Garry Birtles: Man United forward Profile & Stats
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Portrait of Garry Birtles

Garry Birtles

Position: forward

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PWDLFA

HAN P W D L F A Diff Win%
H 31 16 11 4 38 16 +22 51.61
A 33 14 6 13 43 32 +11 42.42
TOTALS 64 30 17 17 81 48 +33 46.88

Name: Garry Birtles
Birthdate: 27-07-1956
Age: 69
Birthplace: Nottingham, England
Height: 5' 9" (1.75m)
Weight: 12st (76.2kg)
Years at Club: 1980-1982
Signing Info: Transferred from: Nottingham Forest, 10/1980, £1.25m
Previous Clubs: Nottingham Forest
Debut: 22/10/1980 v Stoke City (A) 2-1 (League Division One)
Farewell: Transferred to Nottingham Forest, 09/1982, £250,000
Passed Away:

Biography

Gary Birtles is a former English footballer who played as a forward and is best known for his time at Nottingham Forest, where he won two European Cups under legendary manager Brian Clough. Birtles also had a difficult but noteworthy spell at Manchester United after his success at Forest. His career is marked by a reputation for hard work, dedication, and an important role in some of the most memorable moments in Nottingham Forest's history during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Early Career and Success at Nottingham Forest
Birtles began his professional career at Nottingham Forest in 1976, joining the club at a time when Brian Clough was building a team that would go on to dominate English and European football. Initially, Birtles played as a right-back before Clough converted him into a forward, a move that would pay dividends as he became a key goal scorer for the club.

Key Achievements at Nottingham Forest:
European Cup Wins (1979, 1980): Birtles was instrumental in Forest's back-to-back European Cup victories, contributing with crucial goals. In the 1979 European Cup final, Birtles provided an assist in the 1-0 victory over Malmö FF. In 1980, Birtles scored in the semi-final against Ajax, helping Forest reach the final, where they defeated Hamburg to win their second consecutive European Cup.
First Division Title (1977-78): Birtles played a part in Forest's First Division title triumph in 1978, a remarkable achievement for a team that had only recently been promoted from the Second Division. His work rate and finishing ability made him a key figure in Forest's success.
Move to Manchester United (1980-1982)
In 1980, after his impressive performances for Nottingham Forest, Manchester United signed Birtles for a then-significant transfer fee of £1.25 million. Expectations were high for Birtles, as he was brought in to lead United's attack under manager Dave Sexton.

However, Birtles' time at Manchester United proved to be difficult. Despite his effort and work ethic, Birtles struggled to find the back of the net and went through an extended goal drought, which led to significant criticism from the media and fans.

Difficult Spell at Manchester United:
Goal Drought: Birtles famously went 32 league games without scoring a goal during his first season at Old Trafford, despite being a key player at Nottingham Forest. His inability to replicate his previous form made his time at United challenging.
Scoring Resurgence: Despite the early struggles, Birtles eventually found his scoring touch, netting 11 goals in his second season. However, by this time, the pressure and expectations had taken their toll, and he never fully lived up to his potential at Old Trafford.
Birtles left Manchester United in 1982 and returned to Nottingham Forest, where he would go on to regain his form.

Return to Nottingham Forest and Later Career
Birtles returned to Nottingham Forest in 1982 and immediately rediscovered his scoring touch, once again becoming a key player under Brian Clough. He continued to play for Forest until 1987, when he moved to Grimsby Town, where he spent two seasons before ending his playing career at Notts County.

Playing Style: Hard-Working and Versatile Forward
Birtles was known for his work rate, versatility, and ability to play both as a central striker and a winger. His movement off the ball and dedication to his team's overall play made him a valuable asset, even during his difficult period at Manchester United. At his best, Birtles combined his physicality with sharp finishing ability and intelligent play.

Legacy
While Gary Birtles' time at Manchester United is often remembered for his goal-scoring struggles, his legacy as a footballer is defined by his remarkable success at Nottingham Forest. His contributions to Forest's back-to-back European Cup victories remain a highlight of his career, and his hard-working style earned him respect from fans and teammates alike. Birtles remains a symbol of Forest's golden era under Brian Clough, and despite the difficulties he faced at Old Trafford, he is remembered for his resilience and professionalism.

Summary
Gary Birtles was a hard-working and versatile forward who won two European Cups with Nottingham Forest and experienced a challenging period at Manchester United. Despite his goal-scoring struggles at United, Birtles' contributions to Forest's success, particularly in Europe, cemented his legacy as an important figure in the club's history.
 
League League Cup FA Cup Charity Shield European Cup Europa League Super Cup Cup Winners Cup Inter-cont Cup World Clubs Cup    
Season Goals Season Apps
No Season League Goals League Apps LC Goals LC Apps FAC Goals FAC Apps CS Goals CS Apps EC Goals EC Apps Europa Goals Europa Apps SC Goals SC Apps CWC Goals CWC Apps IC Goals IC Apps CWC Goals CWC Apps Season
Goals		 Season
Apps
1. 1980-1981 0 25 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 28
2. 1981-1982 11 33 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 36
TOTALS 11 58 0 2 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 64

Detailed Match & Performance Charts

MUFC Player Goals MUFC Player Appearances MUFC Player Opponent Manager MUFC Player Club Manager
No Opponent Goals Appearances
1. Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 2
2. Brighton 2 2
3. West Bromwich Albion 1 1
4. Middlesbrough 1 1
5. Tottenham Hotspur 1 1
6. Stoke City 1 1
7. Notts County 1 1
8. Birmingham City 1 1
9. Swansea City 1 1
10. Sunderland 1 1
No Opponent Appearances Goals
1. Brighton 5 2
2. Coventry City 4 0
3. Tottenham Hotspur 4 1
4. Stoke City 3 1
5. Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 2
6. Middlesbrough 3 1
7. Southampton 3 0
8. Nottingham Forest 3 0
9. Sunderland 3 1
10. Birmingham City 3 1
11. Manchester City 3 0
12. Aston Villa 3 0
13. Ipswich Town 3 0
14. Everton 2 0
15. Crystal Palace 2 0
16. Leeds United 2 0
17. Liverpool 2 0
18. West Bromwich Albion 2 1
19. Swansea City 2 1
20. Arsenal 2 0
21. Notts County 2 1
22. West Ham United 2 0
23. Leicester City 1 0
24. Norwich City 1 0
25. Watford 1 0
No Opponent Manager No
1. Mullery, Alan 4
2. Burkinshaw, Keith 4
3. Saunders, Ron 4
4. Durban, Alan 3
5. McMenemy, Lawrie 3
6. Clough, Brian 3
7. Bond, John 3
8. Robson, Bobby 3
9. Lee, Gordon 2
10. Milne, Gordon 2
11. Barnwell, John 2
12. Smith, Jim 2
13. Clarke, Alan 2
14. Paisley, Bob 2
15. Sexton, Dave 2
16. Toshack, John 2
17. Murdoch, Bobby 2
18. Neill, Terry 2
19. Sirrel, Jimmy 2
20. Barker, Richie 2
21. Lyall, John 2
22. Walley, Ernie 1
23. Neal, John 1
24. Knighton, Ken 1
25. Wallace, Jock 1
26. Gradi, Dario 1
27. Atkinson, Ron 1
28. Brown, Ken 1
29. Bailey, Mike 1
30. Taylor, Graham 1
31. Greaves, Ian 1
32. Allen, Ronnie 1
No MUFC Managers Count
1. Atkinson, Ron 36
2. Sexton, Dave 28
Stadiums Competition Opponents Opponent Nationality
No Stadium Count
1. Old Trafford 31
2. Anfield 2
3. Ayresome Park 2
4. Goldstone Ground 2
5. Highfield Road 2
6. Maine Road 2
7. Roker Park 2
8. The Dell 2
9. Victoria Ground 2
10. Villa Park 2
11. White Hart Lane 2
12. Boleyn Ground 1
13. City Ground, Nottingham 1
14. Filbert Street 1
15. Goodison Park 1
16. Highbury 1
17. Meadow Lane 1
18. Molineux 1
19. Portman Road 1
20. Selhurst Park 1
21. St Andrews 1
22. The Hawthorns 1
23. Vetch Field 1
24. Vicarage Road 1
No Competition Count
1. League Division One 58
2. FA Cup 4
3. League Cup 2
No Opponent Count
1. Brighton 5
2. Coventry City 4
3. Tottenham Hotspur 4
4. Stoke City 3
5. Wolverhampton Wanderers 3
6. Middlesbrough 3
7. Southampton 3
8. Nottingham Forest 3
9. Sunderland 3
10. Birmingham City 3
11. Manchester City 3
12. Aston Villa 3
13. Ipswich Town 3
14. Everton 2
15. Crystal Palace 2
16. Leeds United 2
17. Liverpool 2
18. West Bromwich Albion 2
19. Swansea City 2
20. Arsenal 2
21. Notts County 2
22. West Ham United 2
23. Leicester City 1
24. Norwich City 1
25. Watford 1
No Opponent Nationality Count
1. England 62
2. Wales 2
Roy Keane own goal v Real Madrid Old Trafford 2000 Cup Finals
No Date Opponent Competition Own Goals
Player has never scored an own goal against the club.
No Date Opponent WDL F-A Competition
Player never featured in a Cup Final.
Penalties scored for Manchester United Manchester United Hat-Tricks
No Date Opponents Competition Penaltys
Player has never scored a penalty for the club.
No Date Opponent Competition Goals
Player has never scored a hat-trick or better during a game.
 
Red Cards  
No Date Opponent Competition
Player has never been sent off during a match.
 

All Matches played
No Date Comp Opponent WDL F-A HAN Goal!! Scorers Opponent scorers
1. 22-10-1980 Div 1 Stoke City W 2-1 A 0 Joe Jordan 15', Lou Macari 58' Bren O'Callaghan 80'
2. 25-10-1980 Div 1 Everton W 2-0 H 0 Joe Jordan 16', Steve Coppell 73'
3. 01-11-1980 Div 1 Crystal Palace L 0-1 A 0 Peter Nicholas 27'
4. 08-11-1980 Div 1 Coventry City D 0-0 H 0
5. 12-11-1980 Div 1 Wolves D 0-0 H 0
6. 15-11-1980 Div 1 Middlesbrough D 1-1 A 0 Joe Jordan 58' Craig Johnston 75'
7. 22-11-1980 Div 1 Brighton W 4-1 A 0 Joe Jordan 12', 38' Sammy McIlroy 44', Mick Duxbury 84' *Andy Ritchie 68'
8. 29-11-1980 Div 1 Southampton D 1-1 H 0 Joe Jordan 88' Nick Holmes 82'
9. 03-01-1981 FAC Brighton D 2-2 H 0 Mick Duxbury 70', Mickey Thomas 74' Brian Horton 12', *Andy Ritchie 23'
10. 07-01-1981 FAC Brighton W 2-0 A 1 Jimmy Nicholl 33', Garry Birtles 72'
11. 10-01-1981 Div 1 Brighton W 2-1 H 0 Gordon McQueen 34', Lou Macari 63' *Andy Ritchie 62'
12. 24-01-1981 FAC Nottingham Forest L 0-1 A 0 Trevor Francis 15'
13. 28-01-1981 Div 1 Sunderland L 0-2 A 0 Gordon Chisholm 25', Gary Rowell 89' (pen)
14. 31-01-1981 Div 1 Birmingham City W 2-0 H 0 Joe Jordan 5', Lou Macari 83'
15. 07-02-1981 Div 1 Leicester City L 0-1 A 0 Jim Melrose 64'
16. 17-02-1981 Div 1 Tottenham Hotspur D 0-0 H 0
17. 21-02-1981 Div 1 Manchester City L 0-1 A 0 Steve MacKenzie 59'
18. 28-02-1981 Div 1 Leeds United L 0-1 H 0 Brian Flynn 90'
19. 07-03-1981 Div 1 Southampton L 0-1 A 0 Kevin Keegan 3'
20. 14-03-1981 Div 1 Aston Villa D 3-3 A 0 Joe Jordan 46', 66', Sammy McIlroy 88' (pen) Peter Withe 15', 28', Gary Shaw 68'
21. 18-03-1981 Div 1 Nottingham Forest D 1-1 H 0 Kenny Burns 44' (o.g.) Ian Wallace 37'
22. 21-03-1981 Div 1 Ipswich Town W 2-1 H 0 Mickey Thomas 17', Jimmy Nicholl 53' Terry Butcher 7'
23. 28-03-1981 Div 1 Everton W 1-0 A 0 Joe Jordan 30'
24. 04-04-1981 Div 1 Crystal Palace W 1-0 H 0 Mick Duxbury 78'
25. 11-04-1981 Div 1 Coventry City W 2-0 A 0 Joe Jordan 34', 44'
26. 14-04-1981 Div 1 Liverpool W 1-0 A 0 Gordon McQueen 7'
27. 18-04-1981 Div 1 West Bromwich Albion W 2-1 H 0 Joe Jordan 2', Lou Macari 33' Cyrille Regis 62'
28. 25-04-1981 Div 1 Norwich City W 1-0 H 0 Joe Jordan 57'
29. 29-08-1981 Div 1 Coventry City L 1-2 A 0 Lou Macari 43' Steve Whitton 11', Peter Bodak 48'
30. 31-08-1981 Div 1 Nottingham Forest D 0-0 H 0
31. 05-09-1981 Div 1 Ipswich Town L 1-2 H 0 Frank Stapleton 13' *Alan Brazil 6', John Wark 27'
32. 12-09-1981 Div 1 Aston Villa D 1-1 A 0 Frank Stapleton 42' Gordon Cowans 16'
33. 19-09-1981 Div 1 Swansea City W 1-0 H 1 Garry Birtles 37'
34. 22-09-1981 Div 1 Middlesbrough W 2-0 A 1 Frank Stapleton 29', Garry Birtles 54'
35. 26-09-1981 Div 1 Arsenal D 0-0 A 0
36. 30-09-1981 Div 1 Leeds United W 1-0 H 0 Frank Stapleton 80'
37. 03-10-1981 Div 1 Wolves W 5-0 H 1 Frank Stapleton 9', Sammy McIlroy 21', 50, 76', Garry Birtles 86'
38. 07-10-1981 LC Tottenham Hotspur L 0-1 A 0 Steve Archibald 65'
39. 10-10-1981 Div 1 Manchester City D 0-0 A 0
40. 17-10-1981 Div 1 Birmingham City D 1-1 H 0 Steve Coppell 64' Frank Worthington 33' (pen)
41. 21-10-1981 Div 1 Middlesbrough W 1-0 H 0 Remi Moses 82'
42. 24-10-1981 Div 1 Liverpool W 2-1 A 0 Kevin Moran 24', Arthur Albiston 89' Terry McDermott 74' (pen)
43. 28-10-1981 LC Tottenham Hotspur L 0-1 H 0 Mickey Hazard 7'
44. 31-10-1981 Div 1 Notts County W 2-1 H 1 Garry Birtles 40', Remi Moses 65' Iain McCulloch 37'
45. 07-11-1981 Div 1 Sunderland W 5-1 A 1 Kevin Moran 20', Bryan Robson 53', Frank Stapleton 67', 71', Garry Birtles 89' Stan Cummins 38'
46. 21-11-1981 Div 1 Tottenham Hotspur L 1-3 A 1 Garry Birtles 43' Mickey Hazard 6', Graham Roberts 30', Steve Archibald 53'
47. 28-11-1981 Div 1 Brighton W 2-0 H 1 Garry Birtles 38', Frank Stapleton 68'
48. 05-12-1981 Div 1 Southampton L 2-3 A 0 Frank Stapleton 28', Bryan Robson 52' Steve Moran 22', Kevin Keegan 43', David Armstrong 90'
49. 02-01-1982 FAC Watford L 0-1 A 0 Jan Lohman 44'
50. 23-01-1982 Div 1 Stoke City W 3-0 A 1 Steve Coppell 10', Frank Stapleton 85' (pen), Garry Birtles 88'
51. 27-01-1982 Div 1 West Ham United W 1-0 H 0 Lou Macari 73'
52. 30-01-1982 Div 1 Swansea City L 0-2 A 0 Alan Curtis 55', Robbie James 57'
53. 06-02-1982 Div 1 Aston Villa W 4-1 H 0 Kevin Moran 44', 78', Bryan Robson 62', Steve Coppell 66' David Geddis 21'
54. 13-02-1982 Div 1 Wolves W 1-0 A 1 Garry Birtles 31'
55. 20-02-1982 Div 1 Arsenal D 0-0 H 0
56. 27-02-1982 Div 1 Manchester City D 1-1 H 0 Kevin Moran 39' Kevin Reeves 17'
57. 06-03-1982 Div 1 Birmingham City W 1-0 A 1 Garry Birtles 18'
58. 17-03-1982 Div 1 Coventry City L 0-1 H 0 Steve Whitton 39'
59. 20-03-1982 Div 1 Notts County W 3-1 A 0 Steve Coppell 10', 61', Frank Stapleton 64' Rachid Harkouk 70'
60. 27-03-1982 Div 1 Sunderland D 0-0 H 0
61. 20-04-1982 Div 1 Ipswich Town L 1-2 A 0 John Gidman 18' John Wark 36', 75'
62. 08-05-1982 Div 1 West Ham United D 1-1 A 0 Kevin Moran 61' David Cross 49'
63. 12-05-1982 Div 1 West Bromwich Albion W 3-0 A 1 Bryan Robson 25', Garry Birtles 36', Steve Coppell 77'
64. 15-05-1982 Div 1 Stoke City W 2-0 H 0 Bryan Robson 44', Norman Whiteside 44'
 

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