Geoff Palmer (footballer)

Geoff Palmer (born 11 July 1954) is a former professional footballer, who spent almost his entire career with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

For other people named Geoffrey Palmer, see Geoffrey Palmer (disambiguation).

Geoff Palmer
Personal information
Full name Geoffrey Palmer
Date of birth (1954-07-11) 11 July 1954
Place of birth Cannock, Staffordshire, England
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
1970–1971 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1984 Wolverhampton Wanderers 394 (13)
1984–1985 Burnley 34 (0)
1985–1986 Wolverhampton Wanderers 22 (0)
Total 460 (13)
National team
1974 England U23 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Palmer was born in Cannock, Staffordshire. He spent 16 years with Wolves, playing 495 times for the club in total. A Wolves fan throughout his childhood,[1] he joined as an apprentice in July 1970 and turned professional on his seventeenth birthday the following year. After remaining in the reserves over the next two seasons, he made his senior debut on in the FA Cup 3rd/4th Place Play Off against Arsenal.

The right-back retained his place through the rest of the 1973–74 season at the expense of Gerry Taylor, which culminated in winning the League Cup after a 2–1 victory over Manchester City at Wembley. After two seasons where his appearances were hampered by injuries, he was an ever-present in the side that won the Second Division championship in 1976–77, and missed just three league games over the next two seasons.

He won a second League Cup winners' medal in 1980 after a 1–0 triumph over Nottingham Forest, making him one of four Wolves players to feature in both of their League Cup triumphs.[1] He stuck with the club after relegation in 1982, winning promotion back at the first attempt. However, after another relegation, Palmer left Molineux for Burnley in November 1984.

His stay at Burnley was short-lived though, as he stayed for just over a year, during which time Burnley were relegated to the Fourth Division for the first time in their history, before rejoining Wolves, under his old manager Bill McGarry, in December 1985 in a campaign that saw the club relegated to the fourth tier for the first time in their history.

After a solitary final appearance in the Fourth Division in September 1986, Palmer retired to join the police force, where he was employed for 23 years until retirement in 2009. Palmer now lives in Codsall, near Wolverhampton.[1]

References
  1. Instone, David; "Palmer's Perfect Timing — Wembley in one for Geoff" WolvesHeroes.com, 3 March 2009 (Retrieved: 26 July 2009)
  • Geoff Palmer at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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