Blake: Noel Lloyd George (Noel)

1988-1990 (Leeds Player Details)(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 from 1st March to 31st May 1982, where he made six League appearances, he joined First Division Birmingham City for £55,000 on 15th September 1982. He established himself as an uncompromising defender and was a regular, making seventy-six League starts and scoring five goals as well as making eight appearances in the F.A. Cup and twelve in the League Cup, before Second Division Portsmouth bought him for £150,000 on 24th April 1984. He was player of the year in successive season and helped them to get promotion to the First Division in 1986-87. After being such a lynch-pin and scoring ten League goals in one hundred and forty-four League appearances, as well as scoring twice in ten F.A. Cup appearances, once in fourteen League Cup games and once in five other games, Leeds were extremely fortunate to pick him up on a Free Transfer on 4th July 1988. He gave them stellar service for eighteen months and they made a handsome profit when they sold him to Stoke City on 9th February 1990 for £175,000. This happened 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, and scoring three times in seventy-five League appearances, including one from the bench, and making three starts and one game from the bench in the F.A. Cup, six games in the League Cup and four starts and one game from the bench in other games, he joined Bradford City on 20th July 1992 for £175,000, after a six game loan spell with them from 27th February to 31st May 1992. He gave good service and he scored three times while making another thirty-nine League appearances, which included one from the bench, and scored once in five starts in the F.A. Cup, two starts and one game from the bench in the League Cup and making four appearances in other games, until he was allowed to go on a free transfer to Dundee on 10th December 1993. Again he gave good service for eighteen months, scoring twice in fifty-four Scottish League games, including two from the bench, and making five starts in the Scottish F.A. Cup, two in the Scottish League Cup and three in other games. He was allowed to join Exeter City on 18th August 1995. Although well into his thirties, Blake again gave his employers fine service scoring ten League goals in one hundred and thirty-five starts and twelve games from the bench, together with five starts in the F.A. Cup and six in the League Cup, as well as one start and two games from the bench in other games. 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 F.A. National Coach, as part the Coaching staff with talented young English players in the Youth teams. He is now the head coach with the England Under-Nineteen team.