Gareth Ainsworth

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Personal information
Gareth Ainsworth

Full name	Gareth Ainsworth
Date of birth	10 May 1973 (1973-05-10) (age 35)
Place of birth	Blackburn, England
Playing position	Right Winger
Club information
Current club	Queens Park Rangers
Number	11
Youth clubs
1991–1992	Northwich Victoria
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1992 1992 1992–1995 1995–1997 1997–1998 1998–2003 2002 2002–2003 2003 2003–	Preston North End Cambridge United Preston North End Lincoln City Port Vale Wimbledon → Preston North End (loan) → Walsall (loan) Cardiff City Queens Park Rangers	005 0(0) 004 0(1) 082 (12) 083 (37) 055 (10) 036 0(6) 005 0(1) 005 0(1) 009 0(0) 140 (20)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 May 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Gareth Ainsworth (born 10 May 1973 in Blackburn, Lancashire) is an English professional footballer currently playing for Queens Park Rangers.

[edit] Career

Ainsworth started his career as a scholar with non-league Northwich Victoria, but signed professional terms with Preston North End in 1992. He swiftly moved on to Cambridge United, but returned to Preston, where he played for three years. In 1995 he moved to Lincoln City. On 5 May 2007, Ainsworth was voted 4th in the club's top 100 legends.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997 he signed for Port Vale, before moving to Premier League side Wimbledon in 1998 for a £2 m fee. In his five years at Wimbledon he played irregularly, and had loans spells at former club Preston and Walsall. In 2003 he moved to Cardiff City.

Ainsworth signed for Queens Park Rangers at the start of the 2003–04 season. In the opening game of the season Ainsworth scored 2 in a 5–0 win over Blackpool. This was followed up a few games later with two stunning goals against Rushden & Diamonds, one a volley from 35 yards, and another a powerful drive from the same distance.^{[citation needed]} QPR won promotion to the First Division at the end of the season.

Since then Ainsworth has struggled with injuries, but when fit has been a regular in the side. During the disappointing campaign of 2005–06 Ainsworth came second in the player of the year awards behind Danny Shittu, and finishing joint top scorer on 11 goals with Marc Nygaard.

During the 2006–07 season Ainsworth struggled with injuries. During the 2007–08 season assisted new manager Luigi De Canio, and has stated his intention to move into coaching once his player career is over.^[1]

In May 2008 Ainsworth accepted a player coach role under new QPR boss Iain Dowie. Ainsworth is considered somewhat of a cult hero at Q.P.R. due to his hard work rate and determination.

[edit] References

^ Ainsworth reveals management aim, bbc.co.uk, accessed 2008-04-06

[edit] External links

garethainsworth.com
Gareth Ainsworth career stats at Soccerbase
Photos and stats at sporting-heroes.net

v • d • e

Queens Park Rangers F.C. – current squad

1 Camp • 2 Delaney • 3 Barker • 4 Mahon • 5 Stewart • 6 Mancienne • 8 Nardiello • 9 Blackstock • 10 Buzsáky • 11 Ainsworth • 12 Cole • 14 Rowlands • 16 Connolly • 17 Agyemang • 18 Pickens • 19 Walton • 21 Lee • 23 Bailey • 25 Ephraim • 26 Vine • 28 Rehman • 29 Hall • 32 Leigertwood • 33 Crowther • 35 Goodchild • 36 Balanta • 37 Rose • –– Alberti • –– Černý • –– Goode • –– Howell • -- Ramage • –– Thomas • First-Team Coach: Dowie

Persondata
NAME	Ainsworth, Gareth
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Ainsworth, Gareth
SHORT DESCRIPTION	English professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH	1973-05-10
PLACE OF BIRTH	Blackburn, England
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH