GLOVERS NEWS: RIP Gerry Gow – one of Yeovil Town’s greats

TRIBUTES have poured in following the death of one of the most popular managers at Yeovil Town Football Club in modern times, Gerry Gow, who has passed away at the age of 64.

Gerry arrived at the old sloping pitch of Huish in 1984 as player-manager following a successful playing career in the Football League with Bristol City, Manchester City, Rotherham United and Burnley.

He left Yeovil in early 1987 and his time at the club had been entertaining and had helped to bring back much-needed fans through the turnstiles.

PHOTO - TOP: Gerry Gow (left) with Yeovil Town chairman Gerry Lock (centre) signing up cricket star Ian Botham to play football for the Glovers in the 1984-85 season.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Gerry Gow in his Bristol City days.

Gerry brought some quality players to Huish from his Bristol City days such as Tom Ritchie, Paul Cheesley and Donnie Gillies, as well as a certain Ian Botham and a then unknown young Scotsman by the name of John McGinlay who went on to have a fabulous career with Bolton Wanderers.

Gerry played for Manchester City in the 1981 FA Cup Final where they lost out to Tottenham Hotspur in a replay, but he was able to tempt one of his team-mates Kevin Reeves – one of the first £1m footballers – to South Somerset.

Also among his signings was former Bristol Rovers and Stoke City striker Paul Randall, plus a young cultured midfielder Alan Pardew from Dulwich Hamlet who a few years later would be going on to score the winner for Crystal Palace in an exciting FA Cup Semi-Final against Liverpool and now presently a leading Premiership manager.

Gerry passed away overnight following a brave battle with lung cancer. His son Chris announced this morning (Monday, October 10, 2016) on social media that his much-loved dad had died.

“Today the world fell apart for our family,” said Chris. “My beautiful dad passed away in the early hours of this morning; 64 years young, he lost his battle to the most disgusting disease.

“My and my family are broken hearted and nothing will ever fill the void in our hearts. RIP my hero, my best mate, my dad.”

A Bristol City statement said: “Everyone at the club sends its condolences to Gerry’s family and friends at this sad time.”

A Manchester City statement said: “Everyone at Manchester City FC is saddened to learn of the passing of Gerry Gow at the age of 64 following his brave battle with illness.

“A cult hero in his short spell at Maine Road in the 80s, Gow made 36 appearances for the Blues between 1981 and 1982.”

PHOTO - RIGHT: Gerry Gow during his Manchester City playing days.

Fans from all of the clubs he represented have been taking to social media to pass on their condolences to Gerry’s family and pay tribute.

Yeovil Town fan Michael West wrote: “On the field he was a real hard man and took no prisoners. Off it, was a very nice guy and a complete gentleman.

“My thoughts are with his family and especially Chris his son who would often join us for away matches on the Green and Whites Supporters’ Club coaches.

“Rest in peace Gerry.”

Another Yeovil Town fan wrote: “We have had some great managers at Yeovil Town and Gerry was up with the best of them – brought some great players in at a difficult time in our history.”

Yeovil Press’ very own Steve Sowden said: “Although I’d been watching Yeovil for a few years, it wasn’t until the arrival of Gerry Gow when I suppose I became a “proper fan” and started going to a lot more games and my first ventures of away days.

“Gerry got the enthusiasm back into supporting the team and I really do think he helped in the rebirth of the Glovers as a club.

“And I would definitely have him in my All-Time Favourite Yeovil Town XI – the hardest midfielder I’ve seen wearing a Glovers shirt.”

PHOTO - RIGHT: Gerry Gow (standing far right) with his Yeovil Town team in the 1984-85 season including England cricket star Ian Botham (standing far left).

While Gerry was at Yeovil his only one full season in charge of 1985-86 saw the Glovers finish runners-up in the Vauxhall-Opel Premier League behind champions Sutton United although they had amassed a whopping 91 points and scored 92 goals along the way.

He left midway through the following season with Yeovil facing another difficult battle in the Vauxhall-Opel Premier League with Wycombe Wanders who would go on to win the title.

He had arrived at Huish in the 1984-85 season in the Gola League with Yeovil already destined for their first ever relegation.

So although on paper his CV with Yeovil may not have been anything to shout about in terms of success – he reinvented the club, made it a place to go and brought pride back among the supporters.

That, in itself, looking back, was far more important……RIP Gerry Gow.

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