Geoff Giles
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Geoff Giles | ||
| Date of birth | Missing required parameter 1=month! Expression error: Unexpected > operator. | ||
| Place of birth | Melchester, England | ||
| Height | [convert: needs a number] | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Number | 4, 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| -1968 | ? | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1968-1980 | Melchester Rovers | ||
| 1981-? | Melboro' | ||
| National team | |||
| ? | England | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1997- | Melchester Rovers (ass. manager) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
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Geoff Giles was a fictional footballer who appeared in the comic strips in the British boys' comic Roy of the Rovers during the 1970s, 80s. He was a midfielder, playing for Melchester Rovers, Melboro and England. He first appeared in the strip in 1968.
The character is a fondly remembered childhood memory for several generations of British men.[1]
Career[edit]
Melchester Rovers[edit]
A well sought after player, Ben Galloway beat off the competition of a number of First Division sides to sign a young Giles in 1968.[2]
Geoff joined Melchester Rovers in November 1968 and in his first match he had a tremendous duel against Kingsbay's Lofty Peak. From then on Geoff felt as though he was haunted by Lofty, until in the 1968 Christmas issue, it was revealed that Lofty had just signed for the Rovers as a player. A feud developed between them.
"On 4 January in 1969 - new signings Geoff Giles and Lofty Peak end their feud after their good teamwork helps Rovers to a 2-0 League win over Millborough." Geoff and Lofty went on to become best friends.
Geoff was a fiery midfield player who on occasion needlessly lost his temper, but on form was the mainstay of Rovers midfield for the 1970's decade. Giles, in spite of his eccentricities was an immediate success. He was fiery and skillful (Giles was sent off three times in his Rovers career), the perfect blend needed for an all action midfielder. For Rovers, Geoff's main strengths lay in his defensive abilities. As a very intelligent man, he was just as intelligent as a footballer. Giles became more attacking in the mid-70s adding a drive to the Rovers midfield.
But after the retirement of Lofy Peak, Roy Race chose to move Giles to centre-back, Rovers would go onto win the title that season (79/80), which would prove to be Giles last in a Rovers jersey. but after the departure of Peak, Roy switched Geoff to the centre of defence. He struggled there, but soon adapted, choosing to back off and tackle rather than challenge taller and stronger forwards in the air. An injury in pre-season, helped Roy make up his mind, but the decision to sell to Melboro' haunted him and drew disgust from the faithful Rovers fans.
Giles for Rovers in 1977.
Melboro[edit]
The most controversial transfer in history saw Giles move across the River Mel to join rivals Melboro'. Geoff left to join local rivals Melboro in January 1981, breaking a tradition of no transfers between the clubs. He took jersey no8 and would grow and turn into a fine attacking midfielder, leading Race to admit the sale to be his biggest mistake ever made. Believing Giles to be past his best and easily replaceable, Roy let his star midfielder move to Rovers' great rivals.
He returned to the Rovers in 1997 as Roy's assistant. A position he still holds today.
Geoff on his return to Mel Park while playing for Melborough in 1981.
Style of play[edit]
Short, but a ball of aggression, Giles was a brilliant defensive midfielder. A great man marker, he could always be trusted to diligently sacrifice his attacking instincts if instructed to shut down an opponent. He played as central midfielder and right wing. He played a centre-back i 1979-80 season.
Legacy[edit]
Roy and Rocky in the 2000 Roy of the Rovers Annual named Geoff, as part of their all-time greatest Rovers line up. Only Carl Hunt came close to replicating the all round class of Giles.
There were more Giles players playing for Rovers: Mark (1993-97, RB/CB, A bit part player in one of Rovers' worst sides, a relatively consistent performer when called upon), Terry (1984-85, CF, Reserve, no known first team appearances), Tony (1986-87, CB, Apprentice, no known first team appearances).
Personal life[edit]
Off the pitch he studied entomology (insects) and would often lecture on them. A young Geoff, obsessed with nature and butterflies, was highly sought after and it was quite a coup when Ben Galloway secured his signing in the 1968-69 season. Geoff left football to set up a successful courier business in London, before being persuaded by Roy to return to Melchester as Assistant manager.
Honours[edit]
All of these records are fictional of course, and only date as far as 2000, the last fully completed season of the comic strip.
League[edit]
- Premier League (including (Old) First Division): 3 titles'
- 1971–72, 1976–77, 1979–80.
Cups[edit]
- FA Cup: 3
- 1970, 1972, 1974
- FA Charity/Community Shield: 2'
- 1974, 1977 (shared)
European[edit]
- European Cup: 3
- 1969, 1973, 1970
- Runner-Up (2): 1978, 1975
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 2
- 1971, 1975
- UEFA Cup: 1
- 1979
International[edit]
- Intercontinental Cup/World Club Championship: 1
- 1969
- Summer International Tournaments: 4
- Mexico 1969 (shared), Saladoria 1970, Australia 1978, Crete 1980
International career[edit]
By 1970 Giles was an England regular included in the 1970 World Cup squad. He played for England on a number of occasions, in particular alongside Roy and Tubby Morton in the 1970 World Cup and under Roy when Roy managed England against Holland in January 1978.
- National Teams:
England - England : ? full international appearances.
1970 FIFA World Cup[edit]
Gilew travelled to Mexico with the England squad alongside his teammates captain Roy Race and goalie Tubby Morton. With a month to the World Cup, England were already in Mexico, getting acclimatised to the unfamiliar weather conditions. In the meantime the rest of Melchester Rovers team would be getting prepared for their summer South America tour in Saladoria. Reigning World Champions England faced Rumania in the opening game of tournament, having the three Rovers players in the first eleven. On 6 June, Roy Race performed his second World Cup match in a thrill-packed game against mighty Brazil but they didn't prove able to score. Eventually England made it to the next round but at some stage obviously they were defeated which let Giles and the other internationals get incorporated with the Rovers team in Saladoria and helped them win the international clubs' tournament.
This was his only World Cup appearance.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Honeyball, Lee (2003-11-30). "The 10 best comic book footballers". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2007-01-19.
- ↑ Who is Who on ROTR old site
