on his debut http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1995/1007/Pg017.html#Ar01707. He was Athlone's top scorer that season with 12 league goals. Rejoined Cork in September 1996 but was back playing for Athlone in early 1997.
Transferred to Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
in February 1997 and again scored on his debut http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1997/0203/Pg031.html#Ar03108.
He had further spells with St Patrick's Athletic (where he scored against Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in a friendly http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1997-07-18:+St+Pat's+1-1+Celtic,+Amstel+Challenge, Limerick
Limerick F.C.
Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
and Kilkenny City
Kilkenny City A.F.C.
Kilkenny City A.F.C. was an Irish football club. The club played in the First Division of the League of Ireland until 18 January 2008 when they announced that they resigned their position in the league citing “lack of finance, poor results and paltry attendances”.The club hails from Kilkenny and...
.
He was appointed Kilkenny City manager on 11 July 2007.
Nowadays, Tommy works in McLoughney menswear in Nenagh
Nenagh
Nenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
, and contents himself with a game of golf, which he plays off a handicap of nine in Nenagh GC.
Gaynor became the first player to win the League Cup in Ireland and England.
Honours
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
:- Limerick United - 1982
- PFAI Player of the Year:
- LimerickLimerick F.C.Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
- 1984/85
- Limerick
- Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
- Nottingham ForestNottingham 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...
- 1989
- Nottingham Forest
- Simod Cup
- Nottingham ForestNottingham 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...
- 1989
- Nottingham Forest
- FAI League Cup
- Cork CityCork City F.C.Cork City Football Club is an Irish football team that plays in the League of Ireland. Founded and elected to the league in 1984 to continue the long tradition of Association Football in Cork, City's traditional colours are green and white with red trim, and the crest is a variant of the Cork...
- 1995
- Cork City