Ross Gardner is an English

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...

 former professional footballer. He spent four years 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...

, playing for 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...

 and 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...

. He later moved into non-league football with Ilkeston Town

Ilkeston Town F.C.

Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....

, Eastwood Town

Eastwood Town F.C.

Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...

, and Shildon

Shildon A.F.C.

Shildon A.F.C. is a football club established in 1890 based in Shildon, County Durham, England. They compete in the Northern League Division One. They play at Dean Street....

.

Playing career

Gardner started his career off 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...

 as a youth team player. He made the switch to 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...

 with Newcastle youth team-mate James Beaumont

James Beaumont

James Beaumont is an English former professional footballer who played in midfield. Beaumont joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United in 2003, along with Ross Gardner. Unlike Gardner, however, Beamount was unable to break into the first team, and his only league appearance was during a loan...

 after a bust-up with academy

Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy

Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy are the reserve and academy teams for the Premier League club Newcastle United.The reserve team plays in the Premier Reserve League North. It also participates in the Northumberland Senior Cup each season...

 coach Peter Beardsley

Peter Beardsley

Peter Andrew Beardsley MBE is an English former footballer who played between 1979 and 1999. He once set a record transfer fee in the game and represented his country 59 times between 1986 and 1996, once as captain...

. The pair accused Beardsley of bullying, however an FA

The Football Association

The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...

 inquiry later cleared him of any wrongdoing.

During the late stages of the 2004–05 season, as an 18 year old, Gardner managed to get into the first team make a few appearances. In November 2006, he joined 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...

 on loan, a deal that was made permanent two months later. He was released by Vale in May 2007.

Gardner joined non-league Ilkeston Town

Ilkeston Town F.C.

Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....

 in the summer of 2007. Despite being offered a new one year deal, he decided to join Eastwood Town

Eastwood Town F.C.

Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...

 in June 2008. A highly influential player for Town, he was released in May 2010.

In 2010, he signed a contract to Northern League Division One side Shildon

Shildon A.F.C.

Shildon A.F.C. is a football club established in 1890 based in Shildon, County Durham, England. They compete in the Northern League Division One. They play at Dean Street....

. He played just five games for the club.

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