Andrew Gara | |
Birth Date: | 1878 8, df=yes |
Birth Place: | Roscommon, Ireland |
Position: | Forward |
Youthclubs1: | Temple Bar Juniors |
Years1: | 1895 |
Clubs1: | Ashton-in-Makerfield |
Clubs2: | Park Lane |
Years3: | 1897 |
Clubs3: | Wigan County |
Years4: | 1898–1902 |
Clubs4: | Preston North End |
Caps4: | 66 |
Goals4: | 27 |
Years5: | 1902 |
Clubs5: | Nottingham Forest |
Caps5: | 6 |
Goals5: | 1 |
Years6: | 1902–03 |
Clubs6: | Bristol City |
Caps6: | 18 |
Goals6: | 6 |
Years7: | 1903 |
Clubs7: | Earlestown |
Years8: | 1904 |
Clubs8: | Ashton Town |
Years9: | 1906 |
Clubs9: | Southport Central |
Caps9: | 15[1] |
Goals9: | 4 |
Years10: | 1907 |
Clubs10: | Ashton Town |
Years11: | 1907 |
Clubs11: | Eccles Borough |
Years12: | 1908 |
Clubs12: | Ashton Town |
Nationalyears1: | 1902 |
Nationalteam1: | Ireland |
Nationalcaps1: | 3 |
Nationalgoals1: | 3 |
Andrew Gara (born 15 August 1878; date of death unknown) was an Irish footballer who played as a forward.[2]
Gara joined Wigan County on the foundation of the club in 1897,[3] scoring against Nelson in the FA Cup in October of the same year.[4]
After impressing in a friendly match against Preston North End Gara joined Preston for a reported fee[3] of £100, where he averaged close to a goal every other game, top scoring in the 1900–01 season with 11 goals, despite Preston's relegation that season.[2] Gara would then have a short spell with Nottingham Forest, making 6 appearances and scoring once on his home debut against Aston Villa.[5]
He would then join Second division Bristol City, where he scored 6 goals in 18 games,[2] before returning to the Lancashire Combination league with Earlestown, who would be promoted[6] at the end of his season with the club. He would remain in the Lancashire Combination for the remainder of his playing career, with three spells at Ashton Town as well as time with Southport Central and Eccles Borough, before retiring in 1908.
Gara was selected for Ireland during the 1901-02 British Home Championship, scoring three goals on his debut against Wales. One of Gara's international shirts is in the collection of the National Football Museum[7]