Matthew Gardiner (footballer)

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Matthew Gardiner
Personal information
Full name Matthew Gardiner
Date of birth (1974-03-28) 28 March 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Position(s) Full back
Team information
Current team
 Blackburn Rovers (Assistant Head Coach)
Youth career
1992 Torquay United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1993 Torquay United 7 (0)
1993–1995 Shrewsbury Town 0 (0)
2000–2001 Hereford United
2001 Worcester City 4 (0)
2001 Hereford United
2001–2002 Hednesford Town
2002 Evesham United
2003–2005 Redditch United
Worcester City
Bromsgrove Rovers
Managerial career
2010–2011 Redditch United
2011–2016 Worcester City (assistant)
2016–2018 Kidderminster Harriers (head of coaching)
2018–2022 Queens Park Rangers (assistant coach)
2022–2023 Birmingham City (joint assistant head coach)
2024– Blackburn Rovers (assistant head coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Matthew Gardiner (born 28 March 1974) is an English former professional footballer.

Playing career[edit]

Gardiner was born in Birmingham and began his career as an apprentice with Torquay United, turning professional in July 1992. He made his league debut in September the same year, coming on as a substitute for Danis Salman in a 2–0 defeat away to Bury, but left Plainmoor the following summer after making seven league appearances. He joined Shrewsbury Town but failed to make their first team, later playing for non-league side Moor Green, Stourbridge and Halesowen Town.

In June 2000 he joined Conference side Hereford United[1] and although Hereford were one of the mainly full-time Conference sides, Gardiner remained a part-time player, making his Conference debut on 2 September in a 3–0 win away at Woking. He was released by Hereford in the summer of 2001 after missing the end of the season through injury having undergone a double hernia operation.[2]

Following a brief spell at Worcester City where he played four games he linked up again with Hereford United on non-contract terms in September 2001.[3] He then moved to Hednesford Town in November 2001 where he was one of new manager Kenny Hibbitt's first signings.[4] Gardiner started the 2002–03 season at Evesham United before linking up with Redditch United in January 2003.[5] In February 2005 he teamed up with Worcester City[6] before signing for Worcestershire neighbours Bromsgrove Rovers.[7]

Coaching career[edit]

After a spell coaching at Bromsgrove Rovers, Gardiner returned to their Worcestershire neighbours Redditch United for his first management job.[8]  In spite of challenging times financially, he guided the club to the fourth qualifying round[9] of the FA Cup and helped to develop a number of players including striker Matt Smith[10] who went on to play for Oldham Athletic, Leeds United, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers and Millwall.

He left in February 2011 when the playing budget was cut to zero and linked up with Worcester City[11] – first on the scouting side and then, in May 2011, as assistant manager to Carl Heeley. Over the next few seasons City made a name for themselves as non-league giant-killers in the FA Cup, knocking out a number of Football League sides. In 2014–15 they beat League One club Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena[12] before losing to another League One side Scunthorpe United 14–13 on penalties – a record for the longest shoot-out in FA Cup history.[13] He was appointed joint manager alongside Heeley the following season and another FA Cup run ended in a first round defeat at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United.[14] Gardiner's ability to develop players continued at City with defender George Williams joining League One side Barnsley.[15]

The start of the 2016–17 season saw Gardiner named head of coaching at Kidderminster Harriers,[16] the first appointment of new manager John Eustace. Gardiner explained that the chance to continue his player development work on a full-time basis was key to his decision. He had a chance to further enhance those skills in the summer of 2017 when he worked alongside former QPR manager Chris Ramsey at the V9 Academy founded by England international Jamie Vardy.[17]

In June 2018, Gardiner linked up with QPR[18][19] with the remit of nurturing the younger squad members while developing his own skills under the guidance of manager Steve McClaren and assistant Eustace who had moved from Harriers the previous month.[20] As assistant coach he helped with the development of emerging players including Eberechi Eze, Darnell Furlong and Bright Osayi-Samuel.[21][22]

From May 2019 he was part of Mark Warburton's backroom team. Gardiner and Eustace left QPR in June 2022 after Warburton was replaced by Michael Beale,[23] and when Eustace became head coach of Birmingham City a couple of weeks later, Gardiner was appointed as one of his two assistants.[24] He left the club on 10 October 2023 after Eustace's dismissal.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gardiner tempted by Halesowen factor
  2. ^ Gardiner leaves the lane
  3. ^ Webb extends loan spell with Bulls
  4. ^ Hibbitt moves into the transfer market
  5. ^ Redditch move for Gardiner
  6. ^ Managerless City to field two newcomers
  7. ^ Preece releases Gardiner
  8. ^ "Gardiner appointed Redditch boss". 14 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Redditch progress to final qualifying round of FA Cup". Birmingham Live. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Gardiner: Local stars can follow Smith's path". Worcester News. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Ex-Reds boss is handed City role". Worcester News. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  12. ^ BBC Hereford & Worcester on Facebook Watch, retrieved 10 May 2020
  13. ^ Mason, Peter (17 December 2014). "Scunthorpe set FA Cup record by beating Worcester 14-13 on penalties". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Sheffield United ease past non-league Worcester City". Eurosport UK. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  15. ^ "George Williams: Barnsley sign Worcester City defender". BBC Sport. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Matt Gardiner: Kidderminster Harriers recruit Worcester City's joint manager". BBC Sport. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Jamie Vardy's V9 Academy: How Leicester striker is helping non-league talent realise pro dream". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  18. ^ Edwards, Joe. "Matt Gardiner leaves Kidderminster Harriers for QPR". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  19. ^ Sport, West London (8 June 2018). "Gardiner joins McClaren's backroom staff at QPR". West London Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  20. ^ Sport, West London (27 October 2018). "McClaren says coaching duo deserve credit for QPR turnaround". West London Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Eze does it – QPR prospect an example of Chris Ramsey's good work – Back Page Football". 9 August 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  22. ^ Horlock, Ben (14 June 2018). "Three young QPR players who can benefit from Matt Gardiner appointment". HITC. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  23. ^ Morrissey, Paul (16 June 2022). "John Eustace & Matt Gardiner depart QPR". Queens Park Rangers F.C. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  24. ^ Dick, Brian (4 July 2022). "Confirmed: John Eustace names his Birmingham City back-room staff". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  25. ^ "Matt Gardiner and Keith Downing leave Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
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