Gary Stohrer - Goodbye, Good Luck and Thank-You!!

 

After over 250 appearances Gary Stohrer has left The Poppies

Well tonight has seen popular midfielder Gary Stohrer leave Latimer Park. Gary posted in his usual dignified manner on his Social media he had left the club with The Poppies releasing their own statement soon after.

The word legend sometimes gets banded about to often for footballers but not for Gary because he is and always will be a legend at Kettering Town FC. Signed in July 2017 from Frickley Athletic by Marcus Law Gaz made his debut on the opening day of the 2017/18 season in a 2-1 victory away to Slough Town. Gary would go on to make another 252 appearances in a Poppies shirt and it would have been many more but for an injury that saw him miss almost 11 months of 2024.

Gary was part of the Kettering squad than won the Southern League Premier Division central league title in 2019 and was also part of the squad that just missed out on the play-offs of the National League North on the final day of the 2021/22 season. He was also part of the squad that was relegated back to the Southern League in 2023 and despite offers from other clubs he remained loyal to The Poppies and remained at Latimer Park.

In all of his 253 games Gary never once gave anything less than 100% and that was what made his so popular on the terraces. That and the fact he was just a top bloke, always had time for a chat or a picture with fans and just someone you could tell was genuinely proud to pull on that red shirt. 

Unfortunately at times though football moves on, And it seems that time has come. Gary is in his 30's now and I'm sure he will be wanting to play football every week and that was possibly something Richard Lavery could not promise him. But I doubt for a second it was an easy conversation for Lav's to have as players and people like Gary Stohrer don't come along very often.

I am sure I speak for every single Kettering Town supporter when I say thank you Gary, and good luck with wherever your career takes you next. Whoever you do move on to are getting a fine player and an even better bloke.

So to the "Northants Pirlo" Don't be a stranger, you will be welcome back at Latimer Park anytime