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HALL OF FAME - Gary Lineker

Lineker, Gary

Born: 30th November 1960, Position: Centre Forward

(Leicester, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham, Nagoya Grampus 8 and England)

Major Honours: European Cup-Winners Cup 1989

Relevant Career Statistics: 80 caps and 48 International goals.

Admitted to the Hall of Fame: 1st September 2000 with 28% of the votes.

Roy of the Rovers References:

Roy of the Rovers comic - "Sign Please" - 9th July 1983.

On 3rd May 1986, Gary was the subject of the star letter in the "Write to Racey" feature - 3rd May 1986.

Full page spotlight on Lineker feature in the 23rd August 1986 edition.

Roy of the Rovers comic - Gary appears in a colour photograph in "Roy Race's Soccer Superstars Booklet" - 27th September 1986.

A two page feature "Lineker leads the way!" to celebrate Gary signing for Barcelona - 1st November 1986.

Between 5th March and 23rd April 1988, Gary was the subject of an 8 week profile story called "Story of the Star" in the Roy of the Rovers comic. This was also run from 20th June 1992 to 8th August 1992.

In February 1989 Gary's comic "Hot-Shot joined with the Roy of the Rovers comic.

In 8th April 1989 edition, Gary relives his best moments in a two page special.

1st July 1989 - a black and white picture of Gary lifting the European Cup-Winners Cup for Barcelona.

In the Christmas issue - 30th December 1989, Gary plays Santa Claus for the Roy of the Rover readers.

In 1990 Roy Race and Gary Lineker produced a record called 'Europe United' (1992 mix) (Let's work together). Europe United was described as a hot rocking heavy metal rap, featuring Gary Lineker and Roy on vocals and Roy on lead guitar. It was a double A side with the 'Roy Of the Rovers Rap' featuring MC Wade Locket on the flip side.

Roy of the Rovers comic - Gary appears in a black and white photograph in "Roy Race's Super Strikers Booklet" - 20th January 1990.

Gary is the subject of a "Dream day with...." for one lucky reader in the Roy of the Rovers comic - 13th October 1990.

"Spotlight" two page feature - Roy of the Rovers comic - 15th December 1990.

In the Christmas issue - 29th December 1989, Gary plays Santa Claus and visits the Royal Marsden Hospital, Surrey and has a special message for the Roy of the Rover readers.

The 26th January 1991 edition gives readers a 2 page spread about how to join the Gary Lineker Fan Club.

Roy Race and Gary Lineker share a fold out poster in a "Roy of the Rovers - Two of a Kind Special".

Gary is the Roy of the Rovers "September - Player of the Month" - 12th October 1991, the "November - Goal of the Month" - 14th December 1991 and the April 1992 - Player of the Month - 23rd May 1992 edition.

The 30th November 1991 edition sees a two page photograph of Gary as the Roy of the Rovers readers wish him a "Happy Birthday".

A one page salute to Gary Lineker as he is awarded the OBE - 25th January 1992 edition.

Gary writes for the last time for the Roy of the Rovers readers before jetting off to Japan - 8th August 1992 edition.

On the closing of the Roy of the Rovers comic - 20th March 1993, Gary had the following message for Roy of the Rovers readers, "Goalscoring legends never die."

Internet Links: There are no specific web sites dedicated to Gary Lineker, but the following links offer great sources of information.

Gary on the Official Leicester City Website - A brilliant profile of the HotShot.

Toffee Web's Everton Hall of Fame - Gary Lineker - A fitting tribute to Gary's days at Everton.

World Cup Archive - Gary Lineker - An excellent rundown on Gary participation in the Worlds greatest football competition.

Walkers Crisps and Gary Lineker - Visit Walkers Crisps website and read about "No more Mr Nice Guy".

They Thinks it's All Over! - Read about Gary's involvement and how it all began

Books: Gary Lineker's Golden Boots - Gary is the only Englishman to win the Golden Boot with his six goals in Mexico in 1986. This book shows Gary travelling the world and interviewing the leading goal scorers in each of the World Cup competitions since the event was inaugurated in 1930. The stars include Diego Maradona, Pele, Gerd Muller and Platini.

Gary Lineker's Favourite Football Stories - An anthology of football stories chosen by Gary Lineker. This book includes some 15 soccer stories by such authors as Robert Westall, Michael Hardcastle, Alan Durant, Rob Childs and David Harmer.

Gary Lineker's Favourite Football Stories - Vol. 2 - A further collection of football stories chosen by Gary Lineker.

More of Gary Lineker's Favourite Stories - Another collection of football stories chosen by Gary Lineker.

The Foxes Alphabet - This is an extensively researched and authoritative review of all former Leicester players from the 1880s to 1996. Gary edits the book along with Dave Smith and Paul Taylor.

DK Superguides : Football - is a book which provides easy-to-follow instructions on playing football, this book also features up-to-the minute coverage of all aspects of the sport, news about headline-grabbing successes and endorsements by major football players.

The unassuming son of a market trader, who accepted good and bad with the smiling sincerity that, allied to his skill, made him such a popular figure. Gary had not only speed but it was the intelligent application of that turn of feet which set him apart from his peers. He was a brilliant reader of the game whose timing of runs into the area behind defenders was so precise. In tighter situations he would lead his marker astray with a sudden dart away from goal, only to spin off the hapless 'shadow' just as the ball was played into the space just vacated.

Gary signed for Leicester City in 1977 and made his debut on 1st January 1979, the first of his career total of 430 games. He took a couple of seasons to maximise the benefits of his pace, but he was Leicester's top scorer in four consecutive seasons, including the 1982-83 Second Division promotion campaign. Gary made his England debut as a substitute against Scotland in the 1984/1985 season and in July 1985 he joined Everton for £800,000, enjoying a sensational season scoring 38 goals and receiving both major Player of the Year awards.

Gary really burst into the international limelight during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where six goals made him the tournaments top scorer and earned him a big money move to Barcelona (£2.75m). He carried on scoring freely in the Spanish League with 44 goals in 99 league outings and he helped them to win the Spanish Cup in 1988 and the Cup Winners` Cup in 1989, beating Sampdoria in the Final.

Just weeks after his European triumph, Gary arrived at Tottenham as a £1.2 million bargain and finished the season as the First Division's leading scorer. His middle term at White Lane was disrupted by injury, but despite a lean spell he managed 19 goals in major competitions, including two crucial efforts in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Arsenal. Better still, despite missing a penalty against Nottingham Forest, he went home from Wembley with his first and only winner's medal in an English competition. In 1991-92 campaign clouded by the serious illness of his son George, he displayed remarkable resilience to strike 35 times in 50 outings, probably saving Spurs from relegation and he was rightly named the writers Footballer of the Year.

No other player has headed the list of First Division scorers at three different clubs (Leicester, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur). He is the top scoring Englishman in the history of the World Cup and went through a career without a single booking.

Gary finished his England career with 48 goals, one behind Sir Bobby Charlton's record. In 1992 without a goal in five previous games he was controversially taken off by England coach Graham Taylor during what turned out to be his last appearance in an England shirt, in the European Championships of that year.

In 1994 Japan became the Linekers' new home with Gary's £900,000 move to Nagoya Grampus Eight having been announced some months earlier. However, his time there was badly hampered by a persistent toe injury. In 1996 he hung up his boots and started out in broadcasting by hosting his own show on BBC Radio 5 Live. A period as an analyst on Match of the Day led to him becoming a regular presenter on BBC TV during the 1996 European Championships.

The former England captain is now the main presenter on both Match of the Day and a team captain on the game show 'They Think It's All Over'.

Such achievements for a man with perfect 'Roy of the Rovers' credentials, we welcome "HotShot" Gary Lineker to the Roy of the Rovers Hall of Fame.

Hot Shot Hamish!

Kevin 'Mighty' Mouse!

Billy Dane from the 'Billy's Boots' story!

Nipper Lawrence - the Blackport Rovers 'Tiger'!

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