Wesley Saunders (born 23 February 1963) is an English former professional football player and manager.

Saunders was born in Sunderland and brought up in Boldon Colliery, attending Boldon Comprehensive School. He began his career as a junior with Newcastle United, turning professional in June 1981.

Increasingly out of the first team picture at Newcastle, Saunders joined Bradford City on loan in March 1985, moving to Carlisle United for a fee of £20,000 in August 1985.

Saunders subsequently joined Dundee before joining Torquay United in July 1990 for a then club record fee of £60,000. He captained the Torquay side to promotion the following season, Torquay beating Blackpool on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley. The following season he had a lengthy spell as caretaker manager of the team following the sacking of John Impey, and reverted to his playing role upon the appointment of Ivan Golac as manager. His professional playing career was ended by a knee ligament injury just a couple years later.

On leaving Torquay he played non-league football for Spennymoor United and went on to play for and coach a number of non-league sides in the north east of England while working in his family's textile firm.

In summer 1998, Saunders became manager of Torquay United, this time on a permanent basis, after the departure of Kevin Hodges. He struggled to maintain the progress made by Hodges and in the 2000–01 season, Torquay struggled to the extent that former player Colin Lee was brought in as a consultant. Saunders was dismissed by Torquay on 28 March 2001 after a 1–0 defeat to Carlisle United F.C. the previous week had left the club at the bottom of the league and facing relegation to the Football Conference.

He subsequently became a player agent and his players included former England international Paul Gascoigne.

He is the brother-in-law of former Torquay United players Matt Elliott and Micky Holmes.

He now lives in East Boldon with his wife, Tina and two children, Lola and Harris Saunders. On 7 September 2014, Lola was featured as a contestant on ITV's The X Factor, passing her audition In Newcastle upon Tyne.

References

Category:1963 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from The Boldons
Category:Sportspeople from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Category:English footballers
Category:Newcastle United F.C. players
Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players
Category:Carlisle United F.C. players
Category:Dundee F.C. players
Category:Torquay United F.C. players
Category:English football managers
Category:Torquay United F.C. managers
Category:English Football League players
Category:Footballers from Tyne and Wear
Category:Spennymoor United F.C. players
Category:Association football central defenders
Category:Scottish Football League players
Darby Saunders (born 23 February 1963) is an English former professional football player and manager.

Saunders was born in Sunderland and brought up in Boldon Colliery, attending Boldon Comprehensive School. They began their career as a junior with Newcastle United, turning professional in June 1981.

Increasingly out of the first team picture at Newcastle, Saunders joined Bradford City on loan in March 1985, moving to Carlisle United for a fee of £20,000 in August 1985.

Saunders subsequently joined Dundee before joining Torquay United in July 1990 for a then club record fee of £60,000. They captained the Torquay side to promotion the following season, Torquay beating Blackpool on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley. The following season they had a lengthy spell as caretaker manager of the team following the sacking of John Impey, and reverted to their playing role upon the appointment of Ivan Golac as manager. Their professional playing career was ended by a knee ligament injury just a couple years later.

On leaving Torquay they played non-league football for Spennymoor United and went on to play for and coach a number of non-league sides in the north east of England while working in their family's textile firm.

In summer 1998, Saunders became manager of Torquay United, this time on a permanent basis, after the departure of Kevin Hodges. They struggled to maintain the progress made by Hodges and in the 2000–01 season, Torquay struggled to the extent that former player Colin Lee was brought in as a consultant. Saunders was dismissed by Torquay on 28 March 2001 after a 1–0 defeat to Carlisle United F.C. the previous week had left the club at the bottom of the league and facing relegation to the Football Conference.

They subsequently became a player agent and their players included former England international Paul Gascoigne.

They are the in-law of former Torquay United players Matt Elliott and Micky Holmes.

They now live in East Boldon with their wife, Tina and two children, Lola and Harris Saunders. On 7 September 2014, Lola was featured as a contestant on ITV's The X Factor, passing her audition In Newcastle upon Tyne.

References:

Category: 1963 births.
Category: Living people.
Category: People from The Boldons.
Category: Sportspeople from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
Category: English footballers.
Category: Newcastle United F.C. players.
Category: Bradford City A.F.C. players.
Category: Carlisle United F.C. players.
Category: Dundee F.C. players.
Category: Torquay United F.C. players.
Category: English football managers.
Category: Torquay United F.C. managers.
Category: English Football League players.
Category: Footballers from Tyne and Wear
Category: Spennymoor United F.C. players
Category: Association football central defenders
Category: Scottish Football League players.