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Full Name
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Gary Pallister
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Date of Birth
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30th Aug 1965
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Place of Birth
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Ramsgate
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Position
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Central Defender
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Height
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6ft 4
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United debut
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30/8/1989
vs Norwich (H)
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.....
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Pallister's United Record 1989-1998
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Appearances
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Goals
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League
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314 (3)
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12
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FA Cup
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38
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2
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League Cup
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36
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0
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Europe
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39 (1)
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1
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Total
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427 (4)
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15
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Pallister's International Record
1989-1998
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22 Caps for England - 0 Goals
1997 F.A.
Premier League
1996 F.A. Cup
1996 F.A. Premier
League
1994 F.A. Cup
1994 F.A. Premier
League
1993 F.A. Premier
League
1992 League Cup
1991 European Cup
Winners Cup
1990 F.A. Cup
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Gary Pallister possessed all the attributes
of a superb centre-back. He had excellent aerial ability and
domination, he had pace as quick as any striker and he had
good ball control (especially for someone so tall). For
nearly six years his partnership with Steve Bruce became
almost legendary, a defensive duo United may never be able
to better, such was the communication and understanding
between the two at the heart of United's defence. Pally was
Britain's most expensive defender at one time, £2.3 million
and he proved to be a gem worth every penny.
He was born in Ramsgate on 30th June 1965. and after playing
for non-league Billingham Town, Pallister was spotted by
Middlesbrough where he spent four years with the club he
had supported as a child. During his time at Ayresome Park,
the Teeside club were suffering from financial difficulties
and a local businessman paid Gary Pallister's wages when the
club were unable to pay them.
In August 1989 Pallister was transferred to Manchester
United for a then record fee of £2.3 million. After a dodgey
start in which the transfer fee seemed to affect his form he
began to put in the great performances he would become known
for.
Pallister went from strength to strength and has formed the
backbone of Manchester United's defence for nine years. With
United he won a major trophy in all but one season, 1994-95.
A total of ten major honours: Three F.A. Cup's, four League
Championships, the League Cup, the European Cup Winners' Cup
and the European Super Cup. This record was only recently
bettered by Dennis Irwin. In 1992 he was voted the PFA
Player of the Year and had become a regular full England
international. |
It can no coincidence that Gary Pallister's
arrival at Manchester United coincided with the start of the
club's most successful period ever. His pace, and aerial
ability coupled with composed determination meant any
opponent would have to play out of their skin to get past
him. Many opponents under-estimated Pallister's pace and as
he timed his tackles brilliantly it meant he was rarely
booked. The big man gained a notorious reputation in
training, Ryan Giggs said of Pallister: "He was a terrible
trainer, he'd moan about everything and in five-a-sides he'd
just stand up front doing nothing. We still have the 'I've
had a Pally' T-Shirt to remember him by!".
In July 1998 Pallister completed a £2.5 million move back
to his old team Middlesbrough, but not because of any
serious decline in standards in his game. A recurring back
injury not helped by United's heavy schedule limited the
amount of games he could play in, so perhaps reluctantly he
moved on. When Fergie forked out the record £2.3 million in
1989 many doubted his sanity. A decade later Gary Pallister
is up there with the rest of the United legends and must go
down as yet another of Alex Ferguson's great player
purchases. |
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All pictures in the
profiles can be enlarged by clicking on the smaller version.
Stats do not include friendlies, Charity Shield or World Club tournaments.
Number in brackets ( ) represents appearances as substitute in addition to
starting appearances.
This information is kindly taken from
McCleery's
Manchester United Zone
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