Howard Gayle
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Howard Anthony Gayle | ||
| Date of birth | 18 May 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | Toxteth, Liverpool, England | ||
| Playing position | Forward, winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1974–1977 | Liverpool | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1977–1983 | Liverpool | 4 | (1) |
| 1980 | → Fulham (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 1982–1983 | → Newcastle United (loan) | 8 | (2) |
| 1983–1984 | Birmingham City | 46 | (9) |
| 1984–1986 | Sunderland | 48 | (4) |
| 1987 | Stoke City | 6 | (2) |
| 1987–1992 | Blackburn Rovers | 116 | (29) |
| 1992–1993 | Halifax Town | 5 | (0) |
| Total | 247 | (47) | |
| National team | |||
| 1984 | England U-21 | 3 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Howard Anthony Gayle (born 18 May 1958) is an English former footballer who played for Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Halifax Town, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Stoke City.
Gayle began his career with Liverpool and made the headlines after becoming the first black player to play for the Anfield side. After loan spells with Fulham and Newcastle United he joined Birmingham City in search of regular first team football. He then played for Sunderland and had a short spell in the United States playing indoor football with the Dallas Sidekicks. He returned to England and played for Stoke City, Blackburn Rovers and ended his career with Halifax Town.
Gayle was born in Toxteth and brought up in Norris Green. He joined the youth ranks at local side Liverpool in 1974. He signed a professional contract with the club in 1977 becoming the first black player to play for Liverpool which was seen as a 'victory' for the black community in Liverpool as Gayle explains.
"It was constantly in the press that I was the first black player to play for Liverpool. It was a landmark as far as black people were concerned, and I was proud to represent the black community of Liverpool"
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