Howard Gayle

Howard Gayle

Personal information
Full name	Howard Anthony Gayle
Date of birth	(1958-05-18) 18 May 1958
Place of birth	Toxteth, Liverpool, England
Position(s)	Forward, winger
Youth career
1974–1977	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1977–1983	Liverpool	4	(1)
1980	→ Fulham (loan)	14	(0)
1982–1983	→ Newcastle United (loan)	8	(2)
1983–1984	Birmingham City	46	(9)
1984–1986	Sunderland	48	(4)
1987	Stoke City	6	(2)
1987–1992	Blackburn Rovers	116	(29)
1992–1993	Halifax Town	5	(0)
Total		247	(47)
International career
1984	England U-21	3	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Howard Anthony Gayle (born 18 May 1958) is an English former footballer who played for Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Halifax Town, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Stoke City.

Gayle began his career with Liverpool and made the headlines after becoming the first black player to play for the Anfield side. After loan spells with Fulham and Newcastle United he joined Birmingham City in search of regular first team football. He then played for Sunderland and had a short spell in the United States playing indoor football with the Dallas Sidekicks. He returned to England and played for Stoke City, Blackburn Rovers and ended his career with Halifax Town.

Career

Gayle was born in Toxteth and joined the youth ranks at local side Liverpool in 1974. He signed a professional contract with the club in 1977 becoming the first black player to play for Liverpool which was seen as a 'victory' for the black community in Liverpool as Gayle explains.

"It was constantly in the press that I was the first black player to play for Liverpool. It was a landmark as far as black people were concerned, and I was proud to represent the black community of Liverpool"

— Gayle on his important landmark.

His finest hour for Liverpool came in the 1980–81 European Cup semi-final second leg away at Bayern Munich, and he was rewarded with a winner's medal at the end of that season, as a non-playing substitute in the final. After loan spells at Fulham and Newcastle United a saw him leave after making just five appearances.

He joined Birmingham City where he played in the 1982–83 season scoring once against West Ham and then he hit 10 in 45 during the 1983–84 campaign. Gayle then signed for Len Ashurst's Sunderland where he became a popular player playing in two seasons before moving to the United States to play for Dallas Sidekicks in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He returned to England in April 1987 to play for Stoke City playing six matches at the end of the 1986–87 season scoring twice in a 3–2 defeat against Bradford City.

He then spent five years at Blackburn Rovers, signing for them in 1987 and being a regular striker in their quest for top flight football. However, by the time Blackburn were promoted in 1992 (to the newly created Premier League), Gayle had been left behind in the pecking order by expensively signed new players like Mike Newell and David Speedie, and with the arrival of national record signing Alan Shearer that summer, it was clear that Blackburn manager Kenny Dalglish felt that Gayle was surplus to requirements at Ewood Park.

Gayle joined Halifax Town in the newly renamed Division Three but managed just five league appearances as they were relegated to the Football Conference. After leaving Halifax he had a brief trial at Carlisle United, before retiring from football.

International career

As an overage player, he helped England win the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, in which he scored a goal in the final against Spain.

Career statistics

• Sourced from The English National Football Archive

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Liverpool	1979–80	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1980–81	4	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	5	1
	1981–82	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1982–83	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	4	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	5	1
Fulham (loan)	1979–80	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	0
	Total	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	0
Newcastle United (loan)	1982–83	8	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	2
	Total	8	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	2
Birmingham City	1982–83	13	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	14	1
	1983–84	33	8	4	0	8	2	0	0	45	10
	Total	46	9	5	0	8	2	0	0	59	11
Sunderland	1984–85	25	2	1	0	7	1	0	0	33	3
	1985–86	23	2	2	0	1	0	2	0	28	2
	Total	48	4	3	0	8	1	2	0	61	5
Stoke City	1986–87	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	2
	Total	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	2
Blackburn Rovers	1987–88	13	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	16	1
	1988–89	45	19	3	0	4	1	6	3	58	23
	1989–90	36	5	2	0	1	0	2	0	41	5
	1990–91	24	4	2	0	1	0	0	0	27	4
	1991–92	4	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	7	0
	Total	116	29	7	0	8	1	12	3	143	33
Halifax Town	1992–93	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
	Total	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Career Total		247	47	15	0	24	4	15	3	300	54

A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the European Cup, Full Members Cup, Football League play-offs, Football League Trophy.

Honours

Liverpool

• European Cup winner: 1980–81

Sunderland

• Football League Cup runner-up: 1984–85

External links

• Howard Gayle stats
• Thisisanfield.com Forgotten Heroes
• Profile at LFCHistory.net
• Interview with Gayle on Talksport