Gareth Sheldon
Encyclopedia
Gareth Richard Sheldon is a professional footballer, currently playing for East Midlands Counties Football League
side Bardon Hill, where he plays as a striker.
, 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 29 May 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 22 May 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.
, 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 did not 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.
, his ability had alerted the attentions of Kidderminster Harriers
manager Stuart Watkiss
following the clubs relegation to the Nationwide Conference, and on 13 July 2005 they moved to sign him on a Free.
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 23 June 2006, making a total of 34 appearances and scoring two goals.
he was picked up on the free transfer the same day by newly promoted League Two
side Hereford United
.
Sheldon did not even last a season with the Bulls, he made eight league appearances for the club, scoring once against 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 27 February 2007.
on 12 March 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.
of the Conference North
division for the 2007–08 season. Playing in an advanced left-sided midfield position, Gareth won player-of-the-year honours in an under-achieving side. Towards the end of the season, Gareth Sheldon was played in a central attacking position and his success here was carried over into Tamworth's encouraging start to the 2008–09 season.
player on Sunday 7 June, re-joining his former Tamworth
team mate Carl Heggs
who was appointed manager a few weeks prior.
.
|1997–98
||rowspan="5"|Scunthorpe United
||rowspan="2"|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||rowspan="1"|Second Division
||22||2||1||0||1||0||0||0||24||2
|-
|2000–01
||rowspan="2"|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
||rowspan="3"|Exeter City
||rowspan="1"|Third Division
||19||1||2||1||0||0||0||0||21||2
|-
|2003–04
||rowspan="2"|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
||rowspan="1"|Kidderminster Harriers
||rowspan="1"|Conference National
||34||2||1||0||0||0||0||0||35||2
|-
|2006–07
||rowspan="1"|Hereford United
||rowspan="1"|League Two
||8||1||2||0||0||0||0||0||10||1
|-
|2007–08
||rowspan="2"|Tamworth
||rowspan="2"|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
|-
211||23||13||2||0||0||0||0||224||25
East Midlands Counties Football League
The East Midlands Counties Football League is a football league at level 10 of the football league system in England. It commenced at the start of the 2008–09 season, drawing clubs from the Central Midlands League, Leicestershire Senior League and two teams from the Northern Counties East League.On...
side Bardon Hill, where he plays as a striker.
Scunthorpe United
Gareth started his career back in 1997 with Scunthorpe UnitedScunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
, making his football league debut on the final day of the 1997–98 season, in an away fixture against 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...
, which Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
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
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
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
Tony Bird
Tony Bird is a folk rock singer-songwriter who was born and grew up in Nyasaland in Southern Africa. He is known for his Dylanesque vocals and for his songs which describe life in colonial Nyasaland from a progressive anti-colonial point of view....
equalised for Swansea City, but four minutes later Sheldon scored his second goal, which proved to be the winner and booked Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
a place in the final.
The 29 May 1999 saw Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
take on Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
in the 1999 League Two play-off final. Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
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
Division Two
Division Two may refer to either:* Football League Two the current fourth tier of the English football league system* The Football League Second Division, the former second and later third tier of the English football league system...
, however Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
's time in the third tier of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
, before leaving the club on 22 May 2002, after turning down an offer of a month-to-month contract.
In the five seasons that Gareth spent with Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
, he made a total of 89 appearances and found the net on eight occasions.
Exeter City
On 22 May 2002, Gareth signed for Third Division side Exeter CityExeter 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...
, to team up with his former team-mate at Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
, John Cornforth
John Cornforth
Sir John Warcup 'Kappa' Cornforth, AC, CBE, FRS , is an Australian scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975 for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions....
who had since taking over as the manager of 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...
.
Sheldon signed a two-year deal 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...
, after rejecting a month-to-month contact with Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
, Cornforth
John Cornforth
Sir John Warcup 'Kappa' Cornforth, AC, CBE, FRS , is an Australian scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975 for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions....
saw Sheldon as an ideal replacement for the departed Christian Roberts
Christian Roberts
Christian Roberts is a Welsh midfielder who currently plays for Haverfordwest County after retiring from professional football in September 2008, finishing his career with Swindon Town....
, who joined Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
.
Gareth did not begin life 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...
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
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...
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 CityExeter 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...
, his ability had alerted the attentions of Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
manager Stuart Watkiss
Stuart Watkiss
Stuart Watkiss is an English former footballer who notably played for Hereford United and Mansfield Town. He is currently Development Coach at Hull City.-Playing career:...
following the clubs relegation to the Nationwide Conference, and on 13 July 2005 they moved to sign him on a Free.
The moved failed to bring out the best in Sheldon, and following a disappointing season and the dismissal of Watkiss
Stuart Watkiss
Stuart Watkiss is an English former footballer who notably played for Hereford United and Mansfield Town. He is currently Development Coach at Hull City.-Playing career:...
, Sheldon was released from his contract on 23 June 2006, making a total of 34 appearances and scoring two goals.
Hereford United
Although Gareth had not endured the best of times at Kidderminster HarriersKidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
he was picked up on the free transfer the same day by newly promoted 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....
side Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
.
Sheldon did not even last a season with the Bulls, he made eight league appearances for the club, scoring once against Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
. However, Sheldon was unable to secure a regular place in the Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
first team and had his contract terminated by mutual consent on 27 February 2007.
Halesowen Town
Gareth then joined Halesowen TownHalesowen Town F.C.
Halesowen Town is an English association football club formed in 1873, since 2011 playing in the Southern League Division One South & West]]. The team is nicknamed "The Yeltz".-History:...
on 12 March 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
Clevedon Town F.C.
Clevedon Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Clevedon, North Somerset. They currently play in the Southern League Division One South & West.-History:...
, 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, Gareth Sheldon signed for TamworthTamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
of 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...
division for the 2007–08 season. Playing in an advanced left-sided midfield position, Gareth won player-of-the-year honours in an under-achieving side. Towards the end of the season, Gareth Sheldon 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 LynnKing's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
player on Sunday 7 June, re-joining his former Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
team mate Carl Heggs
Carl Heggs
Carl Heggs is a former professional footballer, and past-manager of King's Lynn. He was most recently manager of League One side Notts County after Paul Ince was sacked.-West Bromwich Albion:...
who was appointed manager a few weeks prior.
Atherstone Town
Gareth did not get a match due to a pulled ligament, and is now on a free transfer, He is looking to recover soon and start playing again.Bolehall Swifts
Following his recovery from his long-term injury, Sheldon joined former Adders manager Daren Fulford at his new club Bolehall SwiftsBolehall Swifts F.C.
Bolehall Swifts Football Club are a football club based in Tamworth suburb of Bolehall, Staffordshire, England. They were established in 1953 and joined the Midland Combination in 1980, currently playing in that league's Premier Division, having spent two years in the Midland Football Alliance in...
.
Career statistics
|-|1997–98
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
||rowspan="5"|Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
||rowspan="2"|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...
||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|1998–99
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
||13||3||0||0||0||0||0||0||13||3
|-
|1999–00||rowspan="1"|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...
||22||2||1||0||1||0||0||0||24||2
|-
|2000–01
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
||rowspan="2"|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...
||39||1||4||1||2||0||0||0||45||2
|-
|2001–02
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
||14||2||0||0||1||0||0||0||15||2
|-
|2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
||rowspan="3"|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...
||rowspan="1"|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...
||19||1||2||1||0||0||0||0||21||2
|-
|2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
||rowspan="2"|Conference National
Conference 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...
||34||7||2||0||0||0||0||0||36||7
|-
|2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
||27||4||1||0||0||0||0||0||28||4
|-
|2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
||rowspan="1"|Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
||rowspan="1"|Conference National
Conference 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...
||34||2||1||0||0||0||0||0||35||2
|-
|2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
||rowspan="1"|Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
||rowspan="1"|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....
||8||1||2||0||0||0||0||0||10||1
|-
|2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
||rowspan="2"|Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
||rowspan="2"|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...
||?||?||?||?||0||0||0||0||?||?
|-
|2008–09||?||?||?||?||0||0||0||0||?||?
|-
|2009–10||King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
||Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
||?||?||?||?||0||0||0||0||?||?
|-
|2009–10||Atherstone Town
Atherstone Town F.C.
Atherstone Town Football Club is a football club based in Atherstone, Warwickshire, England.They were officially established in 2004 after a previous club bearing the same name folded in 1979...
||Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
||?||?||?||?||0||0||0||0||?||?
|-
|2010–11||Bolehall Swifts
Bolehall Swifts F.C.
Bolehall Swifts Football Club are a football club based in Tamworth suburb of Bolehall, Staffordshire, England. They were established in 1953 and joined the Midland Combination in 1980, currently playing in that league's Premier Division, having spent two years in the Midland Football Alliance in...
||Midland Football Combination Premier Division||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
211||23||13||2||0||0||0||0||224||25