Born: 28 May 1910

Born in: Huyton, Liverpool

Died: 16 February 1970

Other clubs: Orrell (1926-28), Grimsby Town (1931-32), Hull City (1932-34), Aston Villa (1934-38), Burnley (1938-45); Preston North End, Blackpool, Southport, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers (wartime guest), Wrexham (1945-47), Wellington Town (1947-50), Oswestry Town (1950-52), Saltney (1952-54)

Signed from: Orrell

Joined Liverpool: Amateur - July 1928 / Professional - April 1929

Debut: 25 Jan 1930

Final appearance: 22 Feb 1930

Contract until: 04.05.1931

League: Apps / Goals: 5 / 0

All Competitions: Apps / Goals: 5 / 0

Player Profile

The fair-haired Gardner, nicknamed "Gandhi", joined Liverpool as an amateur from Orrell in July 1928, signing professional forms a year later. He was a half-back who played in five consecutive first division fixtures in the second half of the 1929/30 season when the regular right-half Tom Morrison was unavailable. Morrison had been an ever-present the season before and would only miss three League matches the following season so Gardner's opportunities were limited as a result. There was only one victory for the club in the five games Gardner figured in and Liverpool finished the season mid-table. The highlight from his post-Liverpool career was when he gained international honours during his four years' stay at Aston Villa. During Gardner's time at the Villains, the club was relegated to Second Division in 1936 having been runners-up in the First Division three years previously. However, Villa won the Second Division in 1938 in his final season. Gardner was a long-throw expert and once won a Daily Mail competition by throwing 32 yards, 2 inches.