Rory McArdle explained

Rory McArdle
Fullname:Rory Alexander McArdle[1]
Birth Date:1 May 1987
Birth Place:Sheffield, England
Position:Defender
Years1:2004–2007
Clubs1:Sheffield Wednesday
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2005–2006
Clubs2:Rochdale (loan)
Caps2:19
Goals2:1
Years3:2006–2007
Clubs3:Rochdale (loan)
Caps3:9
Goals3:0
Years4:2007–2010
Clubs4:Rochdale
Caps4:125
Goals4:5
Years5:2010–2012
Clubs5:Aberdeen
Caps5:53
Goals5:2
Years6:2012–2017
Clubs6:Bradford City
Caps6:183
Goals6:12
Years7:2017–2020
Clubs7:Scunthorpe United
Caps7:100
Goals7:4
Clubs8:Exeter City
Years8:2020–2021
Caps8:21
Goals8:1
Years9:2021–2023
Clubs9:Harrogate Town
Caps9:35
Goals9:1
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland U19
Nationalcaps1:11
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2006–2008
Nationalteam2:Northern Ireland U21
Nationalcaps2:19
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2010–2014
Nationalteam3:Northern Ireland
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:0

Rory Alexander McArdle (born 1 May 1987) is a former professional footballer. He has previously played for Sheffield Wednesday, Rochdale, Aberdeen, Bradford City and Scunthorpe United, and represented the Northern Ireland national football team.

Club career

Aberdeen

On 19 May 2010, McArdle signed a contract with Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen.[2] Near the end of the 2011–12 season, McArdle was advised that his contract with Aberdeen would not be extended.[3]

Bradford City

McArdle signed for Bradford City on 6 June 2012, signing a two-year contract.[4] [5] He made his debut on 11 August in a 1–0 win in the League Cup against Notts County.[6] He made his league debut a week later against Gillingham.[7] He made his home debut on 21 August, in a 1–0 win against Fleetwood Town.[8] He scored his first goal for the club on 25 August in a 5–1 win against AFC Wimbledon.[9] On 8 January, McArdle scored a header against Premier League side Aston Villa in the first leg of the semi-final of the League Cup, as Bradford incredibly won 3–1.[10] He also played in the second leg, which saw Bradford advance to the final 4–3 on aggregate.[11] He started in the final which Bradford lost to Premier League side Swansea City.[12] He scored his second league goal for the club on 1 April, helping Bradford to a 3–1 away to Torquay United.[13] He then scored in the 2013 Football League Two play-off final, which Bradford won 3–0 against Northampton Town securing promotion to League One.[14] On 3 August, the opening day of the season, McArdle scored a late header from a Raffaele De Vita corner to give Bradford a point in a 2–2 draw against Bristol City.[15]

He was Bradford City's 2014–15 Player of the Year.[16]

Scunthorpe United

McArdle signed a three-year deal with fellow League One club Scunthorpe United on 21 June 2017, with the deal coming into effect from 1 July 2017.[17]

Exeter City

On 19 May 2020, McArdle signed a contract with League Two club Exeter City.[18] He scored his first goal for the club in February 2021, a 'trademark near-post header' in a 1–0 win over Stevenage.[19]

Harrogate Town

On 30 June 2021, McArdle joined fellow League Two club Harrogate Town for an undisclosed fee.[20] McArdle signed a new one-year deal in May 2022.[21]

McArdle retired at the end of the 2022-23 season.[22]

International career

McArdle made his full debut for Northern Ireland on 26 May 2010 against Turkey in a friendly.[23]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rochdale (loan)2005–06League Two191100000201
Sheffield Wednesday2006–07Championship1000100020
Rochdale (loan)2006–07League Two2501000260
Rochdale2007–08League Two463102000493
2008–09League Two432301020492
2009–10League Two200200000220
Total10956030201205
Aberdeen2010–11Scottish Premier League282414100364
2011–12Scottish Premier League250502100321
Total532916200685
Bradford City2012–13League Two402408141564
2013–14League One413100010433
2014–15League One433803010553
2015–16League One353501030443
2016–17League One241100081332
Total1831219012117223115
Scunthorpe United2017–18League One361302020431
2018–19League One380201020430
2019–20League Two263101030313
Total10046040701174
Exeter City2020–21League Two211301020271
Harrogate Town2021–22League Two231100020261
Career total5342646127330264932

Honours

Bradford City

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Exeter City . English Football League . 28 . 21 September 2020.
  2. News: Rochdale's Rory McArdle agrees to Aberdeen switch. 19 May 2010. BBC Sport. 20 May 2010.
  3. News: Aberdeen striker Darren Mackie among six to exit. BBC Sport. 25 April 2012. 25 April 2012.
  4. News: Rory McArdle becomes Bradford City's second summer signing. Telegraph & Argus. 6 June 2012. 7 June 2012.
  5. News: Bradford City sign Aberdeen defender Rory McArdle. BBC Sport. 7 June 2012. 7 June 2012.
  6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19123944 "Notts County 0–1 Bradford"
  7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19221411 "Gillingham 3–1 Bradford"
  8. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19252358 "Bradford 1–0 Fleetwood"
  9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19304428 "Bradford 5–1 AFC Wimbledon"
  10. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20880586 "Bradford 3–1 Aston Villa"
  11. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21022502 "Aston Villa 2–1 Bradford"
  12. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21489673 "Bradford 0–5 Swansea"
  13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21921297 "Torquay 1–3 Bradford"
  14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22491339 "Bradford 3–0 Northampton"
  15. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23474900 "Bristol City 2–2 Bradford"
  16. Web site: McARDLE DOMINATES PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS. 29 April 2015. 29 April 2015. Bradford City A.F.C..
  17. Web site: Iron Sign Rory McArdle. 21 June 2017. 21 June 2017. Scunthorpe United F.C..
  18. Web site: ✍️ Rory McArdle signs for Exeter City. 2020-08-06. Exeter City F.C.. en-gb.
  19. Web site: Parker . Simon . BANTAMS OPPOSITION: McArdle's painful blow for Exeter . . 7 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210205072315/https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19064127.bantams-opposition-mcardles-painful-blow-exeter/ . 5 February 2021 . 5 February 2021 . live.
  20. Web site: Rory McArdle: Harrogate Town sign Exeter City defender. BBC. 30 June 2021. 1 July 2021.
  21. Web site: Rory McArdle: Harrogate Town defender signs new one-year contract. BBC Sport. 26 May 2022. 27 May 2022.
  22. https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/harrogate-towns-former-bradford-city-stalwart-rory-mcardle-to-retire-from-football-4125570 Harrogate Town's former Bradford City stalwart Rory McArdle to retire from football
  23. News: N Ireland 0–2 Turkey . BBC Sport . 26 May 2010. 26 May 2010.
  24. News: Starting Lineups - Bradford vs Swansea . Sky Sports . 24 February 2013 . 24 March 2024.