Mark Gardiner, Date of Birth, Place of Birth

    

Mark Gardiner

English footballer and manager

Date of Birth: 25-Dec-1966

Place of Birth: Cirencester, England, United Kingdom

Profession: association football manager, association football player

Nationality: United Kingdom

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn


Show Famous Birthdays Today, United Kingdom

👉 Worldwide Celebrity Birthdays Today

About Mark Gardiner

  • 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 2nd Round.
  • On 3 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.
  • He 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.

Read more at Wikipedia

See Also