Sam Gardner (soccer)
 Gardner with FC Edmonton in 2020 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Julian Gardner | ||
| Date of birth | 4 April 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Scarborough Blizzard YSC | |||
| North Scarborough SC | |||
| Power FC | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2017 | Jacksonville Dolphins | 41 | (3) |
| 2018 | Grand Canyon Antelopes | 21 | (1) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015 | Master's Futbol | (7) | |
| 2017 | K–W United | 1 | (0) |
| 2019 | Sigma FC | 8 | (1) |
| 2020 | FC Edmonton | 2 | (0) |
| 2022 | Cape Town Spurs FC | 2 | (0) |
| 2022– | Alliance United | 17 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 18, 2023 | |||
Samuel Julian Gardner (born 4 April 1997) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for Alliance United.
University career
[edit]In 2015, Gardner began studying at Jacksonville University, an NCAA Division I school in the ASUN Conference, where he went on to make a total of 41 appearances, scoring three goals in three seasons for the Dolphins.[1] In 2018, he transferred to Grand Canyon University for his senior year. He made 21 appearances for the Antelopes, leading them to 9 clean sheets while also scoring 1 goal and notching 2 assists.[2] Gardner was subsequently named to both the 2018 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) All-Conference team and the 2018 WAC Men's All-Tournament Team after playing a key role in GCU's first-ever WAC Men's Soccer Tournament championship, which was also the school's inaugural appearance at the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament.[3] Gardner graduated with a Business Administration degree in 2019.
Club career
[edit]In 2015, Gardner played for Master's Futbol Academy in League1 Ontario, scoring seven goals.[1]
In 2017, Gardner made one appearance for USL PDL side K–W United.[4]
After college, Gardner had the opportunity to sign with a California-based team in the USL, but he decided to come home in 2019 and returned to the semi-professional League1 Ontario, joining Sigma FC.[5] He made eight league appearances that season, scoring one goal and made one additional appearance in the playoffs.[6]
In early 2020, Gardner trialled with USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.[7]
On 3 August 2020, Gardner signed his first professional contract with Canadian Premier League side FC Edmonton.[8] He made his professional debut for FC Edmonton as a 20th minute substitute against Atletico Ottawa in a 2–2 draw on August 23.
In January 2022, Gardner started training with GladAfrica Championship side Cape Town Spurs FC.[9] After impressing during his trial, Gardner signed a contract with the South African side in February 2022 until the end of the 2021–2022 season.[10]
In 2022, he began playing for Alliance United of League1 Ontario.[11][12]
Personal life
[edit]Gardner's family is of African descent. His mother, Gill, was born in Zambia and his father, James, was born in South Africa. He also has an older sister, Georgia.[13] In September 2021, Gardner told Yahoo!: "I’m proud to be a Canadian but I’m also very proud to be South African. All my family is still there. I spent many years of my childhood travelling back and forth between South Africa and Canada and would love an opportunity to give back to a community that practically raised me and gave so much to me."[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Sam Gardner". Jacksonville University. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Sam Gardner". Grand Canyon University. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Professional Soccer Player Sam Gardner is Making International Moves". September 30, 2021.
- ^ "Samuel Gardner 2017 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
- ^ Shackleton, Alan (September 3, 2020). "Beach soccer player Sam Gardner signs pro contract with FC Edmonton". Beach Metro.
- ^ "Samuel Gardner". League1 Ontario. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ Cody Costra (29 January 2020). "Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Invite Two Trialists From Open Tryouts". Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "FC Edmonton adds Canadian defenders Terique Mohammed and Sam Gardner". FC Edmonton. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Spurs Assessing 'Canadian' Defender". Idiski Times.
- ^ John Jacques (March 1, 2022). "Samuel Gardner Lands Cape Town Spurs Deal". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "Samuel Gardner 2022 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "Sam Gardner 2023 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "2017 Men's Soccer". Jacksonville University.
- ^ "Professional Soccer Player Sam Gardner is Making International Moves". Yahoo. September 30, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Sam Gardner at Soccerway
- 1997 births
- Living people
- Men's association football defenders
- Canadian men's soccer players
- Soccer players from Toronto
- Canadian expatriate men's soccer players
- Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
- Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Jacksonville Dolphins men's soccer players
- K–W United FC players
- Grand Canyon Antelopes men's soccer players
- FC Edmonton players
- League1 Ontario players
- USL League Two players
- Canadian Premier League players
- Master's FA players
- Sigma FC players
- Alliance United FC players
- 21st-century Canadian sportsmen