Gareth Wardlaw Explained

Gareth Wardlaw
Fullname:Gareth Wardlaw
Birth Date:7 March 1979
Birth Place:Kirkcaldy, Scotland
Position:Forward
Years1:2004–2008
Caps1:92
Goals1:24
Clubs1:Ayr United
Years2:2008–2009
Caps2:20
Goals2:2
Clubs2:Raith Rovers
Years3:2009–2010
Caps3:31
Goals3:16
Clubs3:Cowdenbeath
Years4:2010–2011
Caps4:23
Goals4:3
Clubs4:St Mirren
Years5:2011–2012
Caps5:25
Goals5:2
Clubs5:Ayr United
Years6:2012–2013
Caps6:15
Goals6:4
Clubs6:East Fife
Years7:2013–2014
Clubs7:Hill of Beath Hawthorn
Club-Update:22:10, 29 July 2014 (UTC)

Gareth Wardlaw (born 7 March 1979) is a Scottish former footballer, who retired after last playing for Hill of Beath Hawthorn in the Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region. He previously played in the Scottish Premier League for St Mirren. He also played for Ayr United, Raith Rovers, Cowdenbeath and East Fife.

Career

After many years in amateur and Junior football, Wardlaw started his senior career at Ayr United in 2004, signing from Burntisland Shipyard.[1] He made 111 appearances and scored 28 goals for the club in all competitions. Wardlaw signed for his hometown club Raith Rovers on 29 May 2008.[2] Wardlaw started the season well but then suffered a horrific injury in a game against East Fife.[3] After returning from injury Wardlaw struggled to get a place in the starting line-up, and ended up making only 13 appearances, scoring only 2 goals, eventually being released at the end of the 2008–09 season.

Following his departure from Raith Rovers, Wardlaw signed on at their neighbours Cowdenbeath[4] and was a regular starter in the line-up that season making 38 appearances and scoring 19 goals in all competitions.

In July 2010, St Mirren agreed a deal with Cowdenbeath to sign Wardlaw after agreeing compensation of around £45,000.[5] Wardlaw followed manager Danny Lennon in signing for the Paisley club from Cowdenbeath. This meant he became a full-time professional for the first time at the age of 31 when he signed for St Mirren, giving up a career as a postman.[6] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 defeat against Motherwell on 2 October 2010[7] and his second, again against Motherwell on 20 November 2010.[8] His goal against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on 10 May gave St Mirren a 1–0 victory, which not only kept the club in the SPL, but gave them their first victory away against Aberdeen since 1987.[9] He was released by the club at the end of the 2010–11 season.[10]

On 28 June 2011, Wardlaw re-joined Ayr United.[11] He was released by Ayr on 29 April 2008.[12] On 9 June 2012, Wardlaw signed for East Fife.[13] [14]

Wardlaw joined Junior side Hill of Beath Hawthorn in June 2013.[15] In the summer of 2014, Wardlaw retired from football.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ayr chance for amateur midfielder. BBC Sport. 11 November 2004. 29 July 2014.
  2. http://www.raithroversfc.com/cgi-bin/latestnews.cgi?id=2654&page=127 Striker Signs
  3. Web site: Dailyrecord.co.uk. 2008-09-18. Back in business. 2021-08-04. Daily Record. en.
  4. Web site: Striker Wardlaw joins Cowdenbeath. BBC Sport. 16 June 2009. 29 July 2014.
  5. http://sport.scotsman.com/division-1/Danny-Lennon-wins-war-of.6415475.jp Danny Lennon wins war of words for Gareth Wardlaw
  6. News: Former postman Gareth Wardlaw finding the going tough after turning full-time at age of 31. Thomson . Robert . . 14 November 2010 . 14 November 2010 .
  7. Web site: Motherwell 3-1 St Mirren. BBC Sport. 2 October 2010. 29 July 2014.
  8. Web site: St Mirren 1-1 Motherwell. BBC Sport. 20 November 2010. 29 July 2014.
  9. Web site: Relieved Lennon delighted to secure survival. STV Sport. 11 May 2011. 29 July 2014.
  10. Web site: St Mirren allow 10 to leave club. BBC Sport. 13 May 2011. 29 July 2014.
  11. News: Wardlaw returns to Somerset Park. Lamont . Michael . . 28 June 2011 . 28 June 2011 .
  12. Web site: BREAKING NEWS: Eight Ayr United players released . Ayr Advertiser . McConnell . Stewart . 29 April 2008 . 29 July 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140730004302/http://www.ayradvertiser.com/sport/ayrunited/articles/2008/04/29/23358-breaking-news-eight-ayr-united-players-released . 30 July 2014 .
  13. News: GARETH WARDLAW SIGNS FOR EAST FIFE . . 9 June 2012 . 9 June 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140730020935/http://www.eastfifefc.info/component/content/article/1-latest-news/610-gareth-wardlaw-signs-for-east-fife . 30 July 2014 .
  14. News: Scottish Division Two ins and outs. BBC Sport. 7 August 2012. 7 August 2012.
  15. Web site: Wardlaw heads for Hill o' Beath. Scottish Junior Football Association. 20 June 2013.
  16. Web site: Clubs can make an impact at all levels this coming season. Central Fife Times & Advertiser. 24 July 2014. 29 July 2014.