Gardner Speirs Explained

Gardner Speirs
Fullname:Walter Gardner Speirs
Birth Date:14 April 1963
Birth Place:Airdrie, Scotland
Currentclub:Queen's Park (Head of Youth Development)
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:–1980
Youthclubs1:St Mirren B.C.
Years1:1980–1989
Years2:1988
Years3:1989
Years4:1989
Years5:1990
Years6:1990–1991
Years7:1991–1992
Clubs1:St Mirren
Clubs2:Kilmarnock (loan)
Clubs3:Dunfermline Athletic (loan)
Clubs4:Hartlepool United
Clubs5:Airdrieonians
Clubs6:Bathgate Thistle
Clubs7:East Stirlingshire
Caps1:90
Caps2:5
Caps3:4
Caps4:1
Caps5:9
Caps7:19
Goals1:16
Goals2:0
Goals3:0
Goals4:0
Goals5:1
Goals7:2
Manageryears1:1996–1998
Manageryears2:2002
Manageryears3:2005–2006
Manageryears4:2008–2013
Managerclubs1:Clyde
Managerclubs2:Aberdeen (caretaker)
Managerclubs3:Ross County (caretaker)
Managerclubs4:Queen's Park
Managerclubs5:Queen's Park (caretaker)
Manageryears5:2021–2022

Walter Gardner Speirs (born 14 April 1963) is a Scottish football manager and former player.

Career

Playing

During his playing career, Speirs played for St Mirren, Kilmarnock (on loan), Dunfermline Athletic (on loan), Hartlepool United, Airdrieonians, Bathgate Thistle and East Stirlingshire.[1]

Managerial

He was on the coaching staff at Clyde, and from 1996 to 1998 held the position of Manager. Subsequently, he joined the coaching staff at Aberdeen, eventually taking the role of assistant manager and in December 2002 was briefly named caretaker manager following the resignation of Ebbe Skovdahl.[2] He worked as caretaker manager of Ross County in October 2005 until the end of the 2005–06 season.[3] He became assistant manager of Partick Thistle in May 2007.[4]

He became manager at Queen's Park after taking over from Billy Stark in 2008. Speirs extended his contract at the end of the 2009–10 season for a further two years,[5] subsequently signing another extension on 27 January 2012 through until 2014.[6] He left Queen's Park by mutual consent in December 2013.[7]

Spiers briefly joined the Rangers Academy as a youth coach in March 2015.[8] On 28 August 2015, Gardner joined Lowland League side East Kilbride as assistant manager.[9] He left that position in March 2016.

Having performed the role of Head of Youth Development for Queen's Park for a few years, Speirs was named as caretaker manager of the club on 31 December 2021, following the departure of Laurie Ellis.[10]

Managerial statistics

TeamNatFromToRecord
GWDLWin %
Clyde19961998
Aberdeen (caretaker)20022002
Ross County (caretaker)October 2005June 2006
Queen's ParkJanuary 2008December 2013
Queen's Park (caretaker)December 2021June 2022

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GARDNER SPEIRS. Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. 1 December 2007.
  2. Web site: Dons appoint Speirs. BBC. . 5 December 2002 . 1 December 2007.
  3. Web site: County stick with interim Speirs . BBC. . 9 March 2006 . 1 December 2007.
  4. Web site: McCall outlines new Partick plans. BBC. BBC Sport. 30 May 2007. 1 December 2007.
  5. Web site: Manager Gardner Speirs extends Queen's Park contract. BBC. BBC Sport. 20 May 2010. 21 May 2010.
  6. Web site: Glasgow - Latest news updates, pictures, video, reaction - Daily Record.
  7. Web site: Queen's Park: Gardner Speirs leaves by mutual consent . BBC Sport . BBC. 21 December 2013 . 21 December 2013.
  8. News: Dickinson. Andrew. Rangers hire three new coaches in academy shake-up . 6 January 2016. The Scotsman. 19 March 2015.
  9. News: East Kilbride assistant Gardner Speirs delighted to be back in the game. Daily Record. 2 September 2015. Thomson. Paul.
  10. Web site: 2021-12-31. Queen's Park FC - Laurie Ellis. 2021-12-31. Queen's Park Football Club. en-US.