Pally

by Gary Pallister, Ivan Ponting

When Gary Pallister was in his 1990s pomp, there was no finer central defender in the British game. Certainly that's the collective view of his manager and comrades at Manchester United, that worldwide sporting institution with whom he played a mammoth part in lifting four Premiership titles in the space of five years, the FA Cup on three occasions and the League Cup once, as well as tasting European glory. They loved him at Middlesbrough, too, where he started and finished a professional career in which he made more than 700 senior appearances and collected 22 England caps, a total which would have been far more extensive but for the back injuries which plagued him along the way. But the plaudits for Pally did not emanate only from Old Trafford, Ayresome Park and the Riverside.In 1992, he was voted Player of the Year by his fellow footballers the length and breadth of the country, and there could be no personal honour more meaningful than the one dispensed by his professional peers. As a performer, Pally was practically flawless. He was beautifully balanced, a natural ballplayer, aerially dominant, unfailingly courageous and exceptionally quick. No wonder Alex Ferguson was ready to part with a British record transfer fee when he signed him from 'Boro in 1989. As a character, too, Pally is a delight, although one or two managers, perhaps gulled at first by his famously easy-going nature, might have been a tad startled to discover the iron purpose and keen intelligence behind that infectious grin.He now works as an authority on Manchester United, Boro and England as a pundit on BBC television and radio, and also Sky Sports.Between these covers he tells his story, honestly, fearlessly and with a dash of gentle north-eastern humour, detailing the many triumphs, a few trials and tribulations and one or two hair-raising clashes, including one with a future knight of the realm.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2008

About the author

His footballing career started at non-league Billingham Town, but at the age of 19, he joined his boyhood heroes Middlesbrough as a defender, making 156 League appearances over nearly five seasons, with a seven-game loan spell at Darlington in 1985, before he moved to Manchester United on 29 August 1989 for a then British record of £2.3 million. Already one of the most respected defenders in the English game, he had the rare achievement of representing the English national side before appearing in the top flight.

Although it was his excellent defensive displays that helped Manchester United to the league title along with Steve Bruce at the heart of the defence, forming one of the best central defensive partnerships in the club's history, in the 1992–93 season, he scored a memorable goal in the final home game of the season against Blackburn Rovers. Into stoppage time, with his team winning 2–1, he stepped up to drive a free-kick into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area. It was his first goal of the season and just about summed up an incredible season for Manchester United.

The final season Pallister played for Manchester United was the 1997–98 season in which Manchester United came second in the league table, losing by one point to Arsenal.

During his time at Manchester United, Pallister won the FA Cup in 1990, 1994 and 1996, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1991, Football League Cup in 1992, Premier League title in 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997. He was also part of the team that came second in the league in 1992, 1995 and 1998, as well as the team that finished runners-up in the League Cup in 1991 and 1994 and the FA Cup in 1995. By the time of his departure from Old Trafford after nine years, he was the only player to have collected winner's medals in all of the club's successes under Alex Ferguson's management.

Transferred back to Middlesbrough in July 1998 (his departure from Old Trafford at least partly prompted by United's acquisition of Jaap Stam), he scored one goal in 55 League appearances, as well as appearing in two FA Cup matches and four League Cup matches.

His final playing season, in which Middlesbrough finished 14th in the table, was season 2000–01.

He has since become a regular TV football pundit.