Rory McArdle

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Rory McArdle

McArdle in 2010
Personal information
Full nameRory Alexander McArdle[1]
Date of birth (1987-05-01) 1 May 1987
Place of birthSheffield, England
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current clubBradford City
Number23
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2007Sheffield Wednesday1(0)
2005–2006→ Rochdale (loan)19(1)
2006–2007→ Rochdale (loan)9(0)
2007–2010Rochdale120(4)
2010–2012Aberdeen52(2)
2012–Bradford City64(5)
National team‡
2006–2008Northern Ireland U2119(1)
2010–Northern Ireland5(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:20, 1 February 2014 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:18, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

Rory Alexander McArdle (born 1 May 1987) is a footballer, who plays for Bradford City. He plays in central defence, and has previously played for Sheffield Wednesday, Rochdale and Aberdeen.

Club career

Sheffield Wednesday

Rory McArdle first started out his professional career as a footballer with Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. McArdle struggled to break into the first team, only making one appearance for the Owls' in a 2–1 victory over Plymouth Argyle. As a result of his alienation from first team football, McArdle was loaned out to Football League One club Rochdale on two separate occasions.

Rochdale

On 8 January 2007, McArdle signed permanently for Rochdale for an undisclosed fee on a two and a half-year contract and went onto have a successful spell with the League Two club making 120 appearances. McArdle was part of the Rochdale side that made it to the League Two play-off final against Stockport County at Wembley Stadium. McArdle scored the first goal in a 3–2 defeat to Stockport County. McArdle played a vital part in Rochdale's promotion season in 2009–10. McArdle partnered Nathan Stanton in the centre of the defence for the majority of the campaign. It was announced at the end of the 2009–2010 season that McArdle's contract was not to be renewed.

Aberdeen

On 19 May 2010, McArdle signed a contract with Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen.[2] McArdle went onto become a regular in the first team during his first season with the SPL outfit. Due to the transfer of Richard Foster on loan to rivals Rangers, McArdle often played out of position at full back. Mid-way through the season Aberdeen changed managers as a poor run of form lead to the sacking of Mark McGhee, who was to be replaced by Motherwell manager Craig Brown. The former Scotland boss began playing McArdle at his more suited position of central defence alongside Zander Diamond. McArdle scored his first goal for Aberdeen away to Alloa Athletic in the Scottish League Cup. McArdle went onto score a further three goals during the course of the rest of the season against Kilmarnock and twice against St. Mirren. In fact, it was McArdle who scored a dramatic late equaliser in a quarter-final Scottish Cup tie against St. Mirren, which took the tie to a replay, which the Dons won at Pittodrie. McArdle only missed eleven games of the 2010–11 season partly due to a suspension he picked up after receiving a straight red card for a challenge on St. Johnstone's Sam Parkin.

Near the end of the 2011–12 season, McArdle was advised that his contract with Aberdeen would not be extended.[3]

Bradford City

McArdle with the victory parade that followed Bradford City's victory in the 2013 Football League Two play-off Final

McArdle signed for Bradford City on 6 June 2012, signing a two-year contract.[4][5] He made his debut on 11 August in a 1–0 win in the League Cup against Notts County.[6] He made his league debut a week later against Gillingham.[7] He made his home debut on 21 August, in a 1–0 win against Fleetwood Town.[8] He scored his first goal for the club on 25 August in a 5–1 win against AFC Wimbledon.[9] On 8 January, McArdle scored a header against Premier League side Aston Villa in the first leg of the semi-final of the League Cup, as Bradford incredibly won 3–1.[10] He also played in the second leg, which saw Bradford advance to the final 4–3 on aggregate.[11] He started in the final which Bradford lost to Premier League side Swansea City.[12] He scored his second league goal for the club on 1 April, helping Bradford to a 3–1 away to Torquay United.[13] He then scored in the 2013 Football League Two play-off Final, which Bradford won 3–0 against Northampton Town securing promotion to League One.[14] On 3 August, the opening day of the season, McArdle scored a late header from a Raffaele De Vita corner to give Bradford a point in a 2–2 draw against Bristol City.[15]

International career

McArdle made his full debut for Northern Ireland on 26 May 2010 against Turkey in a friendly.[16] McArdle gained further caps for his country, coming on as a second half substitute four days later against Chile and later on in the year in November against Morocco. McArdle was selected to start his first ever international game, when Northern Ireland were beaten 3–0 by Scotland in the Nations Cup on 9 February 2011. McArdle came on as a second half substitute to gain his fifth international cap in a 6–0 defeat against Netherlands on 2 June 2012.

References

  1. ↑ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 260. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0. 
  2. ↑ "Rochdale's Rory McArdle agrees to Aberdeen switch". BBC Sport. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2010. 
  3. ↑ "Aberdeen striker Darren Mackie among six to exit". BBC Sport (BBC). 25 April 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012. 
  4. ↑ "Rory McArdle becomes Bradford City's second summer signing". Telegraph & Argus. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012. 
  5. ↑ "Bradford City sign Aberdeen defender Rory McArdle". BBC Sport (BBC). 7 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012. 
  6. ↑ "Notts County 0–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "Gillingham 3–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "Bradford 1–0 Fleetwood" BBC Sport. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Bradford 5–1 AFC Wimbledon" BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Bradford 3–1 Aston Villa" BBC Sport. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Aston Villa 2–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Bradford 0–5 Swansea" BBC Sport. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Torquay 1–3 Bradford" BBC Sport. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Bradford 3–0 Northampton" BBC Sport. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Bristol City 2–2 Bradford" BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "N Ireland 0–2 Turkey". BBC Sport. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010. 

External links

Bradford City A.F.C. – current squad
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