George Berry (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Frederick Berry | ||
| Date of birth | 19 November 1957 | ||
| Place of birth | Rostrup, Lower Saxony, West Germany | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1974–1976 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1976–1982 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 124 | (4) |
| 1982–1990 | Stoke City | 237 | (27) |
| 1984–1985 | → Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 1990–1991 | Peterborough United | 32 | (6) |
| 1991–1992 | Preston North End | 4 | (0) |
| 1991–1992 | → Aldershot (loan) | 25 | (1) |
| 1992–1995 | Stafford Rangers | ||
| Total | 423 | (38) | |
| National team | |||
| 1979–1983 | Wales | 5 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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George Frederick Berry (born 19 November 1957) is a former Welsh international footballer, who played as a centre back. He was a tough-tackling defender also noted for his distinctive afro haircut.
Born in West Germany, Berry moved to Blackpool at a young age and began his footballing career with Wolverhampton Wanderers and helped "Wolves" win the League Cup in 1980. He signed for Staffordshire rivals Stoke City in the summer of 1982 and became a popular figure with the Stoke City supporters. A fall out with manager Bill Asprey almost saw his Stoke career cut short and he went on loan to Doncaster Rovers and also spent time training alone in Portugal. However, Berry returned in 1984–85 as Stoke suffered a woeful season finishing bottom with a then record low points tally. New manager Mick Mills paired him with Steve Bould and installed Berry as captain as Stoke went through a dull period in the Second Division. He then played for Peterborough United, Preston North End and Aldershot before working for the Professional Footballers' Association.
Berry was born in Rostrup, Germany his father was a serviceman from Jamaica while his mother was Welsh and the Berry family moved to Blackpool, England soon after his birth. Whilst living in Blackpool Berry started playing football and played for the same youth club as the nephew of former Liverpool player Alun Evans who after watching Berry, Evans recommended him for a trial at Wolverhampton Wanderers. His trial was successful and they offered him a contract, Berry could not wait to leave school and signed the day after completing his 'O' levels in 1973. He turned professional on his 18th birthday and made his debut away at Chelsea on 7 May 1977.
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