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A tribute to great players
from the period 1965/66 to 1979/80, particularly highlighting their appearance
in football cards. For more see the Player Pages Index. Terry (Gerry) Conroy A list of all of the appearances of this player in football cards in the period 1965/66 to 1979/80 appears at the foot of this page. | ||||||||||||||||||
 1969/70 A&BC Gum Footballers (Green backs), No. 161  1970/71 A&BC Gum Footballers (Orange backs), No. 62  1972/73 Top Sellers Football 72, No. 290  1973/74 Top Sellers Football 73, No. 307  1973/74 A&BC Gum Footballers (Blue backs), No. 86 |
Gerard Anthony Francis Conroy, referred to in
football cards as both 'Gerry' Conroy and 'Terry' Conroy, was born in Dublin,
Ireland in 1946. He played for Home Farm and Glentoran until snapped up by
First Division Stoke City as a 20-year old. The 1969/70 A&BC Green back card
notes "Hailed as one of the
brightest young stars in the First Division, (Gerry) Conroy cost Stoke only £10,000
when signed from Irish club Glentoran in 1967. Built up a big goalscoring
reputation in Ireland, and has scored some spectacular goals in England
since getting his chance in the Stoke first team". The 1969/70 FKS sticker notes "Red-haired striker.... (Terry) has played in all forward positions and is a clever finisher. After a few appearances in 1967/68, really established himself last term". Conroy was featured in the 4 October 1969 issue of Shoot magazine (Issue 8) in the 'Focus on' segment (page 29). Some of his answers were:
After struggles to avoid relegation (18th in 1967/68, 19th in 1968/69) Stoke enjoyed relative success with Conroy in 1969/70, finishing 9th, followed by 13th, 17th and 15th in subsequent seasons. In the 1970/71 season Conroy made 34 League appearances, scoring 11 goals, followed by 27 appearances in 1971/72 with 4 League goals. The 1971/72 FKS album notes "Dublin born Eire international who had a cartilage operation last summer". The injury prevented Conroy playing between April and September 1972. The Top Sellers, Football 72 cards helps understand his name: "Although he was christened Gerald, this Eire international player is known as Terry throughout the game. Signed for £12,000 from Ulster side Glentoran, his close control and deceptive speed making him a threat to any defence. Operates on the wing". The Football 73 card added: "Slim and wiry. Conroy has a habit of 'ghosting' past defenders in the Eastham style". Stoke enjoyed great success in the mid-1970s. In March 1972 Stoke played in the League Cup Final against Chelsea at Wembley, attempting to win their first ever major trophy. Conroy scored first for Stoke, Osgood equalised for Chelsea, before 35-year old George Eastham popped home the winners for the Potters. The following season Stoke finished 15th in Division One, then improved to 5th in 1974 and 5th again in 1975. Conroy, however, made only 5 League appearances (plus 4 subs) in 1973/74, and 11 appearances (plus 5 subs) in 1974/75. The Top Sellers, Football '76, album notes "A forward much in the Martin Peters mould. In other words capable of 'ghosting' in from behind to score goals without opposing defenders noticing" The 1977/78 Topps Red back card sums up Conroy's career: "Terry has been capped many times by the Republic of Ireland. Signed from Glentoran in March 1967. A striker who would have made many more appearances but for injury". Conroy stayed with Stoke for 12 years, making a total of 271 League appearances. The team was relegated at the end of the 1976/77 season 33 year-old Conroy left Stoke to join Hong Kong club Bulova on a free transfer in 1979. He then transferred to Fourth Division Crewe Alexandra in 1980, staying for two seasons, making 7 appearances in his first season and 30 in his next. In 1981 he returned to Eire to play for Waterford. Conroy made a total of 27 international appearances for the Republic of Ireland, his first in 1970 and his last in 1977. When his playing career was over Conroy was in the insurance game before returning to Stoke in 2000 in a marketing role, staying until 2008 when he returned to Ireland to take up a position with the Irish Football Association. |
 1969/70 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 246  1970/71 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 260  1971/72 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 260  1972/73 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 259  1976/77 Top Sellers Football 76, No. 303 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Football cards issued in the period 1965/66 to 1979/80 (note: this is an incomplete list, and will updated as new information is obtained). |
| Season | Maker | Set | Team | Card ref. |
| 1969/70 | A&BC Gum | Football Facts, Green backs, Series 3 (117-170) | Stoke City | 161 |
| 1969/70 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Stoke City | 246 |
| 1970/71 | A&BC Gum | Footballers, Orange backs, Series 1 (001-084) | Stoke City | 62 |
| 1970/71 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Stoke City | 260 |
| 1971/72 | A&BC Gum | Footballers, Purple backs, Series 3 (220-290) | Stoke City | 253 |
| 1971/72 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Stoke City | 260 |
| 1971/72 | Marshall Cavendish | Book of Football Top Teams | Stoke City | 248 |
| 1972/73 | A&BC Gum | Footballers, Orange/Red backs | Stoke City | 162 |
| 1972/73 | Americana | Soccer parade | Stoke City | 253 |
| 1972/73 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Stoke City | 259 |
| 1972/73 | The Sun | Gallery of Football Stars, 3D | Stoke City | |
| 1972/73 | Top Sellers | Football 72 | Stoke City | 290 |
| 1973/74 | A&BC Gum | Footballers, Blue backs, Series 1 (001-131) | Stoke City | 86 |
| 1973/74 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Stoke City | 236 |
| 1973/74 | Top Sellers | Football 73 | Stoke City | 307 |
| 1974/75 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Stoke City | 263 |
| 1974/75 | Top Sellers | Football 74 | Stoke City | 298 |
| 1975/76 | Bassett & Co | Football Stars | Stoke City | 32 |
| 1975/76 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Stoke City | 253 |
| 1976/77 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Stoke City | 293 |
| 1976/77 | Top Sellers | Football 76 | Stoke City | 303 |
| 1976/77 | Topps Chewing Gum | Footballers - Blue/Grey back | Stoke City | 118 |
| 1977/78 | FKS Publishers | Soccer Stars | Stoke City | 309 |
| 1977/78 | Topps Chewing Gum | Footballers - Red back | Stoke City | 31 |
| 1978/79 | Topps Chewing Gum | Footballers - Orange back | Stoke City | 229 |
| 1979/80 | FKS Publishers | Soccer Stars 80 | Stoke City | 236 |