Gareth Sheldon

Gareth Sheldon

File:Sheldon, Gareth.jpg
Personal information
Full name	Gareth Richard Sheldon
Date of birth	(1980-01-31) 31 January 1980
Place of birth	Birmingham, England
Height
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Polesworth
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–2002	Scunthorpe United	89	(8)
2002–2005	Exeter City	80	(13)
2005–2006	Kidderminster Harriers	34	(2)
2006–2007	Hereford United	8	(1)
2007	Halesowen Town	7	(0)
2007–2009	Tamworth	41	(10)
2009	King's Lynn	7	(6)
2009–2010	Atherstone Town	0	(0)
2010–2011	Bolehall Swifts	17	(4)
2011–2012	Bardon Hill
2012–2013	Bolehall Swifts	10	(2)
2013–	Polesworth
International career
2004	England C	6	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:00, 28 April 2013 (UTC)

Gareth Richard Sheldon (born 31 January 1980 in Birmingham, England) is a professional footballer, currently playing for Midland Football Combination Division Two side Polesworth, where he plays as a striker.

Playing career

Scunthorpe United

Sheldon started his career in 1997 with Scunthorpe United, making his Football League debut on the final day of the 1997–98 season, in an away fixture against Shrewsbury Town, which Scunthorpe won 2–0.

During the 1998–99 season, he started to make his way into the first-team, but despite only making 11 league appearances, he found himself getting a chance, when coming on as a substitute in the second leg of a play-off semi-final match against Swansea City, who had taken a 1–0 lead into the second leg. With Scunthorpe leading the game 1–0 the game went into extra time. Sheldon made a dream start to the extra time period when he scored in the 92nd minute. Tony Bird equalised for Swansea, but four minutes later Sheldon scored his second goal, which proved to be the winner and booked Scunthorpe a place in the final. On 29 May, Sheldon started the game as Scunthorpe United took on Leyton Orient in the 1999 Football League Two play-off final. Scunthorpe won the match 1–0, as Alex Calvo-Garcia headed in from a Sheldon cross early in the game.

Following his brace in the second leg of the semi-final, Sheldon worked his way into the first team and became a regular by the 1999–2000 season in the Second Division. Scunthorpe's time in the third tier of English football was short-lived, as they finished 23rd in their first season and were relegated back to the Third Division.

Sheldon spent a further two seasons with Scunthorpe before leaving the club on 22 May 2002, after turning down an offer of a month-to-month contract. In his five seasons with the club, he made a total of 89 appearances and found the net on eight occasions.

Exeter City

On 22 May 2002, Sheldon signed a two-year deal with Third Division side Exeter City, to team up with his former Scunthorpe team-mate John Cornforth, who had since taken over as Exeter manager. Cornforth saw Sheldon as an ideal replacement for Christian Roberts, who had joined Bristol City.

Sheldon and Exeter were relegated from the Third Division in his first full season with the club, and he spent a further two seasons with Exeter in the Football Conference. During his time with the club he made 80 appearances and scored 13 goals.

Kidderminster Harriers

Sheldon's career at Exeter had alerted the attentions of Kidderminster Harriers manager Stuart Watkiss following the club's relegation to the Conference, and on 13 July 2005 they moved to sign him on a free transfer. The move failed to bring out the best in Sheldon, and following a disappointing season and the dismissal of Watkiss, he was released from his contract on 23 June 2006, having made 34 appearances and scored two goals.

Hereford United

He was picked up on the free transfer the same day by newly promoted League Two side Hereford United. However, Sheldon was unable to secure a regular first-team place. He made eight league appearances for the club, scoring once against Mansfield Town, and his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 27 February 2007.

Halesowen Town

Sheldon then joined Halesowen Town on 12 March 2007 to help their promotion push towards the end of the season. He made his debut in the 1–0 win over Clevedon Town, he left the club at the end of the 2006–07 season, making seven appearances, but failing to find the net during this time.

Tamworth

On 16 May 2007, Sheldon signed for Tamworth of the Conference North division for the 2007–08 season. Playing in an advanced left-sided midfield position, he won player-of-the-year honours in an under-achieving side. Towards the end of the season, he was played in a central attacking position and his success here was carried over into Tamworth's encouraging start to the 2008–09 season.

King's Lynn

Sheldon became a King's Lynn player on 7 June, re-joining his former Tamworth team mate Carl Heggs who was appointed manager a few weeks prior.

Atherstone Town

Sheldon joined Daren Fulford at Atherstone Town, but didn't play a single match due to a pulled ligament, and was eventually released by the club.

Bolehall Swifts

Following his recovery from his long-term injury, Sheldon joined former Adders manager Daren Fulford at his new club Bolehall Swifts.

Career statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
England			League		FA Cup		League Cup				Total
1997–98	Scunthorpe United	Third Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
1998–99			13	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	3
1999–00		Second Division	22	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	24	2
2000–01		Third Division	39	1	4	1	2	0	0	0	45	2
2001–02			14	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	15	2
2002–03	Exeter City	Third Division	19	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	21	2
2003–04		Conference National	34	7	2	0	0	0	0	0	36	7
2004–05			27	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	28	4
2005–06	Kidderminster Harriers	Conference National	34	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	35	2
2006–07	Hereford United	League Two	8	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	10	1
2007–08	Tamworth	Conference North	?	?	?	?	0	0	0	0	?	?
2008–09			?	?	?	?	0	0	0	0	?	?
2009–10	King's Lynn	Northern Premier League	?	?	?	?	0	0	0	0	?	?
2009–10	Atherstone Town	Southern Football League	?	?	?	?	0	0	0	0	?	?
2010–11	Bolehall Swifts	Midland Football Combination Premier Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	England		211	23	13	2	0	0	0	0	224	25

Honours

Scunthorpe United

Winner

• 1998–99 League Two (Play-offs)

Tamworth

Winner

• 2008–09 Conference North

Individual

• Tamworth Player of the Year: 2007–08, 2008–09

External links

• Gareth Sheldon career statistics at Soccerbase