Garry James Brooke (24 November 1960 – 18 January 2025) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City, FC Groningen, Wimbledon, Stoke City and Brentford before moving into non-league football.

Career

Brooke began his career with Tottenham Hotspur. He spent a year on loan at Swedish side GAIS, scoring eight goals in 23 appearances and made his Spurs debut in a 3–2 defeat against West Bromwich Albion. His full debut came in a 4–4 draw with Southampton, with Brooke scoring twice. His debut season ended with a substitute appearance in the 1981 FA Cup Final, which saw Tottenham beat Manchester City in a replay. His second season with Spurs saw the team again lift the FA Cup in a replay but Brooke's place in the side came under threat from Glenn Hoddle and Tony Galvin. He played 33 times in the 1982–83 season, scoring nine goals, but his run in the side was cut short due to a near-fatal car crash in February 1983. It took him seven months to regain fitness and he struggled to get back into the side due to his injuries causing him to be easily short of breath. He played in just seven matches in 1984–85 and was sold to Norwich City.

He never settled at Norwich as he missed London and also did not get on with first-team coach Mel Machin. He helped Norwich win the Second Division title in 1985–86 but missed out on a medal as he played 13 matches, one short of the required 14. After failing to get into the Norwich side in 1986–87, he decided to move to Dutch team Groningen. Brooke enjoyed his time at Groningen as he was given a free role by the manager Henk van Brussel. He returned to England in August 1988 following the birth of his daughter and decided to sign for Wimbledon. He regretted moving to Wimbledon as he did not fit in with their direct style of play and moved on loan to Stoke City in March 1990 for the remainder of the 1989–90 season. He played eight matches for Stoke, which saw the team draw and lose four matches and end the season being relegated. He later had short spells with Brentford and Reading, also playing in non-League for Baldock Town, Colchester United, Wivenhoe Town, St Albans City, Romford, Worthing, Cornard United and Braintree Town.

Personal life and death

Brooke was born in Bethnal Green on 24 November 1960. He died on the morning of 18 January 2025, at the age of 64 "following a lengthy battle with illness".

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tottenham Hotspur1978–79First Division000000—00
1979–80000000—00
1980–811837100—254
1981–821642000—184
1982–83237204141339
1983–84120101040180
1984–854100003071
Total73151215111110118
GAIS (loan)1980Swedish Division 2238———238
Norwich City1985–86Second Division132002131184
1986–87First Division1000001020
Total142002141204
Groningen1986–87Eredivisie11100——111
1987–8828800——288
Total39900——399
Wimbledon1988–89First Division1000020—120
1989–90200000—20
Total1200020—140
Stoke City (loan)1989–90Second Division8000000080
Brentford1990–91Third Division111102000141
Colchester United1990–91Conference00——1010
Reading1990–91Third Division40———40
St Albans City1991–92Isthmian League Premier Division4000—3070
1992–931010—2040
Total5010—50110
Career total1893514111221223540

Honours

Tottenham Hotspur

External links

  • at IMDb
  • at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  • Retrieved 28 April 2009