Gary Gillespie

Falkirk

Gillespie started his career with Falkirk, and captained them at 17 years of age which set a Scottish record.

Coventry City

Coventry City signed Gillespie in 1978 for an initial transfer fee of £40,000, rising to £75,000 on appearances.

Liverpool

Gillespie signed for Liverpool in 1983. In the 1985 European Cup final against Juventus, he conceded a controversial penalty in the 56th minute, when Michel Platini played Zbigniew Boniek through on goal, and referee André Daina judged Gillespie to have fouled him inside the penalty area, although replays later demonstrated that the foul was actually committed nearly a yard outside the area and the referee was far from the action; Platini scored the ensuing penalty, which proved to be the only goal of the match, although Juventus's victory over Liverpool was overshadowed by the Heysel Stadium disaster. His three goals in that double winning season all came in the same game. Hat-tricks are rare for defenders, but Gillespie managed one against Birmingham City on 26 April 1986 at Anfield when he scored twice from open play and completed the threesome with a penalty, after the Liverpool fans chanted his name when it was awarded – normally he would not have taken it. Liverpool won the game 5–0 against an already relegated side, as they moved closer to the title, which was sealed on the final day of the season with a 1–0 win at Chelsea. By 1988, when he partnered Alan Hansen in all but five of…

Liverpool

Football League First Division: 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90 FA Cup: 1985–86; runner-up: 1987–88 FA Charity Shield: 1986 (shared), 1988, 1990 Football League Super Cup: 1986 European Cup: 1983–84 Individual

PFA Team of the Year: 1987–88 First Division