The Galley Story

THE arrival of Dave Galley as Argyle physio is the latest piece in a backroom jigsaw being completed by manager Ryan Lowe and new Director of Football Neil Dewsnip.

Galley brings with him a wealth of experience from the very top of the game, enjoying many triumphant years with Liverpool and working with the England squad at the Football Association.

It is a testament to the project being built at Home Park that Neil and Ryan were able to persuade a physio with such tremendous pedigree to become a Pilgrim.

“I know Neil through time in Liverpool and at the FA,” said Dave. “Obviously, Neil was at the FA and Everton and asked if I knew anyone who would be interested.

“It started with seeing whether I could help out and the more I met Ryan and Neil, I had a good chat with them and liked what they were saying, where they were going.

“It was very quick from there and a no brainer for me, I liked the challenge and the people I was going to be working with. I worked at the Bristol Rovers game [in early December] and then took it a bit further to where we are now.

“I worked with the FA from 1992 and we won the European Championships with the under-18s, with players like Gary Neville, Sol Campbell, Nicky Butt and Robbie Fowler.

"I went with the under-21s after that and spent 16 years with them. I had a brief time with the seniors and was at Liverpool, where we won the League Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Cup, Champions League, so I’ve been very lucky.”

After enjoying such wonderful success in his homeland, Dave worked abroad with the Qatar FA at an exciting time for the next World Cup hosts.

Unfortunately, illness in the family brought Dave back home and a brief time outside of football.

“I went freelance after working in Qatar with an Academy out there, moving up to their under-23s national team,” he said.

“I was about to start work with their senior team but made the decision to come home because my parents were unwell. A couple of weeks after that, my dad died and my mum is also very ill.

“I wanted to be back in this country and did some work in a clinic halfway between my home in Chester and Stoke, where my mum is based. It was a case of going to work, drive to Stoke, then back home , and the same again each day, which was no good for mum or for me.

“I knew that I wanted to get back into football. I had a few good offers from the Premier League, the Championship and abroad, but didn’t fancy it.

“The Plymouth opportunity just felt right, the right people, the right setting and the right direction.”

Welcome to Home Park, Dave.