Mark Gardiner
Encyclopedia
Mark Christopher Gardiner (born 25 December 1966 in Cirencester
) is an English former professional footballer who made 262 appearances in the Football League
. He could play effectively at either left-back or left-wing.
Gardiner began his career as an apprentice with Swindon Town
, making his league debut while still an apprentice in a 1-1 draw against Mansfield Town
at the County Ground in April 1984. He turned professional in September 1984, making 10 league appearances, scoring 1 goal for the Robins.
He joined Torquay United
on a free transfer in February 1987 (as part of the deal taking Phil King
to Swindon_ and was plunged straight into the relegation battle, which would eventually see Torquay survive on the last day of the season and Lincoln City
relegated to the Conference. The following season, Gardiner remained a regular in the resurgent Torquay side, scoring a spectacular winner away to Bolton Wanderers
(only to be given a roasting by then manager Cyril Knowles
as he was supposed to have aimed for the corner-flag as Torquay held on for a draw).
In August 1988 Gardiner left for Crewe Alexandra
, again on a free transfer, after making 49 league appearances for the Gulls, scoring 4 goals in the process. At Crewe he helped the Railwaymen to promotion from the bottom flight in both 1989 and 1994. After a spell on loan to Chester City
in March 1995, in which he played 3 league games, he left Crewe for a short spell in Norway
with Fredrikstad F.K.
, returning to the UK to become a postman in Crewe
.
He joined Macclesfield Town
in October 1995, where he continued to fit in his postal duties with full-time training. Gardiner was a member of the team that helped Macclesfield to promotion to the Football League, though he only made 7 league appearances, scoring twice, in that debut season. In December 1997, he moved to Northwich Victoria
, scoring the winning goal on his Conference
debut against Stalybridge Celtic
on 25 December. In November 1998, Northwich manager Phil Wilson
was sacked with the Vics in 12th place in the Conference. Gardiner took over as caretaker manager, his first game in charge bringing a 3-0 home win over Welling United. He was confirmed as manager that December, and led Northwich to 7th in the Conference and to the last eight of the FA Trophy
.
The following season was a struggle, Northwich flirted with relegation, finally finishing 18th, and were knocked out of the FA Trophy by Runcorn in the first round. On the 3rd of October 2000, with Northwich bottom of the Conference with only 9 points from 12 games, Gardiner was sacked, joining Leek Town
as a player, making his debut in a draw at Altrincham
. Within a fortnight of Gardiner signing for Leek, Andy Holmes was sacked as Leek manager and on 3 November 2000, Gardiner was given his job. However, with Leek desperately short of money and struggling in the league, it was never going to be an easy task. In January 2001, Gardiner was told to cut the wage bill after having his budget cut and promptly resigned. He almost immediately joined Nantwich Town
as a player, making his debut at left-back in a 2-0 win over Ramsbottom United
. He was still playing for Nantwich in 2004.
In 2006 Gardiner had a brief spell in the TC Exiles squad which played in the Cirencester District Division 2. Hek led them to a final in which they ran out 2-1 to a last minute winner, Exiles soon folded and with a string of injuries, Gardiner called it a day.
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
) is an English former professional footballer who made 262 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He could play effectively at either left-back or left-wing.
Gardiner began his career as an apprentice with Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, making his league debut while still an apprentice in a 1-1 draw against Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
at the County Ground in April 1984. He turned professional in September 1984, making 10 league appearances, scoring 1 goal for the Robins.
He joined 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 a free transfer in February 1987 (as part of the deal taking Phil King
Phil King (footballer)
Philip Geoffrey King is an English former professional footballer. He represented England at Under-21 level and in a B international. He was born in Bristol....
to Swindon_ and was plunged straight into the relegation battle, which would eventually see Torquay survive on the last day of the season and Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
relegated to the Conference. The following season, Gardiner remained a regular in the resurgent Torquay side, scoring a spectacular winner away to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
(only to be given a roasting by then manager Cyril Knowles
Cyril Knowles
Cyril Barry Knowles was a footballer who played full-back for Tottenham Hotspur and England. He was the brother of fellow professional footballer Peter Knowles.- Early career :...
as he was supposed to have aimed for the corner-flag as Torquay held on for a draw).
In August 1988 Gardiner left for Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, again on a free transfer, after making 49 league appearances for the Gulls, scoring 4 goals in the process. At Crewe he helped the Railwaymen to promotion from the bottom flight in both 1989 and 1994. After a spell on loan to Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in March 1995, in which he played 3 league games, he left Crewe for a short spell in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
with Fredrikstad F.K.
Fredrikstad F.K.
Fredrikstad footballklubb is a Norwegian football club from the town of Fredrikstad. With nine league championships and eleven Norwegian Cup wins, FFK is one of the most successful clubs in Norwegian football...
, returning to the UK to become a postman in Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
.
He joined Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
in October 1995, where he continued to fit in his postal duties with full-time training. Gardiner was a member of the team that helped Macclesfield to promotion to the Football League, though he only made 7 league appearances, scoring twice, in that debut season. In December 1997, he moved to Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
, scoring the winning goal on his Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
debut against Stalybridge Celtic
Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
Stalybridge Celtic are an English full time professional football club from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester in North West England. The club, which plays its home matches at Bower Fold, is currently in the Conference North in the sixth tier of the English football league system...
on 25 December. In November 1998, Northwich manager Phil Wilson
Phil Wilson
Phil Wilson may refer to:Musicians*Phil Wilson , singer with The June Brides and solo artist*Phil Wilson , American jazz trombonist and educator*Phillip Wilson , American jazz drummerPoliticians...
was sacked with the Vics in 12th place in the Conference. Gardiner took over as caretaker manager, his first game in charge bringing a 3-0 home win over Welling United. He was confirmed as manager that December, and led Northwich to 7th in the Conference and to the last eight of the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
.
The following season was a struggle, Northwich flirted with relegation, finally finishing 18th, and were knocked out of the FA Trophy by Runcorn in the first round. On the 3rd of October 2000, with Northwich bottom of the Conference with only 9 points from 12 games, Gardiner was sacked, joining Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
as a player, making his debut in a draw at Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
. Within a fortnight of Gardiner signing for Leek, Andy Holmes was sacked as Leek manager and on 3 November 2000, Gardiner was given his job. However, with Leek desperately short of money and struggling in the league, it was never going to be an easy task. In January 2001, Gardiner was told to cut the wage bill after having his budget cut and promptly resigned. He almost immediately joined Nantwich Town
Nantwich Town F.C.
Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich...
as a player, making his debut at left-back in a 2-0 win over Ramsbottom United
Ramsbottom United F.C.
Ramsbottom United F.C. are an English football club based in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division. Their home stadium is the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Acrebottom, Ramsbottom and their nickname is The Rams...
. He was still playing for Nantwich in 2004.
In 2006 Gardiner had a brief spell in the TC Exiles squad which played in the Cirencester District Division 2. Hek led them to a final in which they ran out 2-1 to a last minute winner, Exiles soon folded and with a string of injuries, Gardiner called it a day.