Experienced former EFL forward turned Nantwich Town player-manager Gary Taylor-Fletcher scores from near the halfway line at the weekend.
The 41-year-old, who is joint-boss of the 7th tier club with another ex-Football League player in Ritchie Sutton, had to step back onto the pitch with his squad struggling for numbers, as per Blackpool Gazette.
With injuries and illness playing havoc to working out the starting lineup, both managers ended up with no choice but to name themselves on the bench on Saturday.
From originally not being named in the match-day squad, to winning goal of the season already 👊
All in a day’s work for @GTF_12 😅#UpTheDabbers💚 pic.twitter.com/DioedKHgVb
— Nantwich Town FC (@TheDabbers) January 14, 2023
Young man’s game eh @KEVIN11ELLISON No need to run.
Just let the ball do the work.
A yard out for every year I reckon. https://t.co/ai16mYAqoK— Gary Taylor-Fletcher (@GTF_12) January 15, 2023
Gary Taylor-Fletcher, retired from the game in 2019, but little did he know that he’d one day have to put his boots back on again and netting a goal from 40 yards out.
The former pro-footballer made the most of a poor kick out from the Belper Town keeper, He sent the ball over and straight in the back of the net to help seal the win on the 75th minute, minutes after Troy Bourne made it 2-1.
James Tague did put the Northern Premier League Premier Division’s bottom club ahead 21 minutes in, only for Nantwich to hit back on the 25th minute thanks to an equaliser from Byron Harrison.
Taylor-Fletcher said after the game to Nantwich’s official website: “Everything that has happened this week with Boothy going back and two or three players dropping out of the squad, it just sums up the character of the squad.
“Luckily both me and Sutts are registered and have had to put ourselves on the bench and come on to help us get the win.
“We had to do it, it’s not ideal. But we knew we needed three points and it’s a massive win.
“As for the goal, as soon as the kick came to me I knew if I got my touch right, luckily I’ve got that quality to hit it first time and as soon as I took my first touch I knew it was going in.
“It’s one of the best goals I’ve scored, but it was just about giving the lads a cushion to help us hold on.”
Gary Taylor-Fletcher who has scored in each of the top five divisions of English football, began his senior career at Northwich Victoria in 1999, and made 43 league appearances whilst at the club.
Towards the end of his time there, he had a brief loan spell with Hull City, before switching permanently to Leyton Orient in June 2001.
He struggled to break into the Leyton Orient team, and spent a loan spell at Grays Athletic, and two at Dagenham & Redbridge.
In August 2003, after 21 league appearances for Leyton Orient, Taylor-Fletcher signed for Lincoln City; a successful spell saw him play 90 league games in two seasons.
He then moved to Huddersfield Town in June 2005, making 81 league appearances in two seasons.
Taylor-Fletcher then joined Blackpool in July 2007, and established himself as a regular player for the club. After 215 league appearances for Blackpool, he joined Leicester City in September 2013.
HIS CAREER
1999–2001 – Northwich Victoria – 49 games (16 goals)
2001 → Hull City (loan) – 5 games (0 goals)
2001–2003 – Leyton Orient – 24 games (2 goal)
2001–2002 → Grays Athletic (loan) – 4 games (3 goals)
2002–2003 → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) – 9 games (1 goals)
2003–2005 – Lincoln City – 93 games (30 goals)
2005–2007 – Huddersfield Town – 92 games (26 goals)
2007–2013 – Blackpool – 234 games (38 goals)
2013–2015 – Leicester City – 25 games (3 goals)
2014 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) – 4 games (0 goals)
2015 → Millwall (loan) – 10 games (0 goals)
2015–2016 – Tranmere Rovers – 21 games (2 goals)
2016–2017 – Accrington Stanley – 6 games (1 goals)
2017–2018 – Bangor City – 34 games (10 goals)
2018 – Llandudno – 2 games (3 goals)
2018–2019 – Bangor City
2023 – Nantwich Town – 1 game (1 goal)
Total – 617 games (136 goals)
Managerial career
2017 – Bangor City
2018–2019 Bangor City
2019 – Llandudno
2022– Nantwich Town (joint-manager)
This is what fans said as the experienced former EFL forward turned Nantwich player-manager scores from near the halfway line…
@yarwoodD: Great goal Fletch. Do you Charlie and Brett want to come and join Eards and Dobbie. We need some inspiration at the helm.
@rickedwards86: Rolling back the years. Cracking goal!
@BFCDaz: Ha! He has still got it! 🍊
@barrygilmour04: Great goal
@Bobbyburns316: Ha ha ha belter goal
@BFC_ExPlayers: Great strike Gaz, a goal that @Charlie26Adam would have been proud of ! 👍👀😀⚽️🍑
@EllisCampbelll: Love that man
@SeasidersPod: Fletch has still got it!
@C_adams1998: Must be at least 50 now
@Gidsentinel: Some hit that 👏 that’s experience for you
@Richards4452: Still got it 💪
@holtpe: Ha ha brilliant 👏
@LukeSmall88: This fella still got it!
@mark_webster87: Top 3 favourite players to ever wear tangerine. Love the bloke. Class is permanent 🧡
@simmo_on_sport: A mere 41-years-young! Class is permanent tho…👏🏻
@PaulMorgsPhysio: Never lose it @GTF_12 😂
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