Gareth Ainsworth
Encyclopedia
Gareth Ainsworth is an English
footballer who plays as a midfielder
for League One
side Wycombe Wanderers
, he is also the club captain.
A former youth player at Blackburn Rovers
, he won a move to Preston North End
in 1992 after impressing at non-league Northwich Victoria
. He moved on to Cambridge United
, who in turn loaned him back to Northwich Victoria. He returned to Preston North End in 1993, and established himself in the first team during his second spell at the club. Sold on to Lincoln City
in October 1995 for a £25,000 fee, his performances at Lincoln earned him a place on the PFA Third Division
Team of the Year
in 1996–97, and also won him a £500,000 move to Port Vale
in September 1997. After being named as the Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
in 1998, he was sold on to Premier League Wimbledon
for £2 million in October 1998. He was dogged by injuries at the club, and following loan spells with Preston North End and Walsall
, he moved on to Cardiff City
for a nominal fee in March 2003. He signed with Queens Park Rangers
in June 2003, after went on to spent seven years with the club, before he allowed to join Wycombe Wanderers in February 2010, following a short loan period. During his time at QPR he helped the club to win promotion out of the Second Division
in 2003–04, and twice served as caretaker-manager. He was named in the PFA League Two
Team of the Year in 2010–11
, as Wycombe won promotion out of the division. He has played more than 500 professional games.
club Blackburn Rovers
, but despite forming a useful partnership with Peter Thorne he was not offered professional terms at the end of his two year training period. He dropped into the Football Conference
with Northwich Victoria
, scoring his first goal in the 3–1 home victory over Cheltenham Town
on 26 October 1991. His form attracted the attention of Third Division
club Preston North End
and, in January 1992, they offered him a second chance at the professional game. Released at the end of the 1991–92 season, Ainsworth joined First Division
Cambridge United
under the management of John Beck
. Ainsworth had a spell on loan with former club Northwich Victoria, making his second debut for the "Vics" in a 2–1 home victory over Bromsgrove Rovers
on 5 September 1992. Beck was sacked by Cambridge in October 1992 but was swiftly appointed manager at Preston North End, and in December returned to the Abbey Ground to sign Ainsworth.
winning the game 4–2. Preston reached the play-offs again the following year, but exited at the semi-final stage with a 2–0 aggregate defeat to Bury
.
Beck left Preston following the disappointments at the play-offs, and was appointed manager at Third Division rivals Lincoln City
.
's Graeme Jones
. For this achievement he was named on the PFA's Third Division Team of the Year
. A popular player at Sincil Bank
, Ainsworth was voted fourth in the club's top 100 legends after a poll conducted in May 2007.
's First Division Port Vale
for a club record £500,000 fee. He became the club's Player of the Year
for his performances in the 1997–98
season.
in November 1998 for a £2 m fee, again a club record for Port Vale. His time at Wimbledon would be dominated by struggles again injury. He played just eight times in the 1998–99 season, failing to score. He was limited to just two appearances in 1999–2000, though in the first of these, a 3–3 draw with Newcastle United
at St James' Park
, he did find the net twice. At the end of the season the "Dons"' were relegated into the First Division
.
He regained his fitness by January 2001, and managed twelve league and six FA Cup
games in 2000–01. After missing the entire first half of the 2001–02 campaign, he returned to fitness only to find that he had lost his first team place due to the form of promising youngster Jobi McAnuff
. Ainsworth was told that he was to be released in summer 2002, and was allowed to join former club Preston North End
on loan in April 2002. He played five games for Preston, scoring one goal. He returned to Wimbledon to find that he was to be offered a new contract, after the club announced it was considering a potentially lucrative move to Milton Keynes
.
After six appearances for the "Dons" in 2002–03, he was allowed to join Walsall
on loan in December. He scored for the "Saddlers" against Nottingham Forest
, but his loan deal was not extended. He scored twice in nine games upon his return to Wimbledon, before March 2003, when he moved to Second Division
Cardiff City
on a short-term deal for a "small fee". The "Bluebirds" won promotion to the First Division as play-off winners, though Ainsworth played no part in the victory over Queens Park Rangers
in the final
at the Millennium Stadium
. His stay with the club was brief, as manager Lennie Lawrence
told him that he could not guarantee him a first team spot. Both before and after his release from Cardiff he was linked with a permanent move back to Walsall, but manager Colin Lee
had limited funds available for new players.
Queens Park Rangers
in July 2003. He scored twice on his debut, in a 5–0 win over Blackpool
on 9 August 2003. Sixteen days later he made it five goals in four games with a brace against Rushden & Diamonds
, one a volley from 35 yards, and another a powerful drive from the same distance. QPR won promotion to the First Division
as Second Division runners-up at the end of the 2003–04 season.
Despite suffering with a knee injury in 2004–05 that limited him to 23 appearances, manager Ian Holloway
offered him a new contract at the end of the season after telling the media that "he's an important player to have around". During the disappointing campaign of 2005–06, Ainsworth came second in the Player of the Year awards behind Danny Shittu
, and finished joint-top-scorer on eleven goals with Marc Nygaard
.
During the 2006–07 season, Ainsworth struggled with injuries, and his season ended in April after a scan revealed that he had broken his leg in a win over Luton Town
. During the 2007–08 season, he assisted new manager Luigi De Canio
in addition to his 25 games, and stated his intention to move into coaching once his player career is over.
In May 2008, Ainsworth accepted a player coach role under new QPR boss Iain Dowie
. Dowie was sacked in October 2008, and Ainsworth was appointed as caretaker-manager. On taking up the reigns, Ainsworth announced that "QPR is very strong with the result of what happened and will stay strong, nothing is going to break us". During his time in charge QPR managed to test Manchester United
at Old Trafford
in a League Cup
encounter that was only settled by a 76th minute Carlos Tévez
goal. This performance caused Ainsworth to believe that the club could achieve promotion to the Premier League. He remained on the club's coaching staff after Paulo Sousa
was appointed as manager in November. Sousa's reign did not last long however, and on 9 April 2009, Ainsworth again took the role of caretaker-manager.
He was considered for the vacant management position at former club Lincoln City
in September 2009.
outfit Wycombe Wanderers
on a month long loan. He went on to sign an eighteen month contract with Wycombe in February 2010. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw with Exeter City
on 20 March 2010. However the club were relegated at the end of the season
.
The club achieved promotion out of League Two
at the first attempt in 2010–11
, after finishing in the third automatic promotion spot, a single point ahead of Shrewsbury Town
. Ainsworth scored eleven goals in 46 appearances, and captained Wycombe to the 3–1 victory over Southend United
that ensured the club promotion on 7 May 2011. Later that month Ainsworth signed a new one year contract with the club. For his performances he was named on the PFA League Two Team of the Year
.
and Trond Andersen
. He is considered a cult hero at Preston, Wimbledon, QPR, Port Vale and Lincoln City.
On 21 October 2010, he represented The Football League
at the unveiling of the Footballers' Battalions
memorial on the site of the Battle of the Somme.
with Queens Park Rangers
with Wycombe Wanderers
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
, he is also the club captain.
A former youth player at Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, he won a move to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in 1992 after impressing at non-league Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
. He moved on to Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, who in turn loaned him back to Northwich Victoria. He returned to Preston North End in 1993, and established himself in the first team during his second spell at the club. Sold on to Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
in October 1995 for a £25,000 fee, his performances at Lincoln earned him a place on the PFA Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Team of the Year
PFA Team of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
in 1996–97, and also won him a £500,000 move to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in September 1997. After being named as the Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
in 1998, he was sold on to Premier League Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
for £2 million in October 1998. He was dogged by injuries at the club, and following loan spells with Preston North End and Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, he moved on to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
for a nominal fee in March 2003. He signed with Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in June 2003, after went on to spent seven years with the club, before he allowed to join Wycombe Wanderers in February 2010, following a short loan period. During his time at QPR he helped the club to win promotion out of the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in 2003–04, and twice served as caretaker-manager. He was named in the PFA League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Team of the Year in 2010–11
2010–11 Football League
The Football League 2010–11, called the Npower Football League, was the 111th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2010 and concluded in May 2011, with the promotion play-off finals....
, as Wycombe won promotion out of the division. He has played more than 500 professional games.
Early career
Ainsworth started his career as a trainee with Second DivisionFootball League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
club Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, but despite forming a useful partnership with Peter Thorne he was not offered professional terms at the end of his two year training period. He dropped into the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
with Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
, scoring his first goal in the 3–1 home victory over Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
on 26 October 1991. His form attracted the attention of Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
club Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
and, in January 1992, they offered him a second chance at the professional game. Released at the end of the 1991–92 season, Ainsworth joined First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
under the management of John Beck
John Beck (footballer)
John Alexander Beck is an English former footballer and manager. As a player he made nearly 500 league appearances between 1972 and 1988....
. Ainsworth had a spell on loan with former club Northwich Victoria, making his second debut for the "Vics" in a 2–1 home victory over Bromsgrove Rovers
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C. were a non-League football club from the town of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. The peak of the club's success was in 1993 when Rovers finished runner-up in the Football Conference...
on 5 September 1992. Beck was sacked by Cambridge in October 1992 but was swiftly appointed manager at Preston North End, and in December returned to the Abbey Ground to sign Ainsworth.
Preston
Ainsworth's second spell with Preston lasted three years. Preston reached the Third Division play-off final in 1994, and Ainsworth played in the Wembley final, but could not prevent Wycombe WanderersWycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
winning the game 4–2. Preston reached the play-offs again the following year, but exited at the semi-final stage with a 2–0 aggregate defeat to Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
.
Beck left Preston following the disappointments at the play-offs, and was appointed manager at Third Division rivals Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
.
Lincoln
In October 1995 he signed Ainsworth for a third time, this time for a fee of £25,000. In 1996–97, Ainsworth scored 22 goals to make him the division's second-highest goalscorer after Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
's Graeme Jones
Graeme Jones
Graeme Anthony Jones , is a former English footballer. He is currently assistant manager at Wigan Athletic.-Career:...
. For this achievement he was named on the PFA's Third Division Team of the Year
PFA Team of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
. A popular player at Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
, Ainsworth was voted fourth in the club's top 100 legends after a poll conducted in May 2007.
Port Vale
In September 1997 he signed for John RudgeJohn Rudge
John Robert Rudge is an English former football player and football manager. He is currently working as the director of football at Stoke City....
's First Division Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
for a club record £500,000 fee. He became the club's Player of the Year
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
for his performances in the 1997–98
1997–98 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1997–98 season was Port Vale's eighty-sixth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in the First Division. John Rudge managed to mastermind a final day escape from relegation, as rivals Stoke City instead lost their second tier status, leaving Vale as the top...
season.
Wimbledon
He moved to Premier League side WimbledonWimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
in November 1998 for a £2 m fee, again a club record for Port Vale. His time at Wimbledon would be dominated by struggles again injury. He played just eight times in the 1998–99 season, failing to score. He was limited to just two appearances in 1999–2000, though in the first of these, a 3–3 draw with Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
at St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
, he did find the net twice. At the end of the season the "Dons"' were relegated into the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
.
He regained his fitness by January 2001, and managed twelve league and six FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
games in 2000–01. After missing the entire first half of the 2001–02 campaign, he returned to fitness only to find that he had lost his first team place due to the form of promising youngster Jobi McAnuff
Jobi McAnuff
Joel Joshua Frederick Dave "Jobi" McAnuff is a professional footballer who plays for and captains Reading F.C.. He is a midfielder and has played for Jamaica.-Early career:...
. Ainsworth was told that he was to be released in summer 2002, and was allowed to join former club Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
on loan in April 2002. He played five games for Preston, scoring one goal. He returned to Wimbledon to find that he was to be offered a new contract, after the club announced it was considering a potentially lucrative move to Milton Keynes
Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football prior to a "fairytale" rise through the divisions following election to The Football League...
.
After six appearances for the "Dons" in 2002–03, he was allowed to join Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
on loan in December. He scored for the "Saddlers" against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, but his loan deal was not extended. He scored twice in nine games upon his return to Wimbledon, before March 2003, when he moved to Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
on a short-term deal for a "small fee". The "Bluebirds" won promotion to the First Division as play-off winners, though Ainsworth played no part in the victory over Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in the final
2003 Football League Second Division play-off Final
The 2003 Football League Second Division play-off Final was a football match played at Millennium Stadium on 25 May 2003, at the end of the 2002–03 season. It was the 17th play-off final in all at the third level of English football...
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
. His stay with the club was brief, as manager Lennie Lawrence
Lennie Lawrence
Robin Michael Lawrence, commonly known as Lennie Lawrence, is a British football manager who is assistant manager of Crystal Palace. He has managed a number of English clubs and one Welsh club in a coaching career spanning over 30 years...
told him that he could not guarantee him a first team spot. Both before and after his release from Cardiff he was linked with a permanent move back to Walsall, but manager Colin Lee
Colin Lee
Colin Lee is an English football manager and former footballer. He is currently Chief Executive of League Two side Torquay United and President of Buckfastleigh Rangers Football & Social Club.-Playing career:...
had limited funds available for new players.
QPR
Ainsworth signed for Second DivisionFootball League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in July 2003. He scored twice on his debut, in a 5–0 win over Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on 9 August 2003. Sixteen days later he made it five goals in four games with a brace against Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
, one a volley from 35 yards, and another a powerful drive from the same distance. QPR won promotion to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
as Second Division runners-up at the end of the 2003–04 season.
Despite suffering with a knee injury in 2004–05 that limited him to 23 appearances, manager Ian Holloway
Ian Holloway
Ian Scott Holloway is an English football manager and former player. He became the manager of Blackpool in May 2009. Holloway is well-known amongst football fans for his off-the-wall interviews, with a wide selection of quotes and soundbites being printed. Holloway's playing career spanned 18...
offered him a new contract at the end of the season after telling the media that "he's an important player to have around". During the disappointing campaign of 2005–06, Ainsworth came second in the Player of the Year awards behind Danny Shittu
Danny Shittu
Daniel Olusola "Danny" Shittu is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers."Olusola" is a nickname for the Yoruba name "Oluwanisola" .-Early career:...
, and finished joint-top-scorer on eleven goals with Marc Nygaard
Marc Nygaard
Marc Stephen Griffith Nygaard is a Danish professional footballer who plays for Helmond Sport as a striker.-Club career:...
.
During the 2006–07 season, Ainsworth struggled with injuries, and his season ended in April after a scan revealed that he had broken his leg in a win over Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. During the 2007–08 season, he assisted new manager Luigi De Canio
Luigi De Canio
Luigi "Gigi" De Canio is an Italian football manager and former player.-Player:De Canio, a full back, played mostly with Serie C1 and Serie C2 teams, his lone season in Serie B being 1979–80 with Matera, marking his debut in the division on September 16, 1979 against Genoa...
in addition to his 25 games, and stated his intention to move into coaching once his player career is over.
In May 2008, Ainsworth accepted a player coach role under new QPR boss Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
. Dowie was sacked in October 2008, and Ainsworth was appointed as caretaker-manager. On taking up the reigns, Ainsworth announced that "QPR is very strong with the result of what happened and will stay strong, nothing is going to break us". During his time in charge QPR managed to test Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
encounter that was only settled by a 76th minute Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
goal. This performance caused Ainsworth to believe that the club could achieve promotion to the Premier League. He remained on the club's coaching staff after Paulo Sousa
Paulo Sousa
Paulo Manuel Carvalho de Sousa, CavIH is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a current manager.He was a member of the “Portuguese Golden Generation”...
was appointed as manager in November. Sousa's reign did not last long however, and on 9 April 2009, Ainsworth again took the role of caretaker-manager.
He was considered for the vacant management position at former club Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
in September 2009.
Wycombe Wanderers
On 20 November 2009 Ainsworth joined League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
outfit Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
on a month long loan. He went on to sign an eighteen month contract with Wycombe in February 2010. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw with Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
on 20 March 2010. However the club were relegated at the end of the season
2009–10 Football League
The Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
.
The club achieved promotion out of League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
at the first attempt in 2010–11
2010–11 Football League
The Football League 2010–11, called the Npower Football League, was the 111th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2010 and concluded in May 2011, with the promotion play-off finals....
, after finishing in the third automatic promotion spot, a single point ahead of Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
. Ainsworth scored eleven goals in 46 appearances, and captained Wycombe to the 3–1 victory over Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
that ensured the club promotion on 7 May 2011. Later that month Ainsworth signed a new one year contract with the club. For his performances he was named on the PFA League Two Team of the Year
PFA Team of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
.
Style of Play
Ainsworth is able to play on the right-wing or as an attacking midfielder, and has good crossing ability; he was also known as a pacey player in his 20s and early 30s.Personal life
During his playing days Ainsworth picked up the nickname 'Wild Thing' due to his appearance and his rock star ambitions; he was in a band called 'APA' with Wimbledon teammates Chris PerryChris Perry (footballer)
Christopher John "Chris" Perry is a former English footballer. He was a defender and retired from the game after having been released from Southampton.-Football career:...
and Trond Andersen
Trond Andersen
Trond Andersen is a former Norwegian footballer, who played as a central defender or holding midfielder. He is most notable for his time in England at Wimbledon.-Club career:...
. He is considered a cult hero at Preston, Wimbledon, QPR, Port Vale and Lincoln City.
On 21 October 2010, he represented The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
at the unveiling of the Footballers' Battalions
Association football during World War I
When World War I was declared in 1914, it had a negative effect on association football; in some countries competitions were suspended and players signed up to fight, resulting in the deaths of many players...
memorial on the site of the Battle of the Somme.
Honours
Individual- PFA Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Team of the YearPFA Team of the YearThe Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
: 1996–97 - Port Vale F.C. Player of the YearPort Vale F.C. Player of the YearThe Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
: 19981997–98 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1997–98 season was Port Vale's eighty-sixth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in the First Division. John Rudge managed to mastermind a final day escape from relegation, as rivals Stoke City instead lost their second tier status, leaving Vale as the top... - PFA Football League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Team of the YearPFA Team of the YearThe Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
: 2010–112010–11 Football LeagueThe Football League 2010–11, called the Npower Football League, was the 111th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2010 and concluded in May 2011, with the promotion play-off finals....
with Queens Park Rangers
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
runner-up: 2003–04
with Wycombe Wanderers
- Football League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
third-place promotion winner: 2010–112010–11 Football LeagueThe Football League 2010–11, called the Npower Football League, was the 111th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2010 and concluded in May 2011, with the promotion play-off finals....
External links
- garethainsworth.com (last updated August 2002)