Gary Walsh

Gary Walsh (born 21 March 1968) is an English football coach and former footballer who is currently Head goalkeeping coach at West Bromwich Albion. As a player, he was a goalkeeper from 1985 to 2006, notably playing Premier League football with Manchester United, Oldham Athletic, Middlesbrough, Bradford City and Wigan Athletic. He also played in Scotland for Airdrieonians, He became goalkeeping coach at Wigan under manager Paul Jewell before teaming back up with Jewell at Derby County. 2Playing career 3Manchester United Born in Wigan, Walsh left school in 1984 and signed for Wigan Athletic as an apprentice. He was originally a striker but was fielded as goalkeeper in a game being watched by a Manchester United scout. He was promptly offered an apprenticeship by Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson, and accepted the offer. He kept goal for United as they finished runners-up to neighbouring Manchester City in the 1986 FA Youth Cup. Walsh was given a professional contract for the 1986–87 season (during which Ron Atkinson was sacked in favour of Alex Ferguson) and made his first-team debut soon after. He played 14 league games that season. For a short time in the 1987–88 season, a 19-year-old Walsh was made first-choice goalkeeper after Gary Bailey retired due to injury and Chris Turner was dropped from the tea