Geoff Hunter

Geoffrey Hunter (27 October 1959 – 1 June 2022) was an English footballer who played as a midfielder. In a twelve-year career in the Football League, he played 507 league and cup games, scoring 40 goals.

He turned professional at Manchester United at the age of 17, then switched to Crewe Alexandra in 1979. He spent two seasons at Crewe, making 87 league appearances and winning a Player of the Year award, before he went to Port Vale for a £15,000 fee in August 1981. He helped the club to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1982–83 and was also named in the PFA Team of the Year. He helped the club to promotion out of the fourth tier again in 1985–86. After 221 league appearances for the "Valiants", he was allowed to sign with Wrexham in May 1987. He spent four years with the Welsh club, playing 122 league games, before he retired in 1991.

Career

Crewe Alexandra Hunter started his career at First Division club Manchester United after a successful trial at the age of 14. However, he failed to make a competitive appearance for the club and left Old Trafford after being released by Dave Sexton. He scored his first Crewe goal in a 2–2 draw against Torquay United at Gresty Road on 24 August 1979. Hunter quickly became a key member of the midfield, playing 49 games in 1981–82, as the "Valiants" posted a seventh-place finish.

Vale failed to hold on to their Third Division status and were relegated in 1983–84.

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1979–80 Fourth Division

1980–81 Fourth Division

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1981–82 Fourth Division

1982–83 Fourth Division

1983–84 Third Division

1984–85 Fourth Division

1985–86 Fourth Division

1986–87 Third Division

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1987–88 Fourth Division

1988–89 Fourth Division

1989–90 Fourth Division

1990–91 Fourth Division

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Honours Port Vale Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1982–83

Individual Crewe Alexandra F.C. Player of the Year: 1980–81 PFA Fourth Division Team of the Year: 1982–83