*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Gary Bacon
Appearances: 67+3 Goals: 8
Date / Year of birth: 17th June 1957
Position: Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1976/77
Season of last appearance: 1977/78
Also played for: Tottenham Hotspur (0), Maidstone United, Dartford and Leytonstone-Ilford
5' 6" tall energetic midfielder born in Dagenham who played for Barking Boys as a youngster before joining Tottenham as an apprentice in July 1972.
Gary progressed through Spurs' youth ranks and made his first reserve team appearance at the end of the 1974/75 campaign. During 1975/76 he established himself as a reserve team player and made 36 Football Combination appearances, scoring nine goals, but at the end of the season Gary was released after four years at White Hart Lane.
In the summer of 1976 he joined Margate and made his debut in a 3-1 home win over Hastings in the Southern League Cup on 21.8.76, the opening day of the 1976/77 campaign. Gary immediately impressed the Thanet Times who said that he "combined beautifully with Norman Fusco" in midfield. Hard work was a key feature of Gary's game and the Thanet Times' report for Margate's 2-1 defeat at Wimbledon on 6.11.76 said that he "covered every inch of turf". He made a total of 48 appearances (three as sub) during the season as Margate were relegated from the Southern League Premier Division and Gary scored three goals, the best of them being a shot from the edge of the penalty area in a 4-3 win at Folkestone & Shepway on 25.10.76.
Gary was a regular in the side once more at the start of the 1977/78 campaign and was described as a "midfield general" and "a most able player" by the local press. However by Christmas 1977 he'd fallen out of favour. As a result Gary joined Maidstone on loan in January 1978.
In March 1978 he returned to Margate and quickly regained his first team place. By the end of the season Gary had made 22 appearances and scored five goals as Margate won the Southern League 1st Division (South) title.
He then went out on loan to Dartford at the start of the 1978/79 campaign, playing six times for them, and left Margate permanently soon afterwards.
During the 1979/80 and 1980/81 seasons Gary was with Leytonstone-Ilford.
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
1976/77 (MFC) |
45 (55) |
3 |
3 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (22ND OF 22) |
3QR |
1R |
2R |
1R |
|
| Margate relegated to Southern League First Division (South). | |||||||||
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS | |
1977/78 (MFC) |
22 (47) |
0 |
5 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION (S) (1ST OF 20) |
1QR |
1R |
1R |
1R |
GR |
| Margate promoted to Southern League Premier Division. | |||||||||