Bryan Gunn

Football player infobox2
playername = Bryan Gunn


fullname = Bryan James Gunn
nickname = Gunny
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1963|12|22
cityofbirth = Thurso
countryofbirth = Scotland
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears = 1979–1980
youthclubs = Invergordon
years = 1980–1986
1986–1998
1998–1999
clubs = Aberdeen
Norwich City
Hibernian
Total
caps(goals) = 021 (0)
478 (0)
012 (0)
511 (0)
nationalyears = 1990–1994
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 006 (0)

Bryan James Gunn (born 22 December 1963 in Thurso) is a former professional Scottish international football (soccer) player who played as a goalkeeper, most famous for his time at Norwich City.

Football career

Following youth experiences at Invergordon, Gunn began his career with Scottish team Aberdeen in 1980. The presence of Scottish international keeper Jim Leighton meant that Gunn only played 21 games before he signed for Norwich City in October 1986. Gunn did, however, receive Scottish League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup winner's medals while with Aberdeen. At both finals, he was an unused substitute. Gunn forged a good relationship with then Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson, and in 1997 Ferguson brought Manchester United to Carrow Road for Gunn's testimonial. While an apprentice at Aberdeen, Gunn had been a babysitter for Ferguson's children.

Gunn then spent the majority of his playing career at Norwich, becoming one of the most famous goalkeepers in the club's history. Gunn initially looked set to join Norwich in the summer of 1986 after they had sold Chris Woods to Rangers for £600,000, however an injury to Leighton meant that Ferguson kept Gunn at Pittodrie until October.

He went on to make 477 first team appearances for Norwich. He was twice voted Norwich City player of the year in 1988 and 1993 and during the latter season, Norwich finished third in the Premiership, their highest-ever finish.

Gunn was forced out of the team by the emergence of Andy Marshall and had a short spell at Hibernian before retiring.

Gunn made six appearances for Scotland, four of which were in World Cup qualifiers in 1993, when his career was at its peak.

In 2002, Gunn was made an inaugural member of the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame.

Post-football

Bryan Gunn retired from professional football in 1999 and now lives in Framingham Pigot.

In "retirement", Gunn worked on the staff at Carrow Road in hospitality, partly in 'The Gunn Club', a catering outlet named in his honour, as well as other corporate functions around the ground.

In 2006, Gunn's autobiography - 'In where it hurts' - was published.

In February 2007, Gunn moved back into Football becoming 'Club liaison' for NCFC. He will be involved in discussions over possible transfers and loan signings, giving the Manager more time with the first team squad.

In 2008,Gunn swap jobs and is now the acting goalkeeper coach under new Norwich city fc manager Glenn Roeder until the end of the 2007-2008 season were he could be offered a longer deal.

Bryan Gunn's Leukaemia Appeal

At the height of Gunn's playing career, in the early 1990s, his young daughter, Francesca, was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Norwich City fans were at first astonished by the sight of the goalkeeper running out with a completely shaven head; when news spread that Gunn had done so in support of his daughter, who was losing her hair through chemotherapy, Gunn received ever-more rapturous receptions. His ensuing fundraising for leukaemia causes has been very successful. Francesca died in 1992, aged 2. Gunn played a match for Norwich against Queens Park Rangers at Carrow Road on 17 October 1992 just days after his daughter had died. He gave an outstanding performance that went a long way to building his legendary status among Norwich supporters. His excellent form continued for the remainder of the season, resulting in him winning his second player of the year award.

Trivia

*Before each half of a match, Gunn would run toward his goal and pretend to attempt to head-butt the crossbar. Fans caught on to this and would make a crescendo of noise, culminating in an "Ooh" when he "missed".
*As a youngster, Gunn often played at left-back.
*As well as his work on the staff at Norwich City in 2002 Gunn was made Sheriff of Norwich for the year by the City Council.
* The hospitality suite in The Barclay stand at Carrow Road is known as 'The Gunn Club' in his honour.

Honours

As a player

* European Cup Winner's Cup winner 1983
* Scottish League Cup winner 1986
* Norwich City player of the year 1988, 1993

External references

* [http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/player_details.cfm?playerid=43818&CFID=357219&CFTOKEN=37132060 Scotland international career information]
* [http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/minisites/default.asp?subname=bryangunn Fundraising site for Gunn's Leukaemia Appeal]
* [http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/gunn.htm Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk]

Other Sources

*"Canary Citizens" by Mark Davage, John Eastwood, Kevin Platt, published by Jarrold Publishing, (2001), ISBN 0-7117-2020-7
*"In where it hurts : My Autobiography" by Bryan Gunn with Kevin Piper, published by Vision Sports Publishing (2006), ISBN 978-1905326006