Gerry Lightowler

Football player infobox
playername = Gerry Lightowler


fullname = Gerard A Lightowler
height =
dateofbirth = birth date|1940|9|5|df=y
cityofbirth = Bradford
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = death date and age|2008|7|28|1940|9|5|df=y
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
position = Left back
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1958–1968
1968
1968–1969
clubs = Bradford Park Avenue
Los Angeles Wolves
Bradford City
Guiseley
caps(goals) = 208 (1)
028 (3)
011 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =

Gerard A "Gerry" Lightowler (5 September 1940 – 28 July 2008) was an English professional footballer, who played more than 200 games for his hometown club Bradford Park Avenue. He also played for Bradford City, Guiseley and in the United States with Los Angeles Wolves.

Career

Lightowler was born in Bradford, England on 5 September 1940 and attended St. Bede's Grammar School.cite book
last=Frost |first=Terry |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |publisher=Breedon Books Sport |year=1988 |pages=p. 401 |isbn=0907969380] cite web
url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/gerrylightowler.htm
title=Gerry Lightowler
accessdate=2008-07-30
publisher=Neil Brown] He was a left back, who started his football career with one of his hometown clubs, Bradford Park Avenue. He signed amateur forms with Park Avenue in 1958, making his first team debut in the final game of the 1958–59 season when Avenue defeated Aldershot 5–1. In September 1961, Lightowler signed his first full-time professional contract with Avenue, before going on to play 229 league and cup games with the club, during which time he scored two goals, one in the league and another in the FA Cup.cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3556125.Bobby_Ham_s_tribute_to_Lightowler/
title=Bobby Ham's tribute to Lightowler
date=2008-07-29
accessdate=2008-07-30
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] Of his games, 208 were in the league.

In March 1968, Lightowler left Park Avenue to move to the United States, where he joined North American Soccer League side Los Angeles Wolves. He spent just seven months in the United States where he played 28 games, scoring three goals, [cite web
url=http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/L/Lightowler.Gerald.htm
title=Gerald Lightowler
accessdate=2008-07-30
publisher=NASL Jerseys] before he returned to Bradford, after signing for Division Four team Bradford City under the management of Jimmy Wheeler. City finished fourth during the 1968–69 season, earning promotion to Division Three. However, Lightowler was released during the summer having played just 12 games, 11 of which were in the league, for City. [cite book
last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |pages=p. 385] Following his release, he joined nearby non-league club Guiseley.

Personal life

Lightowler was married to Sandra. He was also interested in cricket and was a steward and committee member of Gomersal Cricket Club, in Gomersal, West Yorkshire.

He died in July 2008 at the age of 67. Following his death, his former teammate Bobby Ham, with whom he played at both Bradford clubs, described him as "a great lad with a fantastic sense of humour".

References