Search the Community

Legendary Notts County goalkeeper Steve Cherry has announced that he is currently in the process of writing his autobiography and has asked fans to send in pictures of him in action on the pitch. The 57-year-old, who played for the Magpies between 1988 and 1995, made more than 500 professional appearances during an illustrious career which spanned four decades. Cherry was part of the Notts team which rose from the Third Division to the First in just three years and starred in both successful playoffs to get there, as well as the superb FA Cup win over Manchester City. Speaking exclusively to Pride of Nottingham, Cherry confirmed that the title of the book will be Cherry Picking: Life between the Sticks. Cherry, who will be writing the book alongside writer Jonathan Nicholas, said: "I've had my thoughts on writing a book for years. "I've had ups and down and travelled the world - too many memories not to share. There are things in my career that people don't know about and might shock a few!" To contribute your action photos of Cherry which could feature in his autobiography, estimated to be released in August, please send them to [email protected] - we will liaise directly with him. Find out more about Steve Cherry's formative years and footballing career with Pride of Nottingham's Notts Alumni feature! Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Every remarkable Notts County team over the years has comprised of quality players in every position of the pitch, and as arguably the most important one in any squad, the goalkeeper slot has also been filled by some great names at Meadow Lane. From Albert Iremonger in the early 20th century to the likes of Kasper Schmeichel and Bartosz Bialkowski in the 2010s, via Jimmy Sirrel's protege Raddy Avramovic in the early 80s, every generation of Notts fans will fondly remember at least one quality name in between the sticks. The man who occupied this role during County's last truly stellar period, in which they last graced the top flight, is Steve Cherry, a player and individual who remains loved by everyone involved with the Black and White Army. Born on 5 August 1960 in Nottingham, Cherry started his career across the A52 at Derby County, signing schoolboy forms as a 15-year-old. Three years later he put pen to paper on a professional contract and made 77 appearances for the Rams between 1978 and 1984, also spending a short time on loan at Port Vale between 1980 and 1981. While at the Baseball Ground, he was voted the club's player of the year in 1983. Cherry then enjoyed a two-year spell at Walsall, where he made 71 appearances, and Plymouth Argyle, where he played 73 times - and picked up the second player of the year award of his career, in 1988 - and while on the Pilgrims' books he also had a short stint on loan at Chesterfield. In January 1989, a little-known manager by the name of Neil Warnock joined Notts County, and one month into his tenure, his new side lost 3-0 at Chesterfield, who had Cherry in goal. Just a week later, the Nottingham-born goalkeeper's registration was sold from Plymouth to Notts, whose goalkeeper at the time, Mick Leonard, went to Saltergate. The fee to sign Cherry was £70,000, but Notts more than got their money's worth as the goalkeeper made the number 1 shirt his own, and his time at the club coincided with a meteoric rise through the leagues. County narrowly missed out on the Third Division playoffs that year, but put it right the following season, finishing third and going all the way to the final, where Cherry kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers at Wembley which took them into the second tier. The following year they repeated the feat, finishing fourth in the Second Division to qualify for the playoffs, and Cherry was once again impervious in goal as they saw off Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 in their second trip to Wembley in just as many years. 1991 also saw arguably Cherry's greatest ever game, putting in what was deemed a "heroic performance in a 1-0 win over top-flight Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup, a series of outstanding saves keeping the Citizens out as Gary Lund struck a winner for Notts late on. Despite the 1991-92 season not going according to plan for Notts, with relegation back to the second tier after just one year in the First Division, Cherry nonetheless impressed in between the sticks, and was named as the club's player of the year that season for his efforts - the third of his career. All in all, Cherry made 266 appearances for the Magpies - including two more games at Wembley, in the 1994 and 1995 Anglo-Italian Cup finals - by the time of his departure to Glenn Roeder's Watford in July 1995, where he made just four appearances as deputy to Kevin Miller before linking up with former club Plymouth, reuniting him with Warnock once again. That season, Cherry helped the Pilgrims reach the Third Division playoffs, and much like his time at Notts, he would once again find himself on the winning side at Wembley as the Devon club won promotion with a 1-0 win over Darlington, Cherry keeping another clean sheet at England's national stadium. The twilight of Cherry's professional career saw him turn out for Rotherham United and Rushden & Diamonds, before several brief non-contract spells at Mansfield Town, Stalybridge Celtic (on loan), Oldham Athletic, and Lincoln City. He then made several appearances for a number of non-league sides - Kettering, Stalybridge Celtic, Kidsgrove Athletic and Belper Town - before officially hanging up his boots (and gloves). Cherry went on to work for Lincoln and Macclesfield Town in a coaching capacity, but left the latter in May 2010 to undergo heart surgery, from which he thankfully recovered. A man whose contributions for Notts County are worthy of a place in the club's hall of fame, Steve Cherry is a true Magpie legend. Share your thoughts about this Notts Alumni piece on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.