Gary Elkins (footballer)

Gary Elkins (born 4 May 1966) is an English football manager and former professional footballer.

Gary Elkins
Personal information
Full name Gary Elkins[1]
Date of birth (1966-05-04) 4 May 1966 (age 57)[1]
Place of birth Wallingford,[1] England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1990 Fulham 104 (2)
1989–1990Exeter City (loan) 5 (0)
1990–1996 Wimbledon 110 (3)
1996–1997 Swindon Town 23 (1)
1998–2002 AFC Wallingford
Total 242 (6)
Managerial career
2012–2013 Didcot Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

As a player, he was a defender who notably played in the Premier League for Wimbledon. He also played in the Football League for Fulham, Exeter City and Swindon Town.

He later spent time as reserve team manager of Didcot Town before being promoted to first team coach. During the 2012–13 season he served as Didcot's first team manager.

Playing career edit

Steve Perryman revealed that he resigned as manager of Brentford in 1991 because his chairman refused to let him sign Elkins for a nominal fee. The reason given by the chairman was that the player had 'shifty eyes'.[3]

Elkins spent six years playing top flight football for Wimbledon, being a regular in the club's midfield for most of that time.

In 1996, Elkins was signed by Steve McMahon at Swindon Town. He started only 19 games for the club and soon moved into non-league football, while also working as a coach at the Elms Soccer School in Middlesex.[citation needed]

He joined AFC Wallingford in 1998.[4]

Managerial career edit

In 2006, Gary joined Didcot Town as reserve team manager but was then promoted the season after to first team coach. At the start of the 2012–13 season Elkins became manager of the club.[5][6] He resigned at the end of the season due to work commitments.[7]

Personal life edit

Elkins now works as PE Instructor at HMP Huntercombe, and is also a first aid teacher.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Gary Elkins". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  2. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. ^ This is London – Football Notebook. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Gary ELKINS: Player Profile". Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  5. ^ "FOOTBALL: Boss Mudge quits in Didcot bombshell (From Oxford Mail)". Oxfordmail.co.uk. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Elkins takes over at the helm for Didcot". Oxford Mail. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  7. ^ Farrant, Nick (15 May 2013). "Elkins resigns as Didcot boss". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  8. ^ https://uk.linkedin.com/in/gary-elkins-619275b2 [self-published source]

External links edit