{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Gavin Oliver |image = Gavin oliver.jpg |image_size = 150 |caption = Oliver playing for Bradford City. |fullname = Gavin Ronald Oliver<ref name=Hugman>{{Hugman|14950|accessdate=2 April 2020}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|9|6|df=y}}<ref name=Hugman/> |birth_place = Felling,<ref name=Hugman/> England |height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/78 78] |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/78}}</ref> |position = Central defender |youthyears1 = 1979–1980 |youthclubs1 = Sheffield Wednesday |years1 = 1980–1985 |clubs1 = Sheffield Wednesday |caps1 = 20 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 1983 |clubs2 = → Tranmere Rovers (loan) |caps2 = 17 |goals2 = 1 |years3 = 1985 |clubs3 = → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) |caps3 = 16 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 1985–1995 |clubs4 = Bradford City |caps4 = 313 |goals4 = 9 |totalcaps = 366 |totalgoals = 10 }} '''Gavin Ronald Oliver''' (born 6 September 1962) is an English former professional footballer who made more than 350 Football League appearances playing as a central defender.
==Career== Oliver played for Sheffield Wednesday, Tranmere Rovers, Brighton & Hove Albion and Bradford City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adrianbullock.com/swfc/stats/play0446.htm|title=Gavin Oliver|accessdate=7 January 2017|website=The Sheffield Wednesday Archive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player9/gavinoliver.html|title=Gavin Oliver|accessdate=7 January 2017|website=Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database|publisher=Neil Brown}}</ref><ref name=Hugman/>
He began his career as a centre forward but switched to playing as a central defender following an injury to a player in that position in a youth match. He joined Sheffield Wednesday's groundstaff in July 1979, and turned professional in August 1980. After loan spells at Tranmere Rovers and Brighton & Hove Albion he signed for Bradford City for £20,000 in November 1985.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/BantamsGreats/0,,10266~122444,00.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809191151/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/BantamsGreats/0%2C%2C10266~122444%2C00.html |title=Profile |archivedate=9 August 2011 |accessdate=7 January 2017 |publisher=Bradford City A.F.C. |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>
After retiring as a player, in November 2007 he was working as Sunderland's recruitment officer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1807367.sunderland_a_shining_light_in_academy_world/|title=Sunderland a shining light in academy world|date=3 November 2007|accessdate=7 January 2017|author=Paul Fraser|newspaper=The Northern Echo}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver, Gavin}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Tyne and Wear Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players Category:Tranmere Rovers F.C. players Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Sunderland A.F.C. non-playing staff
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