Andrew Gara Explained

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]

Club career

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.

International career

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Player Details - SFC FPA . Southport Football Club Former Players Association . 9 November 2016. 2 September 2020.
  2. Web site: NIFG: Andy Gara . Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats . 5 April 2020.
  3. Wigan Examiner: February 22, 1899: Page 4, column 2
  4. Web site: 1898-1899 . Wigan Football History . 2 September 2020.
  5. Web site: Forest and Whites - WHITES . Preston North End MAD . 2 September 2020.
  6. Web site: England – Lancashire Combination . . 5 April 2020.
  7. Web site: Andrew Gara's Ireland Shirt, 1902 . National Football Museum . 6 November 2020.