Binfield’s new manager Garry Haylock comes with some serious non-league managerial experience, but did you know he’s also a bit of a goalscoring hero to Irish football fans?
Bradford-born Haylock played more than a dozen games for Huddersfield Town in the English Football League but the majority of his career was spent in the Irish Football League and Northern Irish League with the likes of Shelbourne, Portadown, Glenavon, Glentoran, Linfield, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers as well as a spell in Greece with Panionios where he featured in the Quarter Final of the European Cup Winners Cup.
Aware of the link following the announcement on the Binfield website, Football in Berkshire spoke to Portadown fan Chris Sherrard, about his memories of Haylock’s time in Ireland: “The Portadown manager in those days absolutely loved strikers and our success was built on having some top finishers.
“Haylock made such a big impression when he joined Linfield that he was the dream No9 for any team to have because he guaranteed goals – and success.
“I was delighted when he signed for Portadown and, sure enough, with him came so many goals and also trophies including a coveted league title.
“When he left to go to Greece, Portadown fans were gutted because of his importance to the side and I remember every week finding myself checking how Panionios were doing!
“Haylock has gone down as one of the finest strikers Portadown ever had. I only wish he had stayed longer.”
Garry Haylock in Ireland, a goalscoring montage
Chris also wrote a handy Irish football biography for Garry:
Haylock made an instant impact in Irish League football, bagging 37 goals for Linfield in the 1993-94 season to finish as top scorer.
That was a feat he repeated twice more while wearing the colours of Portadown to help the Co Armagh team to a league title in 1996 – matching the pair of titles he had won with Linfield.
In the two seasons with the Belfast Blues, Haylock also won back-to-back Irish Cups, scoring in each of those finals.
After a brief spell under Ronnie Whelan in Greek football with Panionios, Haylock returned to Irish football, first in the Republic with Shelboune, before spells back in Northern Ireland with Glenavon and Glentoran.
Football in Berkshire would like to thank Chris and BelfastLive Sport for helping to compile this piece. Main image supplied by BelfastLive.
