▁for ▁Sto ke ▁City ▁playing ▁six ▁matches ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 6 – 8 7 ▁season ▁scoring ▁twice ▁in ▁a ▁ 3 – 2 ▁defeat ▁against ▁Brad ford ▁City . ▁ ▁He ▁then ▁spent ▁five ▁years ▁at ▁Black burn ▁Ro vers , ▁signing ▁for ▁them ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁and ▁being ▁a ▁regular ▁stri ker ▁in ▁their ▁quest ▁for ▁top ▁flight ▁football . ▁However , ▁by ▁the ▁time ▁Black burn ▁were ▁promoted ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁( to ▁the ▁newly ▁created ▁Premier ▁League ), ▁Gay le ▁had ▁been ▁left ▁behind ▁in ▁the ▁pe ck ing ▁order ▁by ▁exp ens ively ▁signed ▁new ▁players ▁like ▁Mike ▁New ell ▁and ▁David ▁Speed ie , ▁and ▁with ▁the ▁arrival ▁of ▁national ▁record ▁signing ▁Alan ▁She ar er ▁that ▁summer , ▁it ▁was ▁clear ▁that ▁Black burn ▁manager ▁Ken ny ▁Dal g lish ▁felt ▁that ▁Gay le ▁was ▁sur plus ▁to ▁requirements ▁at ▁E wood ▁Park . ▁ ▁Gay le ▁joined ▁Hal if ax ▁Town ▁in ▁the ▁newly ▁renamed ▁Division ▁Three ▁but ▁managed ▁just ▁five ▁league ▁appearances ▁as ▁they ▁were ▁re leg ated ▁to ▁the ▁Football ▁Conference . ▁After ▁leaving ▁Hal if ax ▁he ▁had ▁a ▁brief ▁trial ▁at ▁Carl is le ▁United , ▁before ▁ret iring ▁from ▁football . ▁ ▁International ▁career ▁As ▁an ▁over age ▁player , ▁he ▁helped ▁England ▁win ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁UEFA ▁European ▁Under - 2 1 ▁Football ▁Championship , ▁in ▁which ▁he ▁scored ▁a ▁goal ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁against