We look back on Wakeley’s career and where he went after he left the Cobblers. 

Wakeley was playing for Northampton Spencer youth, which was then the Northampton Town nursery club, but he was allowed to slip through the net and joined Desborough, he then  joined Northampton for a reported £8,000 in October 1979. 

He spent the next six years with the Cobblers, Standing at 6’ 4”, Wakeley was one of the tallest players ever to play for the club and he soon became an integral part of the Northampton Town defence. His performances leading to him being voted the club’s player of the season in three of his last four seasons at the County Ground.

In his six years at the County Ground he had his ups and downs like the time he scored the winner against V. S. Rugby in the F.A. cup and was then dismissed in a case of mistaken identity. He also won the ‘player of the year ‘ award three times a feat no one else had ever done.

He asked for a transfer during the 1984-85 season and when no one had stepped in with a firm offer new manager Graham Carr allowed him to leave on a free.

In the summer of 1985, Gage was unable to agree a new contract with Northampton and joined fellow Division Four side Chester City under new manager Harry McNally. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw against Halifax Town on the opening day of 1985–86 and a few weeks later helped Chester to go more than 400 minutes without conceding a goal. But despite helping Chester on their way towards promotion, Gage moved to Peterborough United in November 1985.

He remained with the Posh until June 1987, when he returned to Cheshire and joined Crewe Alexandra. After more than 50 league outings for Crewe, he dropped into non-league football with Stewarts & Lloyds Corby.

At 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), Gage was one of the tallest Football League players during his career.

Stewart and Lloyds offered him a salesman post when he played for them; he later played for his first club, Northampton Spencer and Cogenoe whilst working for Echo communications. Later worked as manager of Dawson of Corby before setting up his own business.