Sam Gardner (soccer)

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Samuel Gardner
Gardner with FC Edmonton in 2020
Personal information
Full name Samuel Julian Gardner
Date of birth (1997-04-04) 4 April 1997 (age 27)
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]

  1. ^ a b "Sam Gardner". Jacksonville University. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Sam Gardner". Grand Canyon University. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Professional Soccer Player Sam Gardner is Making International Moves". September 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Samuel Gardner 2017 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  5. ^ Shackleton, Alan (September 3, 2020). "Beach soccer player Sam Gardner signs pro contract with FC Edmonton". Beach Metro.
  6. ^ "Samuel Gardner". League1 Ontario. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  7. ^ Cody Costra (29 January 2020). "Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Invite Two Trialists From Open Tryouts". Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  8. ^ "FC Edmonton adds Canadian defenders Terique Mohammed and Sam Gardner". FC Edmonton. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Spurs Assessing 'Canadian' Defender". Idiski Times.
  10. ^ John Jacques (March 1, 2022). "Samuel Gardner Lands Cape Town Spurs Deal". Northern Tribune.
  11. ^ "Samuel Gardner 2022 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  12. ^ "Sam Gardner 2023 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  13. ^ "2017 Men's Soccer". Jacksonville University.
  14. ^ "Professional Soccer Player Sam Gardner is Making International Moves". Yahoo. September 30, 2021.

External links[edit]

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