625 Gary Ablett

Biography

Defender Gary Ablett spent a month on loan Hull City in September and October 1986, starting five games at left back for manager Brian Horton. His short spell with the Tigers clearly demonstrated that Ablett was a talented player destined for an excellent career in football.

Gary Ian Ablett was born in Aigburth, a suburb of south Liverpool, and represented Liverpool boys throughout his teenage years, often captaining the side. He joined the Liverpool youth team setup during the 1981/82 season, having progressed from associate schoolboy to apprentice professional. He began playing for Liverpool Reserves during the 1982/83 season and was identified as a talent that should be developed for the benefit of the Liverpool first team.

He was on the fringes of the first team squad when he joined Division Three side Derby County on loan in January 1985, making 8 senior appearances – he came on as substitute for the Rams at Boothferry Park in March 1985, a famous table-topping 3-2 win for the Tigers. After another year in the Liverpool Reserves and his spell in Division Two with Hull City in the early months of the 1986/87 season, Ablett made his Liverpool debut in a December 1986 Division One clash against Charlton Athletic. He made six Liverpool appearances that season in total and scored his first senior goal in April 1987 against Nottingham Forest.

In January 1988 Ablett was again introduced to the Liverpool first team and he remained in the starting eleven for the rest of the season, making 22 appearances primarily at left back for the Division One champions – he also started the May 1988 FA Cup Final against Wimbledon that the Reds lost 0-1 at Wembley. The 1988/89 season saw Gary hold down a regular first team place as Liverpool finished second in the top flight and won the May 1989 FA Cup Final against local rivals Everton. Ablett also played in the April 1989 abandoned FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough against Nottingham Forest, where 96 people lost their lives in a crush at the Leppings Lane End caused by the murderously thoughtless actions of South Yorkshire Police and the crass incompetence of Sheffield Wednesday’s administrators.

Over the next three seasons Ablett played a supporting role for the Reds. In May 1990 he was restored to the first team in the closing weeks of the season and claimed his second Division One champions medal. He also made six appearances in the UEFA Cup in the early months of the 1991/92 season. However in early January 1992 Ablett decided to move on having made 147 senior appearances for Liverpool and scored once in his ten years at Anfield.

In January 1992 Ablett made the rare and brave move across Stanley Park to join local rivals Everton with a transfer fee of £750,000 changing hands between the clubs. His January 1992 debut came against Nottingham Forest and he immediately held down a regular start at left back for the Toffees that endured for nearly four years. His run in the first team was halted briefly in December 1994 when injury kept him on the sidelines for two months, when he returned to first team action he played in the four later rounds of the FA Cup as Everton reached the final and in May 1995 defeated Manchester United in the Wembley showpiece – Ablett was the first player to claim FA Cup winners medals for both Merseyside clubs. In the 1995/96 Ablett lost his place at left back to Andy Hinchcliffe and his final game for the Toffees came in a January 1996 FA Cup tie against Port Vale, which took his Everton tally to six goals in 156 appearances. In March 1996 he had a two month loan spell at League Division 1 side Sheffield United, where he made 12 appearances.

In July 1996 Gary left Goodison Park and joined League Division 1 side Birmingham City, who paid £390,000 for his services. For two and a half seasons he was a regular centre back for the Blues until a knee injury sustained in February 1999 ended his season early. He left the Blues in the 1999 close season having scored two goals in 124 appearances. In December 1999 he had a one month spell at League Division 2 side Wycombe Wanderers, making 4 appearances, then in January 2000 he signed another short term deal with League Division 2 side Blackpool scoring one goal in 12 appearances. He spent the summer of 2000 in the USA playing for Long Island Rough Riders where he scored two goals in 21 appearances before hanging up his boots.

In July 2002 Gary joined the Everton coaching staff, looking after the Under-17s side, then in July 2006 he again made the move across Stanley Park, joining Liverpool to coach the Reds’ Reserves side. He left Liverpool in May 2009 and a few weeks later was appointed first team manager at League One side Stockport County. He led the Hatters for the 2009/10 season, but the club was bankrupt and in administration which meant Ablett struggled to make his mark as a manager – he left Stockport in June 2010 having managed the side for 51 matches that yielded just seven victories. He joined the coaching staff at Ipswich Town in July 2010 but within a few weeks he fell ill and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphona, a form of blood cancer. Ablett’s battle against cancer was lost on New Years Day 2012, his funeral saw a significant turnout from stars associated with both Liverpool clubs.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 19 November 1965, Liverpool
Hull City First Game: 13 September 1986, Sunderland A (Division Two), 20 years, 298 days old
Hull City Final Game: 11 October 1986, Derby County A (Division Two), 20 years, 326 days old

Clubs

Liverpool (1982-1992), Derby County (1985, loan), Hull City (1986, loan), Everton (1992-1996), Sheffield United (1996. loan), Birmingham City (1996-1999), Wycombe Wanderers (1999), Blackpool (2000), Long Island Rough Riders (2000)

Hull City Record

Career: 5 apps, 0 goals