George Berry (born 19 November 1957 in Rostrup, Germany) is a former Welsh international footballer, who played as a centre back. He was a tough-tackling defender also noted for his distinctive afro haircut.

[edit] Career

Berry began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers as an apprentice in April 1974, turning professional on his 18th birthday. He made his first team debut for the club on 7 May 1977 in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, which won the club the Second Division championship.

He was only a peripheral figure in the following season, but became a regular in the 1978/79 season. The season also saw him earn a call-up to the Welsh national team to play his country of birth West Germany - despite his birthplace, his mother was Welsh; his father Jamaican - in a European Championship qualifier which the Germans won 2-0 on 2 May 1979. In doing so, he became the first black player ever to represent Wales.

The defender remained a first choice throughout the next few years, winning the fans' player of the year award in 1979 and the 1980 League Cup, when Wolves beat reigning European champions Nottingham Forest 1-0 at Wembley.

The club suffered relegation though in 1981/82 and Berry was sold to Stoke City, for whom he made the most appearances in his career. He spent eight years there - 3 in the top flight - and captained the club. George was also voted Stoke City's all-time cult hero by Football Focus viewers. Berry won with 41% of the vote, ahead of fellow Stoke favourites Mark Stein and Denis Smith. When Stoke dropped to the third tier in 1990, Berry joined Peterborough United, with whom he was promoted from the (old) Division 4, scoring the vital last day equaliser which achieved it.

He moved onto Preston North End for the following season, but after failing to adapt to the club's plastic pitch, was loaned to Aldershot. The club went bankrupt mid-season though had to withdraw from the Football League, which, apart from a brief stint in Portugal, effectively ended Berry's professional career.

Since retiring from playing, he has hosted his own local radio show and now works for the PFA as the Senior Commercial Executive at their Manchester offices and for FIFPro. He has also studied Business Studies at Staffordshire University.