Chris Harrison (footballer)

Christopher Colin Harrison (born 17 October 1956) is an English retired footballer who played as a defender.

Chris Harrison
Personal information
Full name Christopher Colin Harrison
Date of birth (1956-10-17) 17 October 1956
Place of birth Launceston, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position(s) Defender
Youth career
1974–1976 Plymouth Argyle
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1985 Plymouth Argyle 324 (7)
1985–1988 Swansea City 117 (14)
1988–1990 Saltash United ? (?)
Total 441 (21)
Teams managed
– Saltash United
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Harrison was born in Launceston.[1] He joined Plymouth Argyle as an apprentice in October 1974 and made his first team debut on 24 April 1976 in a 2–0 defeat at Carlisle United in the Second Division.[2] He scored his first goal later that year in a 3–1 loss at Hull City on 20 November.[2] He made 23 appearances that season which ended with the club being relegated to the Third Division. Harrison played regularly for Argyle over the next eight years as both a centre back and right back.[3] He was a member of the squad that reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1984, where they lost 1–0 to Watford at Villa Park.[1] He scored his last goal for the club on 3 November 1984 in a 3–2 win against Bristol Rovers at Home Park and made his last appearance in a 2–0 defeat at Millwall on 11 May 1985.[1] Harrison made 381 appearances in 11 years with the club, scoring 8 goals,[2] and played under seven different managers.[3] He moved to Swansea City in September 1985.[4]

He played regularly in his first season at Vetch Field,[5] which ended with the club being relegated to the Fourth Division.[6] Harrison was an influential member of the squad that won promotion back to the Third Division in the 1987–88 season.[5] He played in the play-off final against Torquay United,[7] which they won 5–4 on aggregate. He made 117 league appearances in three years with the club and scored 14 goals.[8] Harrison returned to South West England in July 1998 to play non-league football for Saltash United for two seasons,[1] who he also managed.[9]

Personal life

Harrison set up his own driving school in Looe after retiring as a player.[9] As well as coaching at Plymouth Argyle's centre of excellence, he is a retained firefighter.[5]

References
  1. Danes, Ryan (2009). Plymouth Argyle: The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 97–98. ISBN 978-1-85983-710-8.
  2. "Chris Harrison". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  3. "Chris Harrison" Archived 2 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  4. "This week in 1985". The Plymouth Herald. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  5. "Past players: G – H" Archived 27 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Swansea City. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  6. "Club history" Archived 1 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Swansea City. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  7. "And while we are on the subject". Herald Express. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  8. "Chris Harrison". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  9. "Where are they now?". BBC Sport. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
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