Darren Garner
Encyclopedia
Darren John Garner is an English
professional footballer. He currently plays for Bodmin Town
.
Garner began his professional football career as a trainee with Plymouth Argyle
, turning professional in March 1989. He moved to non-league Dorchester Town
on a free transfer in August 1994 and in June 1995 moved to Rotherham United
for a fee of £30,000.
In ten years at Rotherham, in which he played over 250 games, he helped the Millers to two promotions and an Auto Windscreen Shield
, but fell out of favour with both his manager and the club's fans in February 2005 after being substituted in a game at home to Nottingham Forest
. The hand gestures he gave while leaving the field were reported by the Fourth Official, leading to FA
charges and a £500 fine.
The following month Garner moved to Torquay United
on loan until the end of the season, failing to prevent Torquay's relegation. He joined Torquay on a free transfer on June 2005, playing in a side almost relegated for a second successive season.
In June 2006 he was given in 3-month contract extension, but in October 2006 was told by Torquay manager Ian Atkins
that he would be released at the end of November. He left Torquay in early November having agreed a settlement for the end of his contract. He signed for Newport County
on November 7, 2006. He first featured for County as a sub against Swansea City in the FA Cup
1st round proper. Almost scoring with his first touch Garner turned back the clocks with a fantastic display of football. Although he made a promising start for the exiles things went downhill thereafter. Consistently underperforming he frustrated both fans and management alike, his only goal being an own goal against Braintree Town. He was later released by manager Peter Beadle
after failing to turn up for a league game. and he joined Cornish
non-league side Launceston
after being released in March 2007.
However, Garner joined Truro City
later the same month. He left Truro in the summer of 2007 to join Bodmin Town
, but left Bodmin in September 2007 to re-join Launceston.
On 14 February 2009 Garner had his debut as Manager for Launceston, after the resignation of Paul Smith
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer. He currently plays for Bodmin Town
Bodmin Town F.C.
Bodmin Town Football Club is an English football club based in Bodmin, Cornwall.Founded in 1889, the club played at a number of venues before moving to Priory Park in 1948. Having originally played in a white kit, the club adopted its current colours of black and amber in 1925...
.
Garner began his professional football career as a trainee with Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, turning professional in March 1989. He moved to non-league Dorchester Town
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
on a free transfer in August 1994 and in June 1995 moved to Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
for a fee of £30,000.
In ten years at Rotherham, in which he played over 250 games, he helped the Millers to two promotions and an Auto Windscreen Shield
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
, but fell out of favour with both his manager and the club's fans in February 2005 after being substituted in a game at home to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. The hand gestures he gave while leaving the field were reported by the Fourth Official, leading to FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
charges and a £500 fine.
The following month Garner moved to Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on loan until the end of the season, failing to prevent Torquay's relegation. He joined Torquay on a free transfer on June 2005, playing in a side almost relegated for a second successive season.
In June 2006 he was given in 3-month contract extension, but in October 2006 was told by Torquay manager Ian Atkins
Ian Atkins
Ian Leslie Atkins is a former English professional footballer who became a manager later in his career, and now works as a coach with Sunderland. During a 20-year playing career he had eight clubs, including two spells with Sunderland and Birmingham City and playing more than 200 games with his...
that he would be released at the end of November. He left Torquay in early November having agreed a settlement for the end of his contract. He signed for Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
on November 7, 2006. He first featured for County as a sub against Swansea City in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
1st round proper. Almost scoring with his first touch Garner turned back the clocks with a fantastic display of football. Although he made a promising start for the exiles things went downhill thereafter. Consistently underperforming he frustrated both fans and management alike, his only goal being an own goal against Braintree Town. He was later released by manager Peter Beadle
Peter Beadle
Peter Clifford William James Beadle is an English former football player and manager. A forward, he scored some 83 goals in 355 league games, mostly for the two Bristol clubs....
after failing to turn up for a league game. and he joined Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
non-league side Launceston
Launceston F.C.
Launceston F.C. are a football club based in Launceston, Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom.They joined the South Western League in 1958, left in 1961, rejoined for another four-season spell in 1966, and again in 1978 - this time they retained membership until 2007 when they joined the newly...
after being released in March 2007.
However, Garner joined Truro City
Truro City F.C.
Truro City F.C. are an English professional football club based in Truro, Cornwall. They currently play in the Conference South following five promotions in six seasons. They were founding members of the South Western League in 1951 and won the title five times in their history...
later the same month. He left Truro in the summer of 2007 to join Bodmin Town
Bodmin Town F.C.
Bodmin Town Football Club is an English football club based in Bodmin, Cornwall.Founded in 1889, the club played at a number of venues before moving to Priory Park in 1948. Having originally played in a white kit, the club adopted its current colours of black and amber in 1925...
, but left Bodmin in September 2007 to re-join Launceston.
On 14 February 2009 Garner had his debut as Manager for Launceston, after the resignation of Paul Smith