Geoff comes from a footballing family.His father Geoff senior was a Carlisle United and Liverpool defender who later found fame as Liverpool's chief scout. He discovered Steve Heighway,Ian Rush and Alan Hansen. Geoff junior had a brief spell as a schoolboy with Liverpool but did not obtain a professional contract until the age of 24.He was offered a contract with Preston North End after some impressive performances for Chorley,who won the Lancashire Junior Cup in the 1982-83 season. Geoff made his league debut against Oxford United on October 1st 1983 and completed almost a century of league games,95 (plus three sub)appearances,scoring four goals including one against Rovers in January 1985.
Preston suffered relegation to the old Division 4 in 1985 and slipped further the following year, just avoiding bottom spot by one place. Geoff was then released on a free transfer and was one of the first signings by Rovers on the move to Twerton Park,Bath. His consistant performances made Geoff one of Rovers finest free tranfer signings. An excellent organiser on and off the pitch. Geoff was club captain during the Rovers rise from a struggling Third division side to a respectable Second division outfit. He played in 162 consecutive league games for Rovers covering three seasons but missed the Third division play-offs in 1989 after a disagreement about attending his brother's wedding,but this incident was soon forgotten and he helped Rovers win the Third division championship and played at the old Wembley in the Leyland Daf Cup final against Tranmere Rovers.
Geoff became interested in the media and was a regular contributor to Radio 2s Sports Report and it encouraged him to study and eventually obtain a diploma in broadcast journalism.He started working for Radio Bristol in January 1993 just prior to leaving Rovers. Geoff applied to become Rovers manager following the departure of Gerry Francis and was dissapointed not to be given an oppurtunity.
On recommendation Geoff played a few important games for Irish club Linfield who secured the Irish league championship and entered the Europian Cup after an absence of 4 years. However Geoff decided to 'hang up his boots' and persue his broadcasting career.
Geoff started coaching Brimsham Green when it was still part of the youth wing at the school not long after his move to Rovers, and agreed to be the clubs President when we moved into Senior football.
If a new football forum was launched for grassroots people to discuss/influence the future of football development in the UK, would you use it?
Yes
No
Maybe
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