{{Short description|English footballer (born 1970)}} {{for|the NASCAR driver|Gary Wade Finley}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use British English|date=January 2013}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Gary Finley | fullname = | height = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|11|14|df=y}}<ref name=nld>{{cite web|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/teams/players.php?pid=5176|title=Player profile – Gary Finley|publisher=Non League Daily|accessdate=2010-02-09|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111256/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/teams/players.php?pid=5176|archivedate=27 September 2012}}</ref> | birth_place = Liverpool, England | position = Central defender | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = | clubs1 = Marine | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = | clubs2 = Warrington Town | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = | clubs3 = Vauxhall Motors | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = | clubs4 = Warrington Town | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = | clubs5 = Curzon Ashton | caps5 = | goals5 = | years6 = | clubs6 = Netherfield | caps6 = | goals6 = | years7 = 1997 | clubs7 = Doncaster Rovers | caps7 = 8 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = | clubs8 = Netherfield | caps8 = | goals8 = | years9 = 1997–1998 | clubs9 = Hyde United | caps9 = 8 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 1998–1999 | clubs10 = Conwy United | caps10 = 41 | goals10 = 3<ref name=wp>{{cite web|url=http://welsh-premier.com/player_detail_solo.php?player_id=407|title=Welsh Premier career details for Gary Finley|publisher=Welsh Premier League|accessdate=2010-02-09|archive-date=10 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110173504/http://welsh-premier.com/player_detail_solo.php?player_id=407|url-status=dead}}</ref> | years11 = 1999–2004 | clubs11 = Aberystwyth Town | caps11 = 116 | goals11 = 5<ref name=wp/> | years12 = 2004 | clubs12 = Total Network Solutions | caps12 = 1 | goals12 = 0<ref name=wp/> | years13 = 2004 | clubs13 = Colwyn Bay (loan) | caps13 = | goals13 = | years14 = 2004–2005 | clubs14 = Witton Albion | caps14 = | goals14 = | manageryears1 = 2001–2004 | managerclubs1 = Aberystwyth Town | manageryears2 = 2004–2005 | managerclubs2 = Witton Albion | manageryears3 = 2006 | managerclubs3 = Lancaster City | manageryears4 = 2007–2008 | managerclubs4 = Colwyn Bay | manageryears5 = 2008–2010 | managerclubs5 = Witton Albion }} '''Gary Finley''' (born 14 November 1970) is a former professional football central defender and non-league manager. He played in the Football League for Doncaster Rovers and was most recently Assistant Professional Development Coach at Blackburn Rovers .

==Career== Born in Liverpool, Finley played for Marine, Warrington Town, Vauxhall Motors, Curzon Ashton and Netherfield before joining Doncaster Rovers. He made his debut in the League Cup in August 1997, as Doncaster lost 2–1 away to Nottingham Forest, and played eight times in the league that season as they were relegated to the Conference. Upon leaving Doncaster he returned to Netherfield, moving on to Hyde United and to Welsh side Conwy United in 1998<ref name=qa/> before joining Aberystwyth Town in November 1999.<ref name=nld/>

He became player-manager of Aberystwyth in December 2001,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=1605|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111318/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=1605|url-status=usurped|archive-date=27 September 2012|title=Departures hamper new boss Finley|publisher=NonLeagueDaily|date=2001-12-05|accessdate=2010-02-09}}</ref> a post he held until resigning less than a fortnight before the 2004–05 season, after the club's most successful period in 20 years. They reached their highest league placing, winning the MWC Cup and qualifying for the Inter Toto cup, drawing the home leg before finally bowing out to Dinaburg FC from Latvia.<ref name=qa>{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=19454|title=Finley quits Aber|date=2004-08-05|accessdate=2010-02-09|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111310/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=19454|archivedate=27 September 2012}}</ref> On leaving Aberystwyth, he had a brief spell as a player with Total Network Solutions, also appearing for Colwyn Bay on seconds forms,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=21292|title=Finley helps out Bay|publisher=NonLeagueDaily|date=2004-10-18|accessdate=2010-02-09|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111650/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=21292|archivedate=27 September 2012}}</ref> before becoming player-manager at Witton Albion in November 2004.<ref name=nld/> He and his assistant Lee Coathup left Witton by mutual consent in October 2005,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=30046|title=Finley goes at Witton|publisher=NonLeagueDaily|date=2005-10-03|accessdate=2010-02-09|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111742/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=30046|archivedate=27 September 2012}}</ref> following the club stating that it would be reducing the playing budget.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=30396|title=Finley puts the record straight|date=2005-10-21|accessdate=2010-02-09|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111747/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=30396|archivedate=27 September 2012}}</ref>

Finley was appointed assistant manager at Lancaster City in December 2005,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=31875|title=Ward and Finley take over at Lancaster|publisher=NonLeagueDaily|date=2005-12-23|accessdate=2010-02-09|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111802/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=31875|archivedate=27 September 2012}}</ref> remaining in that post until July 2006 when he took over as manager from the departed Peter Ward.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.doncasterrovers.co.uk/news/2005-06/July_2006a.htm|title=Gary's promoted|publisher=Doncaster Rovers F.C.|date=2006-07-24|accessdate=2010-02-09}}</ref> In January 2007, he took over as manager of Colwyn Bay, where a massive upsurge in form saw them qualify for the Unibond playoffs, only to lose to Cammell Laird in injury time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=39951|title=Bay appoint Finley|publisher=NonLeagueDaily|date=2007-01-24|accessdate=2010-02-09|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111815/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=39951|archivedate=27 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=49677|title=Finley goes at Bay|publisher=NonLeagueDaily|date=2008-04-28|accessdate=2010-02-09|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927111821/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=49677|archivedate=27 September 2012}}</ref>

In 2008-15 Finley joined Blackburn Rovers category 1 academy, where he was Professional Development Coach.

For several years now, Gary Finley has been a full-time youth coach for Blackburn Rovers Football team academy where he is in charge of professional development for 18–23 age group.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External sources== * {{soccerbase|12107}}

{{Lancaster City F.C. managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finley, Gary}} Category:Living people Category:1970 births Category:Footballers from Liverpool Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Marine A.F.C. players Category:Warrington Town F.C. players Category:Vauxhall Motors F.C. players Category:Curzon Ashton F.C. players Category:Kendal Town F.C. players Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players Category:Hyde United F.C. players Category:Conwy Borough F.C. players Category:Aberystwyth Town F.C. players Category:The New Saints F.C. players Category:Colwyn Bay F.C. players Category:Witton Albion F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Cymru Premier players Category:English football managers Category:Aberystwyth Town F.C. managers Category:Witton Albion F.C. managers Category:Lancaster City F.C. managers Category:Colwyn Bay F.C. managers Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. non-playing staff Category:Cymru Premier managers