Biography
Londoner Gerry Harrison joined the Tigers on loan in March 1999 as manager Warren Joyce sought to add further momentum to a run of positive fixtures that saw the Tigers climbing the League Division 3 table after a catastrophic first half of the season under the hapless Mark Hateley. The move worked initially with Harrison slotting into the midfield and allowing Joyce to manage from the sidelines rather than from the middle of the pitch. A 2-3 defeat at home to Scunthorpe, on a day when Harrison was deputising for Steve Swales at right back, upset that run but by the end of the season City had performed the Great Escape and Joyce had assumed legendary status.
Harrison returned to his parent club Sunderland but by October 1999 Joyce was again calling for Gerry’s services and a second loan spell was arranged. However this spell lasted only two weeks and three starts before he returned to Wearside.
Gerald Randall Harrison was born in Lambeth, South London, and began his career as a teenager at Watford. He made his senior debut for The Hornets in the Second Division, an April 1990 3-3 draw against Ipswich Town. Over the next two years he assembled a further nine appearances before transferring to Bristol City in the 1991 close season. At Ashton Gate he was used sparingly in his first season, spending some time at Cardiff to get first team action, but was a regular pick during 1992/93 season. Harrison was again on the sidelines in 1993/94 season and transferred to Huddersfield Town in March 1994. During the 1994 close season Gerry moved again to Burnley and at Turf Moor he found his footballing home, spending four years with the Clarets and making 146 appearances. At the start of the 1998/99 season Harrison joined Sunderland, the first signing of Peter Reid’s tenure as Black Cats’ manager, but after a debut in the League Cup Harrison was unable to break into the first team due to a bout of Hepatitis A that badly affected his fitness. During his recovery he spent time on loan at Luton Town and then Hull City.
In the summer of 2000 Harrison transferred from Sunderland to Halifax Town, but after 11 appearances at The Shay he dipped into the North West non-league scene, spending three years at Leigh RMI. In the latter stages of his playing career, which ended in 2010, he was player/assistant manager at Hyde United.
After retirement Harrison settled in the Burnley area and became football development coach at Burnley College while also teaching Physical Education at several local schools, where he often worked alongside another ex-Tiger Andy Payton.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 15 April 1972, Lambeth
Hull City First Game: 26 March 1999, Southend United A (League Division 3), 26 years, 345 days old
Hull City Final Game: 16 October 1999, Northampton Town H (League Division 3), 27 years, 184 days old
Clubs
Watford (1989-1991), Bristol City (1991-1993), Cardiff City (1992, loan), Hereford United (1993-1994, loan), Huddersfield Town (1994), Burnley (1994-1998), Sunderland (1998-2000), Luton Town (1998-1999, loan), Hull City (1999, loan), Hull City (1999, loan), Burnley (2000, loan), Halifax Town (2000), Prestwich Heys (2000-2001), Leigh RMI (2001-2004), York City (2004), Northwich Victoria (2004-2005), Hyde United (2005-2010)
Hull City Record
Career: 11 apps, 0 goals
Gerry Harrison| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998/99 | 8 (0) | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1999/00 | 3 (0) | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |