Gary Warren (footballer)

Gary Warren
Personal information
Full nameGary Warren
Date of birth16 August 1984
Place of birthBristol, England
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current team
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Number5
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2002–2006Mangotsfield United164(11)
2006–2009Team Bath35(6)
2009–2012Newport County76(9)
2012–Inverness CT96(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 April 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).

Gary Warren (born 16 August 1984) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Premiership.[1]

Club career

Warren's football career began at Mangotsfield United in the Southern League, for whom he played between 2002 and 2006. He rose up through the youth & reserve ranks to the first team and made his debut for Mangotsfield away to Evesham United on 1 April 2003. He played a pivotol role in the team's 2004–2005 Southern League – Western Division championship-winning side. His career record with Mangotsfield totaled 164 appearances with 11 goals.
In the summer transfer window of 2006, Warren went on trial at Bristol Rovers, with a view to permanent contract,[2] but he eventually opted to join Team Bath.

Newport County

In July 2009, following the disbandment of Team Bath, Warren signed for Newport County, then in the Conference South.[3] He made his debut against Mansfield Town.[4] Warren was immediately a regular for Newport and was appointed captain.[5] In the 2009–10 season Newport County were crowned Conference South champions with a record 103 points, 28 points ahead of second-placed Dover Athletic.
In the 2010–11 season, Warren was linked with a £10k move to League Two side Cheltenham Town. This bid was rejected, with manager Anthony Hudson criticising Cheltenham for their offer, describing it as a 'insult'. Hudson also insisted the club had no plans to sell Warren.[6]
On 12 May 2012, Warren played for Newport in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium – a match they lost 2–0 to York City. Nevertheless, in the build-up to the final Warren had stated it was a boyhood dream to play at Wembley.[7]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

At the end of the 2011–12 season, Warren's contract at Newport expired. Despite being offered a new contract[8] he chose to move on to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[9] For Newport County, Warren's departure was the end-of-an-era as he was the last of Deano's team to depart.[10] Upon joining Inverness, Warren said he signed for the club because he 'couldn't say no' to playing under manager Terry Butcher.[11] In the opening game of the season, Warren made his debut in a 2–2 draw against St. Mirren.[12]

Two-months later, Warren scored his first goal for Inverness in a 4–1 win over Dundee. In the quarter-final of Scottish League Cup, he scored his second goal in a 3–0 win over Rangers to reach the semi-finals.[13] In the first part of the season, Warren and his team-mates struggled as the club found themselves near the foot of the table, but the fans soon began to see the best of him.[14] His second league goal came in a 3–2 win over Aberdeen on 27 November 2012, followed up two-weeks later when he scored in a 4–4 thriller against Dundee United.

In late December 2012, Warren said his future in Scotland was uncertain due to personal issues.[15] However, three-months later, Warren signed a new two-year deal.[16] Prior to signing the new contract, Warren scored a 'brace' as Inverness beat Heart of Midlothian 3–2.[17]

The 2013–14 season started positively for Warren. Alongside Josh Meekings in central defence and new goalkeeper Dean Brill, he helped Inverness keep three consecutive clean sheets in their opening matches,[18] before eventually conceding in a 2–2 draw against Celtic on 24 August 2013.[19][20]

In October, Warren scored his first goal of the season, a header, in a 2–1 loss against Partick Thistle.[21] He then scored in the next match, equalising against Dundee United in the quarter-final of the Scottish League Cup. Inverness CT won through after extra-time to reach the semi-finals.[22]
However, in the semi-final against Hearts, he was sent-off. Despite this, Inverness CT won in a penalty-shootout, but Warren's dismissal meant he missed the final through suspension.[23] An attempt to overturn his ban was unsuccessful.[24]
On 22 February 2014, he scored in a 1–0 win over St. Johnstone, giving Inverness their first victory in Perth in three years.[25]

In May 2014, Warren signed a further contract extension, committing himself to the club until 2017.[26]

He was again unfortunate to be suspended for the final of the Scottish Cup, after picking-up a caution in the semi-final against Celtic.[27]

References

  1. ↑ "Gary Warren". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Warren hopes to seal Rovers move". BBC. 8 July 2006. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "County sign Team Bath skipper". Gazette Series. 1 June 2009. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "County loser in Holdsworth battle". Gazette Series. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "FAN-TASTIC – Record crowd cheer County to victory". Gazette Series. 16 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  6. ↑ "Robins cop Warren bid flack". Sky Sports. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "Football: Warren excited to play at Wembley". South Wales Argus. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Warren leaves County". Gazette Series. 3 June 2012. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Inverness seal Warren deal". Sky Sports. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "MICHAEL PEARLMAN SAYS: End of an era as 'Deano's team' move on". Gazette Series. 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "I couldn't turn down Terry Butcher, says departing Exiles skipper Warren". Gazette Series. 7 June 2012. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "St Mirren 2 Inverness Caley Thistle 2". Daily Record. 5 August 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Rangers 0 Inverness CT 3: SPL side prove gulf in class as they ease into semi finals". Daily Record. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "Inverness new boy Gary Warren on finally winning over the Thistle faithful". Daily Record. 18 November 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Inverness star Gary Warren faces tough talk with wife over future". Daily Record. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Inverness defender Gary Warren signs a new two-year contract with club". Sky Sports. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  17. ↑ "Hearts 2 Inverness Caley Thistle 3: Highlanders use their set-piece expertise to put Jambos to the sword". Daily Record. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  18. ↑ "Warren could prolong ICT stay beyond 2015". Inverness Courier. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "ICT forced to settle for point at Celtic". Inverness Courier. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Celtic 2–2 Inverness CT". BBC Sport. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "Inverness CT 1 – 2 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "Inverness CT 2 – 1 Dundee United (aet)". BBC Sport. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  23. ↑ "Heart of Midlothian 2–2 Inverness CT aet (2–4 pens)". BBC Sport. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  24. ↑ "Inverness to contest Josh Meekings red card". BBC Sport. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Warren wins it for ICT in Perth". Inverness Courier. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  26. ↑ Defender Gary Warren signs new three-year deal BBC Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014
  27. ↑ Inverness 3-2 Celtic BBC Sport. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015

External links