Gareth Seddon
Encyclopedia
Gareth Anthony Seddon is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Fleetwood Town
. He played 79 games in the Football League
for Bury
.
in 2001. When he failed to win a deal with the Berkshire club Gareth still chose to quit the forces in order to begin a football career at Bury
. While at Bury he scored the club's 6000th goal. He was Bury's leading scorer in the 2001–02 season with eight goals but made just a handful of appearances in the next season, and joined Northwich Victoria
on loan in January 2003. After three seasons at Bury, in the last of which he again finished as leading scorer, he rejected a new deal and instead joined Rushden & Diamonds on a Bosman
free transfer in 2004. However Seddon was plagued by the onset of reactive arthritis
, a condition brought on by the rigours of full-time training. He never gained fitness to play for his new team and doctors advised him to retire from the professional game.
Following this setback and the loss of his livelihood Seddon drifted into gambling and drink. During his time out of the game he also taught football part time at St Theodore's RC High School in Burnley
, a school which he himself had attended. In 2005 he returned to football and completed an entire season with North West Counties League side Padiham
. This extended break from the professional game allowed Seddon to recuperate and by March 2006 the illness had left his system. He joined up with his former Bury manager Andy Preece
at Worcester City
and played one match for the team on a non-contract basis in April 2006, scoring in a 3-2 win against Stalybridge Celtic
. He was set to sign for the Midlands team and agreed personal terms but baulked at the distance he would have to commute from his Accrington
home.
clubs such as Morecambe
, Seddon chose to continue his recuperation at part-time level and joined Hyde United in the summer of 2006. Seddon has gained a reputation for scoring spectacular goals and on 1 January 2007 scored 5 goals in a 7–3 local derby
win away at Stalybridge Celtic
. This achievement won him the Hyde United Magic Moment of the Season award along with the Fans' and Players' Player of the Season titles during his first year with the club.
During the summer of 2007 Gareth was called up to the England National Game squad for the Four Nations Tournament. He won his first cap against the Republic of Ireland, then scored twice in a 3–0 win over Wales. Seddon scored 62 goals in 87 appearances for Hyde over the two seasons, winning the Conference North
golden boot in both.
side Kettering Town
on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
outfit Fleetwood Town
.
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
. He played 79 games in 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...
for 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...
.
Early career
Seddon was a fitness instructor in the RAF when he came close to joining ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in 2001. When he failed to win a deal with the Berkshire club Gareth still chose to quit the forces in order to begin a football career at 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...
. While at Bury he scored the club's 6000th goal. He was Bury's leading scorer in the 2001–02 season with eight goals but made just a handful of appearances in the next season, and joined 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...
on loan in January 2003. After three seasons at Bury, in the last of which he again finished as leading scorer, he rejected a new deal and instead joined Rushden & Diamonds on a Bosman
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
free transfer in 2004. However Seddon was plagued by the onset of reactive arthritis
Reactive arthritis
Reactive arthritis , is classified as an autoimmune condition that develops in response to an infection in another part of the body. Coming into contact with bacteria and developing an infection can trigger the disease. Reiter's syndrome has symptoms similar to various other conditions collectively...
, a condition brought on by the rigours of full-time training. He never gained fitness to play for his new team and doctors advised him to retire from the professional game.
Following this setback and the loss of his livelihood Seddon drifted into gambling and drink. During his time out of the game he also taught football part time at St Theodore's RC High School in Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, a school which he himself had attended. In 2005 he returned to football and completed an entire season with North West Counties League side Padiham
Padiham F.C.
Padiham Football Club are an English football team based in Padiham, Lancashire. As of 2011–12, they play in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League.-History:...
. This extended break from the professional game allowed Seddon to recuperate and by March 2006 the illness had left his system. He joined up with his former Bury manager Andy Preece
Andy Preece
Andrew Preece is a part-time English footballer and manager. He is currently the player-manager at Northwich Victoria.-Career:...
at Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
and played one match for the team on a non-contract basis in April 2006, scoring in a 3-2 win against Stalybridge Celtic
Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
Stalybridge Celtic are an English full time professional football club from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester in North West England. The club, which plays its home matches at Bower Fold, is currently in the Conference North in the sixth tier of the English football league system...
. He was set to sign for the Midlands team and agreed personal terms but baulked at the distance he would have to commute from his Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
home.
Hyde
Despite interest from several fully professional Conference NationalConference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
clubs such as Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
, Seddon chose to continue his recuperation at part-time level and joined Hyde United in the summer of 2006. Seddon has gained a reputation for scoring spectacular goals and on 1 January 2007 scored 5 goals in a 7–3 local derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
win away at Stalybridge Celtic
Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
Stalybridge Celtic are an English full time professional football club from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester in North West England. The club, which plays its home matches at Bower Fold, is currently in the Conference North in the sixth tier of the English football league system...
. This achievement won him the Hyde United Magic Moment of the Season award along with the Fans' and Players' Player of the Season titles during his first year with the club.
During the summer of 2007 Gareth was called up to the England National Game squad for the Four Nations Tournament. He won his first cap against the Republic of Ireland, then scored twice in a 3–0 win over Wales. Seddon scored 62 goals in 87 appearances for Hyde over the two seasons, winning the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
golden boot in both.
Kettering Town
In July 2008 he joined Conference NationalConference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
Fleetwood Town
In September 2009, Seddon signed for Conference NorthConference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
outfit Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
.
External links
- Gareth Seddon career stats at Soccerbase
- Career stats at Hydefc.co.uk
- Gareth Seddon at KetteringTownFC.co.uk