David Gregory (footballer, born 1951)

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David Gregory
Personal information
Full name David Harry Gregory[1]
Date of birth (1951-10-06) 6 October 1951 (age 72)[1]
Place of birth Peterborough, England[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–1977 Peterborough United 142 (32)
1977–1978 Stoke City 23 (3)
1978 Blackburn Rovers 5 (3)
1978–1979 Bury 52 (13)
1979–1982 Portsmouth 74 (18)
1982–1986 Wrexham 153 (31)
1986–1987 Peterborough United 31 (8)
Total 480 (108)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

David Harry Gregory (born 6 October 1951) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Blackburn Rovers, Bury, Peterborough United, Portsmouth, Stoke City and Wrexham.[1]

Career[edit]

Gregory was born in Peterborough and began his career with the local club Peterborough United. In his first season with the "Posh" he made 13 appearances mostly from the bench as he slowly adjusted to life in professional football. He became a useful forward for Peterborough in the Third Division scoring 40 goals in three seasons which attracted the attention of bigger clubs.[1] He was signed by George Eastham at Stoke City and there were high hopes that he would make the step up a division.[1] However, he struggled to adapt to the change in level and managed just four goals for the "Potters" in 1977–78 and was sold to Blackburn Rovers in August 1978.[1] Despite scoring four goals in his first six matches for Rovers he was moved on to Bury.[1]

He re-found his scoring form in the third tier scoring 16 times in 1978–79 and seven times in 1979–80. He moved to Portsmouth in December 1980 and his six goals helped "Pompey" gain promotion to the Third Division. He scored 15 goals in 1980–81 but he failed to find the target in 1981–82 and left for Welsh side Wrexham. He scored just five goals in 1982–83 as the "Dragons" suffered relegation to the Fourth Division. Wrexham had a poor 1983–84 season as they finished in 20th position but Gregory scored a career best of 20 goals and helped Wrexham reach the final of the Welsh Cup, which at the time allowed entrance into European competitions. He played in both legs as Fourth Division Wrexham overcame Portuguese club FC Porto but Italian side AS Roma proved too strong. He remained at Wrexham until the summer of 1986 and ended his career with a season at his first club, Peterborough United.

Career statistics[edit]

Source:[3]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Peterborough United 1973–74 Fourth Division 12 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 13 0
1974–75 Third Division 41 9 8 5 0 0 0 0 49 14
1975–76 Third Division 46 14 5 1 5 2 0 0 56 17
1976–77 Third Division 43 9 1 0 5 0 0 0 49 9
Total 142 32 14 6 11 2 0 0 167 40
Stoke City 1977–78 Second Division 23 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 25 4
Blackburn Rovers 1978–79 Second Division 5 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 6 4
Bury 1978–79 Third Division 36 10 4 6 0 0 0 0 40 16
1979–80 Third Division 16 3 0 0 2 1 3 3 21 7
Total 52 13 4 6 2 1 3 3 61 23
Portsmouth 1979–80 Fourth Division 21 5 4 1 0 0 0 0 35 6
1980–81 Third Division 39 13 0 0 7 2 0 0 46 15
1981–82 Third Division 14 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 16 0
Total 74 18 4 1 9 2 0 0 87 21
Wrexham 1982–83 Third Division 41 4 2 1 2 0 0 0 45 5
1983–84 Fourth Division 44 19 1 0 2 0 3 1 50 20
1984–85 Fourth Division 30 5 1 0 1 0 4 0 36 5
1985–86 Fourth Division 38 3 3 1 4 3 2 0 47 7
Total 153 31 7 2 9 3 9 1 178 37
Peterborough United 1986–87 Fourth Division 31 8 1 0 3 0 2 1 37 9
Career Total 480 108 31 16 36 9 14 5 560 138
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, Football League Trophy, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Honours[edit]

Peterborough United
Portsmouth

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 314. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. ^ David Gregory at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)