Chris Harrison (footballer)

Christopher Colin Harrison (born 17 October 1956) is an English retired footballer who played as a defender.

Chris Harrison
Personal information
Full name Christopher Colin Harrison
Date of birth (1956-10-17) 17 October 1956 (age 68)
Place of birth Launceston, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1974–1976 Plymouth Argyle
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1985 Plymouth Argyle 324 (7)
1985–1988 Swansea City 117 (14)
1988–1990 Saltash United ? (?)
Total 441 (21)
Managerial career
Saltash United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Harrison was born in Launceston.[1] He joined Plymouth Argyle as an apprentice in October 1974 and made his first team debut on 24 April 1976 in a 2–0 defeat at Carlisle United in the Second Division.[2] He scored his first goal later that year in a 3–1 loss at Hull City on 20 November.[2] He made 23 appearances that season which ended with the club being relegated to the Third Division. Harrison played regularly for Argyle over the next eight years as both a centre back and right back.[3] He was a member of the squad that reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1984, where they lost 1–0 to Watford at Villa Park.[1] He scored his last goal for the club on 3 November 1984 in a 3–2 win against Bristol Rovers at Home Park and made his last appearance in a 2–0 defeat at Millwall on 11 May 1985.[1] Harrison made 381 appearances in 11 years with the club, scoring 8 goals,[2] and played under seven different managers.[3] He moved to Swansea City in September 1985.[4]

He played regularly in his first season at Vetch Field,[5] which ended with the club being relegated to the Fourth Division.[6] Harrison was an influential member of the squad that won promotion back to the Third Division in the 1987–88 season.[5] He played in the play-off final against Torquay United,[7] which they won 5–4 on aggregate. He made 117 league appearances in three years with the club and scored 14 goals.[8] Harrison returned to South West England in July 1998 to play non-league football for Saltash United for two seasons,[1] who he also managed.[9]

Personal life

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Harrison set up his own driving school in Looe after retiring as a player.[9] As well as coaching at Plymouth Argyle's centre of excellence, he is a retained firefighter.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Danes, Ryan (2009). Plymouth Argyle: The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 97–98. ISBN 978-1-85983-710-8.
  2. ^ a b c "Chris Harrison". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Chris Harrison" Archived 2 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  4. ^ "This week in 1985". The Plymouth Herald. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  5. ^ a b c "Past players: G – H" Archived 27 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Swansea City. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Club history" Archived 1 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Swansea City. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  7. ^ "And while we are on the subject". Herald Express. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  8. ^ "Chris Harrison". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Where are they now?". BBC Sport. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
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