Garry James Sidney Pendrey (born 9 February 1949) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender, making 345 appearances in the Football League, including more than 300 for Birmingham City. After playing he went into coaching, as manager of Birmingham City, as assistant manager under Alan Buckley at Walsall and Graham Turner at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and as coach or assistant manager under Gordon Strachan at Coventry City, Southampton, Celtic and Middlesbrough.

Garry Pendrey
Personal information
Full name Garry James Sidney Pendrey[1]
Date of birth (1949-02-09) 9 February 1949 (age 75)[1]
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1965–1966 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1979 Birmingham City 306 (4)
1979–1981 West Bromwich Albion 18 (0)
1981 Torquay United 12 (0)
1981–1982 Bristol Rovers 1 (0)
1982–1983 Walsall 8 (1)
Total 345 (5)
Managerial career
1987–1989 Birmingham City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

In 2012, Pendrey was one of seven former players elected to Birmingham City's Hall of Fame.[3]

Playing career edit

Born in Birmingham, Pendrey spent his entire playing career in England.[1] He signed for Birmingham City in 1965 as an apprentice defender, before agreeing professional terms in October 1966.[1] He played for the club until 1979, making 360 appearances in all competitions and scoring five goals.[1] He then had spells playing for West Bromwich Albion, Torquay United, Bristol Rovers and Walsall.[4]

Coaching and management edit

Pendrey had joined Walsall in 1982 as player-coach, and after retiring as a player he continued on the club's coaching staff.[5] As assistant to manager Alan Buckley,[1][6] he helped coach the team to the League Cup semi-final in 1984. In August 1986, Buckley and Pendrey were sacked when Walsall was sold to a new owner, Terry Ramsden.[7][8] He then spent a few months on the coaching staff at Wolverhampton Wanderers before returning to Birmingham as manager in June 1987.[1] With a dwindling squad and no money to spend on replacements, Pendrey was fighting a losing battle. On 24 May 1989, with relegation to the Third Division for the first time in the club's history confirmed, the new owners sacked him and appointed Dave Mackay as manager.[9][10] Pendrey refused the offer of a coaching role,[9] and two months later rejoined the coaching staff at Wolves.[1] He became assistant to manager Graham Turner; the pair resigned in March 1994.[11]

With Gordon Strachan edit

In 1995, Ron Atkinson took over as manager of Coventry City and brought in Gordon Strachan as player-assistant manager and Pendrey as coach. When Strachan moved up to manager in November 1996, Pendrey was appointed his assistant.[12] When Strachan departed in 2001, Pendrey left the club also,[13] only to reunite as manager and assistant at Southampton on 22 October.[14] After Strachan left Southampton in February 2004, new manager Paul Sturrock did not keep Pendrey on.[15]

On 1 June 2005, Pendrey joined Celtic as Strachan's assistant manager.[16] After the resignation of Strachan at the end of the 2008–09 season, Pendrey left Celtic.[17]

When Strachan was appointed manager of Middlesbrough in October 2009 to succeed Gareth Southgate, Pendrey joined him as his assistant.[18] He followed Strachan out of the club in October 2010.[19]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Matthews (1995), p. 116.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 386. ISBN 0362-02017-5.
  3. ^ "The magnificent seven". Birmingham City F.C. 9 March 2012. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Garry Pendrey". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  5. ^ Edwards, Leigh. "Ultimate Saddlers A–Z 13". Walsall F.C. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011.
  6. ^ Moore, David (18 January 1984). "Buckley booster". Daily Mirror. London. p. 26.
  7. ^ "The story of the Saddlers... 1980–1987: Milk Cup Semi-Finalists and Possible Ground Share". Walsall F.C. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  8. ^ "End of Buckley's reign at Walsall". The Times. London. 2 August 1986. p. 32.
  9. ^ a b Matthews (1995), pp. 45–46.
  10. ^ Tattum, Colin (22 January 2008). "Blues legends – Garry Pendrey". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  11. ^ Shaw, Phil (17 March 1994). "Football: Turner resigns from Wolves". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Pendrey committed to his quiet role in the odd couple Strachan's tried and trusted No.2 happy to keep his talking to the training ground". Herald Scotland. 15 October 2005. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Strachan leaves Coventry". The Guardian. London. 10 September 2001. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  14. ^ Fennelly, Amanda (22 October 2001). "Strachan confirmed as new Saints boss". RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007.
  15. ^ Johnson, William (10 September 2001). "Murphy vows to battle for club and country". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Pendrey nets Celtic role". eleven-a-side.com. 31 May 2005. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007.
  17. ^ "Garry Pendrey leads Celtic coach exodus". Evening Times. Glasgow. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  18. ^ Scott-Elliot, Robin (27 October 2009). "Boro put faith in Strachan to lead them on the high road". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  19. ^ Fraser, Paul (19 October 2010). "Save our season". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 7 December 2020.

Sources edit

  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.

External links edit