Gareth Graham

Gareth Graham
Personal information
Full name Gareth Lee Graham[1]
Date of birth (1978-12-06) 6 December 1978
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position Midfielder, right back
Youth career
1996–1997 Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Crystal Palace 1 (0)
1998 → Merthyr Tydfil (loan) 3 (0)
1999 → Brentford (loan) 0 (0)
1999–2001 Brentford 14 (0)
1999 → Crawley Town (loan) 0 (0)
2001 Woking 6 (0)
2001–2002 Margate 26 (1)
2002 ÍBV 7 (1)
2002–2003 Whyteleafe 22 (2)
2003–2005 AFC Wimbledon 38 (2)
2004 → Whyteleafe (loan) 4 (0)
2005–2006 Whyteleafe 19 (2)
2006–2007 Croydon Athletic 27 (5)
2007 Cray Wanderers 20 (0)
2007 Kingstonian 2 (0)
2007–2008 Croydon Athletic 16 (1)
2008 Leatherhead 16 (0)
2008–2009 Chertsey Town 18 (2)
2009–2010 Chipstead 14 (1)
2010 Whyteleafe 12 (1)
2010 Warlingham (dual-registration) 2 (1)
2010–2011 Croydon 24 (2)
2011 Merstham 18 (0)
2011–2014 Lingfield 67 (13)
2012–2013 → AFC Croydon Athletic (dual-registration) 2 (0)
National team
1999 Northern Ireland U21 5 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Gareth Graham (born 6 December 1978) is a retired Northern Irish football midfielder and right back. He began his career in the Football League at Crystal Palace, before transferring to Brentford in 1999. Upon his release from Brentford, Graham embarked on a nomadic career in non-league football. He represented Northern Ireland U21 at international level. He is known by the nickname "Ginge".[2][3]

Club career

Crystal Palace

Graham began his career in the youth system at Crystal Palace, signing trainee forms in 1996. He reached the final of the FA Youth Cup and won the Southern Junior Floodlit Cup with the youth team during the 1996–97 season.[4] He also made his debut for the reserves.[4] Graham signed his first professional contract in March 1997 and broke into the reserve team during the early part of the 1997–98 season.[4][5] Graham and teammate Michael Fowler scored Palace's first goals on the opening day of the inaugural season of the FA Premier Youth League in a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough.[6]

A broken leg suffered in a Surrey Senior Cup match for the reserve team in late 1997 hampered Graham's progress.[4] Graham returned to reserve team action early in the 1998–99 season and received his first call into the first team when he was an unused substitute for a 1–0 Division One win over Norwich City on 3 April 1999.[7] Graham made his professional debut away to Watford on 24 April 1999.[8] He came on as a substitute for Steven Thomson after 77 minutes of the 2–1 defeat. Graham failed to receive a call into the first team during the early months of the 1999–00 season and departed the club in October 1999, having made just one first team appearance.[9] He represented Crystal Palace in friendly matches versus Charlton Athletic and Croydon in June 2012 and September 2013 respectively.[10][11]

Merthyr Tydfil (loan)

While recovering from a broken leg, Graham signed on loan (together with Crystal Palace teammate Andy Martin) for Southern League Premier Division side Merthyr Tydfil in December 1998.[12] He made three league appearances for the club.

Brentford (loan and permanent transfer)

Graham signed on loan for Division Two side Brentford on 28 September 1999.[13] Under Brentford manager and former Crystal Palace chairman Ron Noades, Graham linked up with a number of former teammates, including Danny Boxall, Tony Folan, Richard Kennedy, Hermann Hreiðarsson and Rob Quinn. He went straight into the squad for the night's league game at home to Cardiff City and was an unused substitute for the 2–1 victory. After another unused substitute appearance in the following game versus Burnley, Graham's loan was turned into a permanent transfer on 6 October.[13] He was called into the first team only once in November and finally made his debut in a league match versus Wigan Athletic on 18 December.[13] Graham was brought on for Martin Rowlands after 83 minutes of the 1–0 defeat. Graham's second appearance came 10 days later in a 3–2 defeat to Millwall, when he came on as an 87th-minute substitute for Patrick Agyemang, who himself had replaced Paul Evans earlier in the game.[13] Graham's third appearance (in a 0–0 draw with Wycombe Wanderers on 19 February 2000) was the first of a run of regular appearances through to the end of the 1999–00 season.[13] Graham's first start came in a 0–0 draw with Scunthorpe United on 21 March and he lasted 66 minutes until being substituted for Ívar Ingimarsson.[13] He completed his first 90 minutes in the following game, a 1–0 defeat to Bristol City.[13] Graham made 13 appearances during the 1999–00 season and scored no goals.[13]

Graham was out of favour under new manager Ray Lewington during the 2000–01 season and had to wait until 10 March 2001 to receive a call into the first team squad, when he was an unused substitute for a 2–2 league draw at home to Stoke City. Towards the end of the season, a buildup of games in hand (due to Brentford's run to the 2001 Football League Trophy Final) saw the squad stretched and Graham was regularly an unused substitute. He made his only appearance of the season in a 2–2 draw with Luton Town on 3 May, coming on for Jay Tabb after 88 minutes.[14] Graham was released at the end of the season after making just 14 appearances during his time with the Bees.[13][15]

Crawley Town (loan)

Graham (along with teammate Richard Kennedy) joined Southern League Premier Division side Crawley Town on loan during the 1999–00 season.[16][17]

Woking

Graham signed for Conference side Woking on non-contract terms before the start of the 2001–02 season.[15] He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 away win over Chester City on 18 August 2001.[18] He made six league appearances before departing the club in October 2001.[19]

Margate

Graham moved to Conference side Margate in October 2001.[19] Graham scored his first goal for the club on his third appearance, netting the winner in a 2–1 victory over Yeovil Town.[19] He made 26 league appearances and scored one goal during the 2001–02 season. For part of the campaign he was pressed into service as a right back.[15] His final appearance came in the 5–0 2002 Kent Senior Cup Final defeat to Gravesend & Northfleet at the end of the season.[15] Graham departed the club after asking that his contract be cancelled in order to take up an opportunity to play in Iceland.[15]

ÍBV

Graham transferred to Úrvalsdeild side ÍBV in the summer of 2002.[15] He scored his only goal for the club with a consolation in a 4–1 defeat to ÍA Akranes on 27 June.[20] Graham departed the club in August 2002 after making seven appearances.[21]

Whyteleafe

Graham returned to England in August 2002 and appeared in Margate's final pre-season friendly, but was unable to sign for the club due to budget concerns.[15] Graham signed for Isthmian League Division One South side Whyteleafe in August 2002.[21] He had an unsuccessful trial with Conference side Hereford United during the first half of the season and left Whyteleafe in January 2003, after making 22 league appearances and scoring two goals.[15]

AFC Wimbledon

Graham joined new Combined Counties League side AFC Wimbledon in January 2003.[15] He made an "immediate impact" upon joining the club and made 10 appearances and scored one goal during what remained of the 2002–03 season.[3] Injuries hindered Graham's progress, but he still managed 16 appearances and two goals during the 2003–04 Combined Counties League Premier Division title-winning season.[3] Prior to the start of the 2004–05 season, Graham played against former club Brentford for the first time in the 2004 Supporters Direct Cup Final.[22] He played alongside former Brentford teammate Mark Williams in the 2–0 defeat.[22] Graham made 27 appearances and scored one goal in another successful season for AFC Wimbledon,[3] which saw the club win the Isthmian League Division One title at a canter to secure promotion in successive seasons. Graham was released by manager Dave Anderson after the season.[15]

Whyteleafe (loan)

Fitness problems saw Graham return to Whyteleafe on loan in October 2004.[15] He was recalled from his loan on 16 November,[23] after making four appearances.[24]

Return to Whyteleafe

Graham appeared in a pre-season friendly for Isthmian League Division One side Tooting & Mitcham United prior to the start of the 2005–06 season, but was sent off for striking a Harrow Borough opponent.[15] He failed to win a contract and rejoined Whyteleafe for the third time on 21 July 2005.[15][25] He broke a bone in his foot on his second appearance, but still managed 19 league appearances and two goals during the first half of the 2005–06 season. Graham left the club in January 2006.[15]

Croydon Athletic

Graham signed for Isthmian League Division One side Croydon Athletic in January 2006.[15] He made 8 league appearances during the remainder of the 2005–06 season.[15] He began the 2006–07 season in the Isthmian League Division One South with the club and made 19 league appearances and scored five goals before departing in January 2007.[15]

Cray Wanderers

Graham transferred across the Isthmian League Division One South to sign for Cray Wanderers in January 2007.[15] He made 20 appearances and scored no goals during the remainder of the 2006–07 season.[14]

Kingstonian

Graham moved to Isthmian League Division One South side Kingstonian in August 2007.[15] Manager Alan Dowson said "Gareth really impressed against us last year and certainly has the quality to impose himself at this level. He just knows that he has to work hard on his fitness if he wants to make the impact we know he is capable of".[26] Graham was on the losing side in the 2007 Trevor Jones Memorial Trophy against former club AFC Wimbledon.[26] Graham made his league debut in a 2–0 away win over Ashford Town (Kent) on 18 August, coming on as a substitute for Jon Coke.[27] He again came off the substitutes' bench in the following game, replacing Wes Goggin during a 2–1 win over Corinthian-Casuals.[28] His first start came in a 2–1 London Senior Cup third round defeat to Erith & Belvedere on 3 October.[29] Graham was released by the club on 5 October, after making just three appearances.[15][30][31] Manager Alan Dowson said "Gareth is a terrific quality player who I've just not been able to fit into the side. He's looking for first team football and I wish him all the best at his next club".[31]

Return to Croydon Athletic

Graham re-signed for Croydon Athletic in October 2007.[15] He was awarded the captaincy and scored on his first appearance, in a 2–0 win over Maldon Town on 6 October.[15] Graham lined up against former side Kingstonian for the first time on 30 October and was sent off after reacting to a tackle from Jamie Beer, who also received his marching orders.[32] Graham made 16 appearances before leaving the club in January 2008.[15]

Leatherhead

Graham joined Isthmian League Division One South club Leatherhead in late January 2008.[15][33] His first start came in a 2–1 defeat to Chipstead on 18 February.[34] Graham made 16 appearances for the club for departing in November 2008.[15]

Chertsey Town

Graham signed for Combined Counties League Premier Division side Chertsey Town in early November 2008 and made his debut in a 5–0 defeat to Bedfont Green on 4 November.[15][35][36] He scored his first goal for the club in a 5–2 win over Chessington & Hook United on 28 March 2009 and followed up with another in a 2-0 win over Cobham two games later.[36] Graham made 19 appearances and scored two goals during the 2008–09 season and left the club in the summer of 2009.[36]

Chipstead

Graham returned to the Isthmian League Division One South to sign for Chipstead in the summer of 2009.[15] He was made captain and scored three goals in 20 appearances before leaving in March 2010.[37][15]

Third spell at Whyteleafe

Graham rejoined Whyteleafe permanently for a third spell in March 2010.[15] He made 8 appearances during the remainder of the 2009–10 season.[15] Graham's former Chipstead manager Nick English took over the reigns in the summer of 2010 and appointed Graham captain and player-coach.[38] Graham failed to last long in the role and departed the club in September 2010.[15] He made five appearances and scored one goal during the opening month of the 2010–11 season.[39]

Warlingham (dual-registration)

Graham played two matches on a dual-registration deal for Combined Counties League Division One side Warlingham early in the 2010–11 season.[40] He scored on his second appearance, in a 2–2 draw with Knaphill.[40]

Croydon

Graham signed for Combined Counties League Premier Division side Croydon in September 2010.[41] He made 26 appearances and scored two goals before departing the club in March 2011.[40]

Merstham

Graham moved to Isthmian League Division One South side Merstham in March 2011. He made eight league appearances during what remained of the 2010–11 season.[15] He made 10 league appearances during the 2011–12 season before departing in November 2011.[15]

Lingfield

Graham signed for Sussex County League Division One side Lingfield on 4 November 2011.[42] He made 22 league appearances and scored four goals in what remained of the 2011–12 season.[15] He made 44 appearances and scored six goals in all competitions during the 2012–13 season.[42] Graham was named captain of the team for the 2013–14 season and scored four goals in 31 appearances in all competitions during the season.[43][44] His final appearances for the club came early in the 2014–15 season.[45]

AFC Croydon Athletic (dual-registration)

Graham signed for Combined Counties League Division One phoenix club AFC Croydon Athletic on a dual-registration deal in July 2012,[46] but did not make his debut until he made a start in a 1–0 league win over Worcester Park on 12 January 2013.[47] He managed only one more appearance, which came in a 6–2 defeat to Epsom & Ewell on 20 February.[48]

International career

Graham won five caps for Northern Ireland at U21 level.[49] He made his debut in a 1–1 1999 International Triangular Tournament draw with Scotland on 4 June 1999.[49] He made three appearances during Northern Ireland's unsuccessful 2000 European U21 Championship qualifying campaign, the last of his caps coming in a 2–1 defeat to Finland on 8 October 1999.[49]

Personal life

Graham was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He lives in Croydon and works in film, media and entertainment insurance.[50][51] He is a Tottenham Hotspur supporter.[50]

Honours

Crystal Palace

AFC Wimbledon

References

  1. ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Gareth Graham". Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  2. ↑ This is Croydon (2011-03-18). "Combined Counties League Premier Division". Croydon Advertiser. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "AFC Wimbledon | Player Profile | Gareth Graham". Wimbledonheritage.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Crystal Palace FC - Players - Gareth Graham". Tonyd.users.netlink.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  5. ↑ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. pp. 440–441. ISBN 9781906796723.
  6. ↑ "Crystal Palace FC - CP-FRIS 19th September 1997". Tonyd.users.netlink.co.uk. 1997-09-19. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  7. ↑ "Latest C Palace Results, Fixtures & Betting Odds". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  8. ↑ "Gareth Graham | Football Stats | No Club | Season 1998/1999 | 1996-2002". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  9. ↑ "Gareth Graham | Football Stats | No Club | Age 35 | 1996-2002". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  10. ↑ "Palace vs Charlton Legends". Cpfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  11. ↑ Advertiser, Croydon (2013-09-09). "Crystal Palace veterans help Croydon FC celebrate 60th anniversary". Croydon Advertiser. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  12. ↑ "Football: Loans/trials - Sport". The Independent. 1998-12-06. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Gareth Graham | Football Stats | No Club | Season 1999/2000 | 1996-2002". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  14. 1 2 "Gareth Graham | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2000/2001 | 1996-2002". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 http://web.archive.org/web/20140222060139/http://www.margatefchistory.com/garethgraham.shtml
  16. ↑ "A first-half penalty by Ian Payne secured resurgent Crawley Town their fourth Premier Division win (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  17. ↑ "ANGRY Crawley manager Billy Smith accused his side of an "unacceptable performance" as they were dum (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  18. ↑ "Gareth Graham Unknown team or unattached - Port Vale FC - Vale Mad". Portvale-mad.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  19. 1 2 3 "Gareth Graham | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2001/2002 | 1996-2002". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  20. ↑ "Iceland round-up: All square in Reykjavik –". Uefa.com. 2002-06-27. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  21. 1 2 "NonLeagueDaily.com". NonLeagueDaily.com. 2002-08-24. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  22. 1 2 "Don't Look Back In Anger – AFC Wimbledon". Beesotted. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  23. ↑ "Unofficial AFC Wimbledon supporters website". Ayorkshirewomble.bravepages.com. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  24. ↑ "SoccerFacts UK Player Details". Soccerfactsuk.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  25. ↑ "NonLeagueDaily.com". NonLeagueDaily.com. 2005-07-21. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  26. 1 2 "Latest News". kingstonian.net. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  27. ↑ "Match Report". kingstonian.net. 2007-08-18. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  28. ↑ "Match Report". kingstonian.net. 2007-08-20. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  29. ↑ "Match Report". kingstonian.net. 2007-10-03. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  30. ↑ "Appearances". kingstonian.net. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  31. 1 2 "Latest News". kingstonian.net. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  32. ↑ "Match Report". kingstonian.net. 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  33. ↑ "Gareth graham leaves again". croydonathletic.net. Archived from the original on 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  34. ↑ "Wasteful Tanners pay price against Chips (From News Shopper)". Newsshopper.co.uk. 2008-02-18. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  35. ↑ Gay, Chris (2008-11-10). "Chertsey hit rock bottom against Colliers Wood (From Your Local Guardian)". Yourlocalguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  36. 1 2 3 "football.mitoo". Football.mitoo.co. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  37. ↑ "Folkestone Invicta Official Website". Archive.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk. 2009-09-19. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  38. ↑ "Whyteleafe chairman backs new manager English (From Bournemouth Echo)". Bournemouthecho.co.uk. 2010-06-22. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  39. ↑ "football.mitoo". Football.mitoo.co. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  40. 1 2 3 "football.mitoo". Football.mitoo.co. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  41. ↑ This is Croydon (2010-09-17). "DICKSON Gill wielded the axe at Croydon and is reaping the success after his side broke their seven game winless run at Raynes Park Vale on Wednesday.". Croydon Advertiser. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  42. 1 2 "Players | Lingfield | Lingfield Football Club". Clubwebsite.co.uk. 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  43. ↑ Mirror, Surrey (2013-11-25). "Skipper Graham hits out at "lacklustre" performances as Lingfield lose again". Surrey Mirror. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  44. ↑ "Gareth Graham - Lingfield 1st Team - Lingfield Football Club Ltd". www.lingfieldfc.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  45. ↑ "Gareth Graham - Lingfield 1st Team - Lingfield Football Club Ltd". www.lingfieldfc.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  46. ↑ "More signings announced - AFC Croydon Athletic". Pitchero.com. 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  47. ↑ "Jansen goal gives points to Rams - AFC Croydon Athletic - AFC Croydon Athletic". Pitchero.com. 2013-01-12. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  48. ↑ "football.mitoo". Football.mitoo.co. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  49. 1 2 3 jcd (2008-08-06). "NIFG: Gareth Graham". Nifootball.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  50. 1 2 "Gareth Graham (gramper78) on Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  51. ↑ "Performance - Film and Media Insurance - Camera Equipment Hire - High Definition - UK - Film Television Broadcast & Media Insurance". 4rfv.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.

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