Sawyer Retires

Club captain Gary Sawyer has been forced to retire from football.

Upon expiry of his contract in the summer, the two-time Argyle promotion winner will take up a new non-playing role at Home Park as a club ambassador, which includes elements of coaching in the Pilgrims’ new-look and ambitious Academy set-up, outreach work with the Argyle Community Trust, and specific club duties both on matchdays and throughout the week.

‘Gaz’, who turns 36 in July, suffered a freak ankle injury during the Greens’ 3-2 defeat to Norwich City in the Papa John’s Trophy back in September, and has been unable to return to action since – with his surgeon advising him to retire from playing, or risk life-changing, long-term damage to his ankle.

He said: “I knew it was bad. As soon as I did it, I looked at my foot because it felt like it was facing the other way. It’s the most severe injury I’ve suffered in my career.

“We made the decision with the surgeon; we took his advice. Unfortunately, for me to get back to the level that I would need to compete at professional football, I just won’t be able to make that grade anymore.

“I’ve tried and done everything I could possibly do with the physio staff to get back to that level, but my ankle just won’t take it anymore.”

The development brings to an end a two-decade long professional playing career – the majority spent at Home Park. Having come up through the club’s Academy system, spending time on-loan at Weymouth and - whisper it quietly - Exeter City, Sawyer made his Argyle debut in a Coca-Cola Championship win over Colchester United at Layer Road in 2006.

The U’s would present Gaz with another career milestone again soon after, with Sawyer notching his first competitive goal in a 4-1 Championship victory at Home Park in March 2008.

Gaz joined Bristol City in 2010 on loan, before moving across the city to join Bristol Rovers on a permanent deal that summer. After two years with Rovers, the defender joined Leyton Orient, before self-initiating a return to Home Park in 2015.

Sawyer, who will finish his Argyle playing career on 298 appearances, said: “I had got to a point in my career where I just wanted to be back in Plymouth – I’d felt it for years before, but it was really serious that I wanted to do that. I know, like anyone in football, if you sit there and wait for things to happen, they never seem to happen. It was something that I wanted to do for my career.”

With his playing days drawing to a close, Sawyer was approached by the club’s hierarchy to discuss the possibility of extending his association with Argyle to a new role – which he was quick to accept.

He said: “The gaffer [Ryan Lowe], Andrew Parkinson and Neil Dewsnip spoke to me and saw where my head was lying with it. I’d always said that it would be perfect to roll from playing football to working at the football club – I feel like I have a lot to offer the football club having been through every rung of it.

“It was something that I was really interested in, and that’s what makes having to retire easier – it gives me a new focus, new drive, and I get to work for the club I’ve supported and played for.

“I’ll go into an ambassador role for the club, that will be really interesting – it keeps me around the boys and the fans. I like being involved in those sorts of things, and I always felt that would be the ideal job for me – knowing what the club means to people, it means the same to me.”

Sawyer’s career at Home Park has taken in a number of highs, including two promotions, a trip to Wembley, appearances at Championship level and multiple seasons as club captain. His stand-out memory, though, is the 6-1 victory over Newport County in April 2017, confirming the Greens’ promotion to Sky Bet League One – an achievement he would repeat two seasons later.    

“When we played Newport on that Monday, the whistle blows and everyone comes running on the pitch – it’s just this amazing feeling.

“I’ve never felt anything like that – all the sacrifices to get to that point, it just makes everything worth it. That would be the biggest stand-out moment for me.”

Reflecting on those joyous scenes, Sawyer admits that it is a wrench not to have had his send-off in front of the Green Army – but he will now place his focus into driving the club forward off the pitch, as he did on it.

He said: “In an ideal world, I would’ve loved us to have got promoted and played my last game in front of everyone in the stand. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work like that.

“This isn’t the way I’d want to do it – especially with no fans in the ground and I can’t say goodbye, but I have to look forward, being given the opportunity to work in the club.

“The fans are the reason I wanted to sign back at the football club. We’re so well supported and it’s such a great place to be. Fans have always been amazing with me, on and off the pitch. I could never ask for more from them, and I’ll miss having that.

“I’ve had an amazing and long career. I’m 36 in July. I haven’t left anything out there – I’ve tried to achieve everything I could achieve. It’s hard when someone tells you that you can’t do your dream job anymore. I’m gutted, it does hurt, but it’s important I make the right decision.”

Thank you, Gaz.

Argyle Media

Twas expected, I liked Sawyer he may have had his limitations but could never be accused of not giving 100%

Good luck to him, I think it was a surprise to many he was offered
Another player contract last season. Think he will be quite good as a club ambassador.

No shock this news was a good defender for us in both spells but time caught up and passed him by 2 seasons ago. Shame he couldn't have a final match like Luke is having but he has been out all season long. it would be nice if he was granted a testimonial at some point in the future as he has more than qualified for one in his two spells as has luke but that would be questioned if he was granted one.]

What a club ambassador does i don't know but good luck to him im sure he will do a good job. Part of me feels he wont be alone in that role.

What a club ambassador does i don't know but good luck to him im sure he will do a good job. Part of me feels he wont be alone in that role.[/quote]

Sparksy is a ambassador for the club, Turn up at Home Park on a Saturday afternoon when Argyle are at home

Tgwu wrote:

What a club ambassador does i don't know but good luck to him im sure he will do a good job. Part of me feels he wont be alone in that role.

Sparksy is a ambassador for the club, Turn up at Home Park on a Saturday afternoon when Argyle are at home[/quote]

so hes becoming insufferable arse kisser like that dinosaur?

End of a pretty good career, didn't disgrace himself by any means in the championship when Argyle were in it.Always preferred him at centre back but he was versatile enough to do a reasonable job at full back.Seem to remember he played for Exeter when they took manure to a replay in the FA cup,which was a turning point for them financially.Good luck and a long and happy retirement to him.

Angry wrote:

Tgwu wrote:

What a club ambassador does i don't know but good luck to him im sure he will do a good job. Part of me feels he wont be alone in that role.

Sparksy is a ambassador for the club, Turn up at Home Park on a Saturday afternoon when Argyle are at home

so hes becoming insufferable arse kisser like that dinosaur?[/quote]

In the Sparksy fan club then?
The guy is full of sycophantic shit.

Always was a decent player, solid defender who never let the club down on the pitch, or off it.

Good to see he's staying with the club and hope he enjoys his new role.

akagreengull wrote:

Angry wrote:

Tgwu wrote:

What a club ambassador does i don't know but good luck to him im sure he will do a good job. Part of me feels he wont be alone in that role.

Sparksy is a ambassador for the club, Turn up at Home Park on a Saturday afternoon when Argyle are at home

so hes becoming insufferable arse kisser like that dinosaur?

In the Sparksy fan club then?
The guy is full of sycophantic shit.[/quote]

paid up member for life me lol never understood why so many loved him as the comms guy for games he missed so much and would have you thinking we were doing better than in reality.

He was definitely good back in the day and was in the team of 06/07 which wasn't half bad in the Championship.   Probably should have called it a day sooner but was given the opportunity to carry on playing at Argo so who can blame him. Hope he enjoys his new role at the club.

Even fully fit, it was a Lowe error in awarding him another years playing contract. He is by all accounts though a good positive influence in and around the club so a good move to keep that relationship going, particularly with the Academy.

Czarcasm wrote:

Even fully fit, it was a Lowe error in awarding him another years playing contract. He is by all accounts though a good positive influence in and around the club so a good move to keep that relationship going, particularly with the Academy.

I would have given him the contract for those reasons but only had him as a backup option with Gary spending most of his time doing his coaching badges ready to move into coaching when he retired which is what he is doing now in his new role. Given Ryan went on to sign kids on loan instead of bringing in decent defenders to be our defence along with Aimson i feel Gary probably would have been first team regular alongside those kids which wouldnt have made any difference what so ever in terms of goals leaked.

Good player in his day should have never come back for this last spell. Will make a good ambassador for the club and I wish him all the best.

Should have turned it in 2 years ago