Gary Elkins, who made over a hundred league appearances for both Wimbledon and Fulham, had a brief spell on loan at Exeter City during the club’s Division Four championship-winning season. He also played for Swindon Town. 

Gary started as an apprentice with Fulham, and representing England at youth level, signed professionally in December 1983 on the way to playing 104 league games for the West London club. 

Never a regular, the 23-year-old came to St James’ Park on loan in December 1989 and, going into a team that ultimately won the Division Four title, made his debut at Aldershot on Boxing Day. Taking the number eleven shirt that had mostly been worn by Richard Dryden, Gary helped the Grecians win four out of five games during his one-month stay with the club.  

Returning to Fulham, Gary was transferred from Wimbledon for a fee of £20,000 in August 1990 where he played another 100 or so league games before signing for Swindon Town in a £100,000 transfer in September 1996. Proving less-successful in Wiltshire, Gary dropped out of professional football in 1997 and - hailing from the area originally - played on for AFC Wallingford before later coaching Didcot Town as well as becoming a PE instructor with the prison service and running a business involved in first aid training and mental health awareness.