Gary Sawyer

{{short description|English footballer (born 1985)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Gary Sawyer | image = | fullname = Gary Dean Sawyer<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Plymouth Argyle |publisher=English Football League |page=53 |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|07|05|df=y}} | birth_place = Enfield, London, England<ref name="Skipper Sawyer Signs On">{{cite web|title=Skipper Sawyer Signs On |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/june/skipper-sawyer-signs-on/ |publisher=PAFC.co.uk |date=15 June 2020 |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref> | height = {{convert|1.83|m|order=flip}}<ref name="Gary Sawyer - Defender">{{cite web|title=Gary Sawyer - Defender |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/teams/first-team/defender/gary-sawyer/ |access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> | position = Centre-back, left-back | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2002–2010 | clubs1 = Plymouth Argyle | caps1 = 95 | goals1 = 5 | years3 = 2004–2006 | clubs3 = → Exeter City (loan) | caps3 = 62 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2010 | clubs4 = → Bristol City (loan) | caps4 = 2 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2010–2012 | clubs5 = Bristol Rovers | caps5 = 61 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2012–2015 | clubs6 = Leyton Orient | caps6 = 69 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2015–2021 | clubs7 = Plymouth Argyle | caps7 = 171 | goals7 = 1 | totalcaps = 461 | totalgoals = 9 | club-update = }} '''Gary Dean Sawyer''' (born 5 July 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.

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, Bristol Rovers before ending his career back at Plymouth Argyle. Upon finishing his career at Plymouth, Gary joined local North Devon Football League team, Park United.

==Career== ===Early career=== Sawyer was born in Enfield, London, moving to Bideford, Devon at a young age,<ref name="Gary Sawyer - Defender">{{cite web|title=Gary Sawyer - Defender |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/teams/first-team/defender/gary-sawyer/ |access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref name=PAFCProfile>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10364~30952,00.html |title=Profiles Gary Sawyer |publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C |access-date=26 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901050636/http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10364~30952%2C00.html |archive-date=1 September 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/western-morning-news-the/mi_8027/is_20060810/delight-summers/ai_n44099757/ |title=Delight for Summers |newspaper=Western Morning News |format=reprint |publisher=FindArticles |date=10 August 2006 |access-date=26 March 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> He signed a two-and-a-half-year deal in November 2006,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/6127964.stm |title=Sawyer pens new deal at Plymouth |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 November 2006 |access-date=26 March 2010}}</ref> and made his first start for Argyle later that month at home to Luton Town.<ref name="Plymouth vs Luton Town">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10364~34423,00.html |title=Plymouth vs Luton Town |publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C |date=28 November 2006 |access-date=26 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905140531/http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10364~34423%2C00.html |archive-date=5 September 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~1068457,00.htm |title=Sawyer Signs Extension |publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C |date=5 July 2007 |access-date=26 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905140609/http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10364~1068457%2C00.htm |archive-date=5 September 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Plymouth vs Luton Town"/>

====Departure from Plymouth==== He started the 09–10 season as a regular, notably scoring the winning goal in a 1–0 win away to Cardiff City on Boxing Day,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8424590.stm |title=Cardiff 0-1 Plymouth |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=18 July 2020|date=26 December 2009}}</ref> before losing his place in February and March to new loan signing Rickard Eckersley. In March 2010, Sawyer joined fellow Championship club Bristol City on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. Sawyer would play twice for City, in a 2–1 win against Derby County, and then a 1–1 draw with Blackpool. Out of contract at the end of the season, Sawyer had turned down the offer of a contract extension from Argyle, who had been relegated from the Championship to League One, and said he hoped to earn himself a permanent deal with Bristol City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~2005283,00.html |title=City Loan in a Pilgrim |publisher=Bristol City F.C |date=25 March 2010 |access-date=26 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327094555/http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10327~2005283%2C00.html |archive-date=27 March 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~2005285,00.html |title=Gary Out To Impress |publisher=Bristol City F.C |date=25 March 2010 |access-date=26 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327094720/http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10327~2005285%2C00.html |archive-date=27 March 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref>

===Bristol Rovers=== On 30 June 2010, Sawyer joined League One Club Bristol Rovers on a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/8775769.stm |title=Bristol Rovers sign Plymouth defender Gary Sawyer |date=30 June 2010 |access-date=30 June 2010 | work=BBC News}}</ref> He got his first sending off for the Pirates on 11 September 2010, against Brentford, with two bookable offences.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/8967821.stm | work=BBC News | title=Bristol Rovers 0–0 Brentford | date=11 September 2010}}</ref>

===Leyton Orient=== On 12 May 2012, Sawyer signed for Leyton Orient, again on a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~2766754,00.html |title=Sawyer becomes first summer arrival |date=12 May 2012 |publisher=Leyton Orient F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516122208/http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10439~2766754%2C00.html |archive-date=16 May 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22049700|title=Leyton Orient 2-0 MK Dons |publisher=BBC |date=13 April 2013 |access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>

===Return to Argyle=== Sawyer returned to his first club, Plymouth Argyle on 25 June 2015, after being released by Leyton Orient following their relegation from League One. He was Derek Adams' first signing as Argyle manager.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/news/article/many-happy-returns-2506499.aspx |title=Many Happy Returns |publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C |date=25 June 2015 |access-date=25 June 2015}}</ref> He played every minute at Wembley in Argyle's 2–0 defeat to A.F.C. Wimbledon in the 2016 League Two play-off final.

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. Argyle were promoted from League Two to League One at the end of the season.

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/mk-dons-0-plymouth-argyle-976748 |title=MK Dons 0 Plymouth Argyle 1: Gary Sawyer goal wins it for resurgent Pilgrims |publisher=The Herald (Plymouth)|date=27 December 2017 |access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref>

He signed a one-year contract extension with Plymouth in June 2018, and with Luke McCormick being released, Sawyer was named club captain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44533151|title=Gary Sawyer: Plymouth Argyle defender signs new one-year deal|date=19 June 2018|access-date=19 June 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He was once again offered a new one-year contract by Plymouth Argyle at the end of the 2018–19 season, following relegation from League One back to League Two.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48193378|title=Jamie Ness: Plymouth Argyle release midfielder and offer deals to 12|date=7 May 2019|access-date=8 May 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

For the 19–20 season, Sawyer was retained as captain by Argyle's new manager Ryan Lowe. Under Lowe's management, Sawyer played predominantly as the left-sided centre half in a back three.<ref>{{cite web|title=Style Suiting Sawyer - Skipper Enjoying the Gaffer Approach |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2019/october/style-suiting-sawyer/ |publisher=PAFC.co.uk |date=11 October 2019 |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref> On 1 February 2020, he was shown the first red card of his Argyle career, being sent off in the 85th minute of a 1–0 win at home to Newport County, for a poorly timed challenge on Jordan Green. During his time suspended, he served in a coaching capacity for Argyle's U-23 side for a Premier League Cup game against Everton.<ref>{{cite web|title=Life After Playing - Captain Looking Ahead |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/february/life-after-playing/ |publisher=PAFC.co.uk |date=21 February 2020 |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref> In just his third game back from suspension he was sent off again, this time in the 40th minute of a 2–1 defeat away to Bradford City, for a similarly mistimed challenge on Dylan Connolly.<ref>{{cite web|title=Decision Accepted - Sawyer Appeal Not Worthwhile |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/march/decision-accepted/ |publisher=PAFC.co.uk |date=3 March 2020 |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref> After 35 starts and 1 substitute appearance across the season, Sawyer was offered a new one-year contract extension with the club, and signed it on 15 June 2020, following the club's promotion back to League One.<ref name="Skipper Sawyer Signs On">{{cite web|title=Skipper Sawyer Signs On |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/june/skipper-sawyer-signs-on/ |publisher=PAFC.co.uk |date=15 June 2020 |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref>

==Retirement==

On 6 May 2021 Plymouth Argyle announced Gary Sawyer has been forced to retire from professional football due to injury at the age of 35 after managing just one appearance in the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Plymouth Argyle skipper Sawyer to retire|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57010965|access-date=2021-05-06}}</ref> It was also announced that Sawyer would take up an ambassadorial role with Plymouth Argyle upon the expiration of his contract in the summer of 2021. The role would include "elements of coaching in the Pilgrims' new-look and ambitious Academy set-up, outreach work with the Argyle Community Trust, and specific club duties both on match-days and throughout the week".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sawyer Retires|url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2021/may/sawyer-retires/|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.pafc.co.uk|language=en-gb}}</ref>

==Career statistics== {{updated|12 July 2019}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cups{{efn|includes FA Cup, EFL Cup, EFL Trophy & FA Trophy}} !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- |-||-||-| |- |rowspan="6" valign="center"|Plymouth Argyle |- |2006–07<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2006|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |Championship |22||0||4||0||26||0 |- |2007–08<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2007|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |Championship |31||1||4||0||35||1 |- |2008–09<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2008|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |Championship |13||3||0||0||13||3 |- |2009–10<ref name=sb0910>{{soccerbase season|38861|2009|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |Championship |29||1||3||0||32||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !95!!5!!11!!0!!106!!5 |- |rowspan="2" valign="center"|Weymouth (loan) |- |2003–04 |Southern Football League |1||0||0||0||1||0 |- |rowspan="3" valign="center"|Exeter City (loan) |- ||2004–05<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2004|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |Conference National |32||2||7||0||39||2 |- ||2005–06<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2005|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |Conference National |30||0||3||0||33||0 |- |rowspan="1" valign="center"|Bristol City (loan) ||2009–10<ref name=sb0910/> |Championship |2||0||0||0||2||0 |- !colspan="3"|Loans total !65!!2!!10!!0!!75!!2 |- |rowspan="4" valign="center"|Bristol Rovers |- |2010–11<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2010|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |League One |37||0||5||0||42||0 |- |2011–12<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2011|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |League Two |24||0||3||0||27||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !61!!0!!8!!0!!69!!0 |- |rowspan="5" valign="center"|Leyton Orient |- |2012–13<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2012|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |League One |34||1||8||0||42||1 |- |2013–14<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2013|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |League One |22||0||6||0||28||0 |- |2014–15<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2014|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |League One |13||0||5||0||18||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !69!!1!!19!!0!!88!!1 |- | rowspan="8" valign="center" |Plymouth Argyle |- |2015–16<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2015|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |League Two |46||0||4||0||50||0 |- |2016–17<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2016|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |League Two |21||0||1||0||22||0 |- |2017–18<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2017|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |League One |46||1||3||0||49||1 |- |2018–19<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2018|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |League One |33||0||1||0||34||0 |- |2019–20<ref>{{soccerbase season|38861|2019|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> |League Two |25||0||4||0||29||0 |- |2020–21<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gary Sawyer {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} Plymouth Argyle {{!}} Season 2020/2021 {{!}} Soccer Base|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=38861&season_id=153|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.soccerbase.com}}</ref> |League One |0 |0 |1 |0 |1 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !171!!1!!14!!0!!185!!1 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !461!!9!!62!!0!!523!!9 |}

{{notelist}}

==Honours== '''Plymouth Argyle''' *League Two runner-up: 2016–17;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/17/portsmouth-plymouth-argyle-promoted-league-one |title=Portsmouth and Plymouth promoted as Leyton Orient live to fight another day |website=The Guardian |date=17 April 2017 |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref> promotion: 2019–20<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53027621 |title=Gary Sawyer: Plymouth Argyle captain signs new deal for 2020–21 |website=BBC Sport |date=15 June 2020 |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090901050636/http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10364~30952%2C00.html Gary Sawyer player profile] at pafc.co.uk *[https://web.archive.org/web/20111004094548/http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10436~30952%2C00.html Gary Sawyer player profile] at exetercityfc.co.uk *{{Soccerbase}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sawyer, Gary}} Category:1985 births Category:Sportspeople from Bideford Category:Living people Category:Men's association football defenders Category:English men's footballers Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. players Category:Weymouth F.C. players Category:Exeter City F.C. players Category:Bristol City F.C. players Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. players Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players Category:National League (English football) players Category:English Football League players Category:Footballers from Devon Category:21st-century English sportsmen