Gary Sawyer

Gary Dean Sawyer (born 5 July 1985) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for, and is currently captain of, League Two club Plymouth Argyle. Known for his pace and strength, he is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. He has stolen a living as a professional footballer for almost 15 years. He has famously never won a header and holds the world record for most times skinned in 90 minutes. Sawyer is best known for nutmegging Paul Koncheskey a record 7 times in a 4-0 friendly defeat to East Thurrock United. He once completed the 100m in a PB time of 3 minutes and 12 seconds.

Gary Sawyer
Personal information
Full name Gary Dean Sawyer[1]
Date of birth (1985-07-05) 5 July 1985
Place of birth Bideford, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Centre-back / Left-back
Club information
Current team
 Plymouth Argyle
Number 3
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2010 Plymouth Argyle 95 (5)
2003 → Weymouth (loan) 1 (0)
2004–2006 → Exeter City (loan) 62 (2)
2010 → Bristol City (loan) 2 (0)
2010–2012 Bristol Rovers 61 (0)
2012–2015 Leyton Orient 69 (1)
2015– Plymouth Argyle 171 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 June 2020 (UTC)


He started his career at Plymouth Argyle, and in-between spells at Home Park has also played for Leyton Orient, Weymouth, Exeter City, Bristol City and Bristol Rovers.

Career

Sawyer was born in Bideford, Devon,[1] and developed his football career in the youth system at Plymouth Argyle. In the 2003–04 season, Sawyer had a loan spell with Weymouth, during which he made only one appearance. He joined Conference club Exeter City on loan for the 2004–05 season, appearing regularly in the first team and playing in the club's FA Cup ties against Manchester United, and remained at the club for the following season.[3]

Sawyer made his debut in the Football League on 8 August 2006, as a second-half substitute as Plymouth won 1–0 against Colchester United in the Football League Championship.[4] He signed a two-and-a-half-year deal in November 2006,[5] and made his first start for Argyle later that month at home to Luton Town.[6] His performances during the season earned him Argyle's Young Player of the Season award for 2006–07 and a new three-year deal, contracting him to the club until 2010.[7]

Sawyer went on to be a regular starter for the Pilgrims throughout the 2007–08 season, and scored his first goal for the club, against Colchester United on 4 March 2008.[6]

In March 2010, Sawyer joined fellow Championship club Bristol City on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. Out of contract at the end of the season, Sawyer had turned down the offer of a contract extension from Plymouth, and said he hoped to earn himself a permanent deal with Bristol City.[8][9]

On 30 June 2010, Sawyer joined League One Club Bristol Rovers on a two-year deal.[10] He got his first sending off for the Pirates on 11 September 2010, against Brentford, with two bookable offences.[11]

On 12 May 2012, Sawyer signed for Leyton Orient, again on a two-year deal.[12] On 14 August 2012, he played first game for Leyton Orient, in 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic at The Valley. He scored his first and only goal for the club against MK Dons in April 2013.[13]

Sawyer returned to his first club, Plymouth Argyle on 25 June 2015, after being released by Leyton Orient following their relegation from League 1.[14] Sawyer was named vice captain to Luke McCormick for the 2016–17 season. In April 2017, Sawyer scored a rare goal for the club in an 8–0 win against Witheridge F.C. for Argyle's South West Peninsula League team. For the majority of the first half of the 2017-18 season, due to injuries to Luke McCormick, Sawyer wore the captain's armband for Argyle. On Boxing Day 2017 Sawyer scored his first competitive goal for Argyle since his return to the club, the only goal in a 1–0 win away against MK Dons.[15]

He signed a one-year contract extension with Plymouth in June 2018.[16]

He was offered a new contract by Plymouth Argyle at the end of the 2018–19 season.[17]

Career statistics
As of 12 July 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cups[lower-alpha 1] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Plymouth Argyle
2006–07[18] The Championship 22040260
2007–08[19] The Championship 31140351
2008–09[20] The Championship 13300133
2009–10[21] The Championship 29130321
Total 9551101065
Weymouth (loan)
2003–04 Southern Football League 100010
Exeter City (loan)
2004–05[22] Conference National 32270392
2005–06[23] Conference National 30030330
Bristol City (loan) 2009–10[21] The Championship 200020
Loans total 652100752
Bristol Rovers
2010–11[24] League One 37050420
2011–12[25] League Two 24030270
Total 61080690
Leyton Orient
2012–13[26] League One 34180421
2013–14[27] League One 22060280
2014–15[28] League One 13050180
Total 691190881
Plymouth Argyle
2015–16[29] League Two 46040500
2016–17[30] EFL League Two 21010220
2017–18[31] EFL League One 46130491
2018–19[32] EFL League One 33010340
2019–20[33] EFL League Two 000000
Total 1461901551
Career total 43695704939
  1. includes FA Cup, EFL Cup, EFL Trophy & FA Trophy

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J, ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Edinburgh: Mainstream. p. 363. ISBN 978-1-84596-246-3.
  2. "Gary Sawyer - Defender". Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  3. "Profiles Gary Sawyer". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  4. "Delight for Summers" (reprint). Western Morning News. FindArticles. 10 August 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  5. "Sawyer pens new deal at Plymouth". BBC Sport. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  6. "Plymouth vs Luton Town". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 28 November 2006. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  7. "Sawyer Signs Extension". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 5 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  8. "City Loan in a Pilgrim". Bristol City F.C. 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  9. "Gary Out To Impress". Bristol City F.C. 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  10. "Bristol Rovers sign Plymouth defender Gary Sawyer". BBC News. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  11. "Bristol Rovers 0–0 Brentford". BBC News. 11 September 2010.
  12. "Sawyer becomes first summer arrival". Leyton Orient F.C. 12 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012.
  13. "Leyton Orient 2-0 MK Dons". BBC. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  14. "Many Happy Returns". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  15. "MK Dons 0 Plymouth Argyle 1: Gary Sawyer goal wins it for resurgent Pilgrims". The Herald (Plymouth). 27 December 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  16. "Gary Sawyer: Plymouth Argyle defender signs new one-year deal". BBC Sport. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  17. "Jamie Ness: Plymouth Argyle release midfielder and offer deals to 12". BBC Sport. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  18. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  19. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  20. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  21. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  22. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  23. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  24. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  25. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  26. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  27. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  28. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  29. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  30. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  31. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  32. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  33. "Games played by Gary Sawyer in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
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