Garath McCleary
McCleary playing for Reading in 2013
Personal information
Full name Garath James McCleary[1]
Date of birth (1987-05-15) 15 May 1987 (age 36)[1]
Place of birth Oxford, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Wycombe Wanderers
Number 12
Youth career
2004–2005 Oxford United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Oxford City 22 (3)
2005–2007 Slough Town 33 (7)
2007–2008 Bromley 24 (8)
2008–2012 Nottingham Forest 111 (13)
2012–2020 Reading 242 (23)
2020– Wycombe Wanderers 119 (23)
International career‡
2013–2016 Jamaica 24 (3)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Jamaica
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up 2015 United States–Canada Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:27, 10 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:39, 21 November 2016 (UTC)

Garath James McCleary (born 15 May 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Wycombe Wanderers. Born in England, he played for the Jamaica national team.

Club career

Early career

McCleary was born in Oxford, Oxfordshire.[1] His football career began with Oxford City, and spent time with Oxford United but never signed a contract with the team despite spending three months with the club.[2]

He joined Slough Town playing in 24 games and scoring on six occasions. He then moved to Bromley in January 2007. In total McCleary made over 40 appearances for Bromley scoring 11 goals. Nottingham Forest manager Colin Calderwood offered him a trial at the City Ground where he did well enough to secure a contract on 31 January 2008.[3]

Nottingham Forest

McCleary made his first team debut as an 87th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 home defeat against Carlisle United, on 3 March 2008.[4] He scored his first goal for the club on 1 April 2008 in injury time, in a 2–0 win at Carlisle. On 5 April he was handed his first start where he was voted Man of the Match as Forest beat Cheltenham Town 3–1 at the City Ground.[5]

In the 2011/12 season McCleary scored nine goals after returning from injury in December 2011; six of which came in March 2012.[6] Four came in a high-scoring game away to Leeds United at Elland Road, where Forest won 7–3.[7] These performances resulted in McCleary being named as the Football League Championship Player of the Month.[8] He was voted Forest's Player of the Season by the Forest supporters, beating Joel Lynch and Chris Gunter into second and third respectively.[9]

Reading

On 16 May 2012 it was announced that McCleary had turned down a new contract at Forest and instead signed a three-year contract at Reading and fulfill his dream of playing in the Premier League.[10][11] His first goal for Reading came in a 3–3 draw with Fulham.[12]

McCleary signed a new contract with Reading on 3 October 2014, keeping at the club until the summer of 2017,[13] before again extending it on 17 January 2017, this time until the summer of 2020.[14]

Wycombe Wanderers

On 4 November 2020, it was announced by Wycombe Wanderers manager during a live webcast that the club had signed McCleary, who had been training with the club as a free transfer until the end of the current season.[15] He scored his first goal for Wycombe in a 2–2 draw against Preston North End on 5 December 2020.[16]

International career

In October 2012 he was earmarked by the Jamaica Football Federation to play for Jamaica during their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. He received his first call up on 24 January 2013 alongside Reading teammates Jobi McAnuff and Adrian Mariappa for the World Cup qualifier against Mexico on 6 February.[17] McCleary started the match and helped Jamaica to a 0–0 draw at the Estadio Azteca.[18]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 May 2023[19][20][21][22]
Garath McCleary on the pitch wearing Nottingham Forest's home kit
McCleary playing for Nottingham Forest in 2010
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Oxford City 2004–05 Southern West 22 3 1 0 — 6[a] 3 29 6
Slough Town 2005–06 Isthmian Premier 24 7 0 0 — 7[b] 2 31 9
2006–07 9 0 1 0 — 1[c] 0 11 0
Total 33 7 1 0 — 8 2 42 9
Bromley 2006–07 Isthmian Premier 6 2 0 0 — 9 1 15 3
2007–08 Conference South 18 6 4 2 — 5 0 27 8
Total 24 8 4 2 — 14 1 42 11
Nottingham Forest 2007–08[23] League One 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1
2008–09[24] Championship 39 1 2 0 2 0 — 43 1
2009–10[25] 24 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 27 0
2010–11[26] 18 2 2 0 1 0 1[d] 0 22 2
2011–12[27] 22 9 1 0 0 0 — 23 9
Total 111 13 7 0 4 0 1 0 123 13
Reading 2012–13[28] Premier League 31 3 3 1 3 0 — 37 4
2013–14[29] Championship 42 5 1 0 0 0 — 43 5
2014–15[30] 26 1 4 2 0 0 — 30 3
2015–16[31] 34 4 2 0 2 1 — 38 5
2016–17[32] 41 9 1 0 1 0 2[d] 0 45 9
2017–18[33] 18 0 2 0 1 0 — 21 0
2018–19[34] 31 0 1 0 0 0 — 32 0
2019–20[35] 19 1 5 0 0 0 — 24 1
Total 242 23 19 3 7 1 2 0 270 27
Wycombe Wanderers 2020–21[36] Championship 32 4 1 0 0 0 — 33 4
2021–22[37] League One 42 11 0 0 0 0 4[e] 0 46 11
2022–23[38] 39 6 0 0 0 0 — 39 6
Career total 546 76 33 5 11 1 35 6 625 88
  1. ^ Two appearances and two goals in the FA Trophy, one appearance and one goal in the Southern League Cup and three appearances in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup
  2. ^ Five appearances and two goals in the Isthmian League Cup, two appearances in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in the Isthmian League Cup
  4. ^ a b Appearances in the Championship play-offs
  5. ^ 1 appearance in the EFL Trophy, 3 appearances in the EFL League One play-offs

International

As of match played 2 September 2016.[39]
International statistics
National team Year Apps Goals
Jamaica 2013 7 0
2014 1 1
2015 11 2
2016 5 0
Total 24 3

International goals

Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first.[39]
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 5 March 2014 Beauséjour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia  Saint Lucia 3–0 5–0 Friendly
2. 8 July 2015 StubHub Center, Carson, United States  Costa Rica 1–0 2–2 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
3. 14 July 2015 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada  El Salvador 1–0 1–0 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 263. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^ Smith, Russell (7 February 2008). "Ex-City star shines at Forest". The Oxford Times. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Team | Player Profiles | Garath McCleary". Nottingham Forest F.C. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Garath McCleary". Bridportred.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Countdown To Kick-Off: Nottingham Forest (H)". Derby County F.C. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Leeds United 3–7 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  8. ^ "McCleary named Player of the Month". The Football League. 6 April 2012. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  9. ^ "G-Mac And Adi Land Awards". nottinghamforest.co.uk. Nottingham Forest F.C. 28 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  10. ^ "Royals Appointment For McCleary". nottinghamforest.co.uk. Nottingham Forest F.C. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  11. ^ "Royals sign Garath McCleary". Reading F.C. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  12. ^ Sheringham, Sam (27 October 2012). "Reading 3–3 Fulham". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "McCleary pens new Royals deal". Reading F.C. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  14. ^ "McCleary is a Royal until 2020!". Reading F.C. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  15. ^ "Gareth brings Garath to Adams Park". Wycombewanderers.co.uk. Wycombe Wanderers F.C. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Preston 2-2 Wycombe". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Pearce earns call up". Reading F.C. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  18. ^ "Reggae Boyz hold Mexico nil all at the Azteca". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  19. ^ "Oxford City 2004–05 fixtures". Citystats. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  20. ^ "Garath McCleary profile". Slough Town F.C. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  21. ^ "2007–08 First Team statistics". Bromley F.C. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
    FA Cup ties sourced individually to: "Lillies have lucky escape". Bromley News Shopper. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
    "Lillies leave it late". Bromley News Shopper. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
    "Bromley through to next round". Bromley News Shopper. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
    "Lillies fury at penalty exit". Bromley News Shopper. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  22. ^ "Garath McCleary career statistics". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  23. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  25. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  26. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  27. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  28. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  29. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  30. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  31. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  32. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  33. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  34. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  35. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  36. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  37. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  38. ^ "Games played by Garath McCleary in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  39. ^ a b "Garath McCleary". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 27 July 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Garath McCleary.
Wycombe Wanderers F.C. – current squad
Nottingham Forest F.C. – Player of the Year
Jamaica squads
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