Gareth Sheldon

Football player infobox
playername= Gareth Sheldon


fullname = Gareth Richard Sheldon
height = height|ft=5|in=11
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|1|31
cityofbirth = flagicon|England Birmingham
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Tamworth
clubnumber =
position = Midfielder
years = 1997–2002
2002–2005
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007
2007–
clubs = Scunthorpe United
Exeter City
Kidderminster Harriers
Hereford United
Halesowen Town
Tamworth
caps(goals) = 89 0(8)
80 (13)
34 0(2)
08 0(1)
07 0(0)
41 (10)
pcupdate = 16:44, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Gareth Richard Sheldon (born January 31, 1980 in Birmingham, England) is a professional footballer, currently playing for Conference North side Tamworth, where he plays as a midfielder.

Playing career

Scunthorpe United

Gareth started his career back 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 United won 2-0

During the 1998/99 season, Gareth started to make his way into the first-team, but despite only making 11 league appearances, Gareth 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 United leading the game 1-0 the game went into extra time. Sheldon made a dream start to the extra time period when he scored on the 92nd minute, Tony Bird equalised for Swansea City, but four minutes later Sheldon scored his second goal, which proved to be the winner and booked Scunthorpe United a place in the final.

The day of May 29, 1999 saw Scunthorpe United take on Leyton Orient in the 1999 League Two play-off final. Scunthorpe United won the match, thanks to an early goal from Alex Calvo-Garcia.

Following his brace in the second leg of the semi final, Sheldon worked his way into the first team and found himself to be a regular by the 1999/00 season in the Second Division, however Scunthorpe United's time in the third tier of English football was short lived, after the club finished 23rd in their first season, and being relegated back to the Third Division.

Sheldon spent a further two seasons with Scunthorpe United, before leaving the club on May 22, 2002, after turning down an offer of a month-to-month contract.

In the five seasons that Gareth spent with Scunthorpe United, he made a total of 89 appearances and found the net on eight occasions.

Exeter City

On May 22, 2002, Gareth signed for Third Division side Exeter City [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/exeter_city/2002342.stm Exeter sign winger] ] , to team up with his former team-mate at Scunthorpe United, John Cornforth who had since taking over as the manager of Exeter City.

Sheldon signed a two-year deal with Exeter City, after rejecting a month-to-month contact with Scunthorpe United, Cornforth saw Sheldon as an ideal replacement for the departed Christian Roberts, who joined Bristol City.

Gareth didn't begin life with Exeter City as he had imagined, he was part of the team who suffered the heartbreak of relegation from the Third Division in his first full season with the club, Sheldon spent a further two seasons with Exeter City playing in the Nationwide Conference. During his time with the club Gareth made 80 appearances and scoring 13 goals.

Kidderminster Harriers

Although Sheldon was surplus to requirements at Exeter City, his ability had alerted the attentions of Kidderminster Harriers manager Stuart Watkiss following the clubs relegation to the Nationwide Conference, and on July 13, 2005 they moved to sign him on a Free [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kidderminster_harriers/4652013.stm Harriers to sign Exeter's Sheldon] ] .

The moved failed to bring out the best in Sheldon, and following a disappointing season and the dismissal of Watkiss, Sheldon was released from his contract on June 23, 2006 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kidderminster_harriers/4966372.stm Seven let go in Harriers clearout] ] , making a total of 34 appearances and scoring two goals.

Hereford United

Although Gareth hadn't endured the best of times at Kidderminster Harriers he was picked up on the free transfer the same day by newly promoted League Two side Hereford United.

Sheldon didn't even last a season with the Bulls, he made eight league appearances for the club, scoring once against Mansfield Town [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/6236843.stm Hereford United 1-3 Mansfield Town] ] . However, Sheldon was unable to secure a regular place in the Hereford United first team and had his contract terminated by mutual consent on February 27, 2007 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hereford_united/6401557.stm Midfielder Sheldon leaves Bulls] ] .

Halesowen Town

Gareth then joined Halesowen Town on March 12, 2007 in order to help their promotion push towards the end of the season.

Sheldon 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 May 16, 2007, Gareth Sheldon signed for Tamworth of the Conference North division for the 2007/08 season [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tamworth/6662825.stm Tamworth sign up veteran Taggart] ] .

Honours

flagicon|England Scunthorpe United

Winner
* 1998/99 League Two "(Play-Offs)"

References

External links

*
* [http://www.harriers-online.co.uk/squad/sheldon.shtml Harriers Online profile]