Blake: Noel Lloyd George (Noel)

1988-1990 (Player Details)

Centre Half

Born: Kingston, Jamaica: 12-01-1962

Debut v Oxford United (h): 27-08-1988

6’0” 13st 5lb (1988)

Blake started with Sutton Coalfield and then became a non-contract player with Walsall before joining First Division Aston Villa in August 1979. He failed to make an impact, playing just four League games, and, after a loan spell with Second Division Shrewsbury Town in March 1982, where he made six League appearances, he joined First Division Birmingham City for £55,000 in September 1982. He established himself as an uncompromising defender and was a regular making seventy-six League starts and scoring five goals before Second Division Portsmouth bought him for £150,000 in April 1984. He was player of the year in successive season and helped them to get promotion to Division 1 in 1986-87. After being such a lynch-pin and scoring ten League goals in one hundred and forty-four appearances, Leeds were very fortunate to pick him up on a free transfer in July 1988 and after four goals in sixty-two games they made a handsome profit when they sold him to Stoke City for £175,000 after Chris Fairclough and Peter Haddock took over the defensive duties. He had proved to be a solid performer and captained the team on several occasions, finding cult status with the fans who dubbed him’Bruno’ and admired his never say die spirit and his ability to use his strong physique to the best advantage. After featuring regularly for Stoke City, scoring three times in seventy-five League appearances, including one from the bench, he joined Bradford City in July 1992 for £175,000, after a six game loan spell with them in February 1992. He gave good service and he scored three timeswhile making another thirty-nine League appearances, which included one from the bench, until he was allowed to go on a free transfer to Dundee in December 1993. Again he gave good service for eighteen months, making sixty-four appearances before he was allowed to join Exeter City in August 1995. Although well into his thirties, Blake again gave his employers fine service playing over one hundred and fifty times, including one hundred and thirty-five starts and twelve games as a substitute in the League in which he scored ten goals. He became Player-Manager in 2000 but left in September 2001, as he felt he could take the club no further. He then became the successful manager of the youth team at Stoke City. In February 2007, he was appointed as FA National Coach, as part the Coaching staff with talented young English players in the Youth teams.