Synopsis
Forget Shearer, Sutton, Cole, Yorke and Jansen, Simon Garner is the ultimate modern-day striker for Blackburn Rovers. He remains a favourite with the fans thanks in no small part to his approachability, and the chant 'There's Only One Simon Garner' is still heard with alarmingly nostalgic regularity at Ewood Park. Though rarely seen without a fag or a pint in his hand, he remained the consummate striker throughout his career and became Blackburn's all-time top-scorer with the second strike of a hat-trick against Manchester City on the day of the Hillsborough disaster. He partnered a host of great forwards including Arsenal Double-winner John Radford, Duncan McKenzie, Northern Ireland international Jimmy Quinn, David Speedie, Mike Newell and Roy Wegerle. But it took the British record signing of Alan Shearer to force Garner to look elsewhere for regular first-team football. World Cup winner and former team mate Ossie Ardiles signed Garner for West Bromwich Albion and he featured in the side's successful play-off final before being transferred to Wycombe Wanderers, then managed by Martin O'Neill. Another Wembley appearance followed and Garner achieved a life's ambition by scoring in the game that saw Wycombe promoted in their first season in the league. New boss Alan Smith took a dislike to Garner and ended a professional career that had spanned three decades - not in person but by letter. A brief dip into non-league soccer with Woking followed but this was dramatically curtailed when Garner was sent to prison for contempt of court during divorce proceedings. Garner re-emerged to continue his non-league career before finally retiring in 2001. He is now regularly heard behind the microphone for BBC Radio and on-screen with Sky Sports as well as providing entertainment to sports fans as an after-dinner speaker.
by Bryan Gunn
by Dave McVay
by Neil Ruddock
by Joe Royle
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DVD ~ Ricci Harnett
