Thomas Gardner (soccer)
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | March 17, 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2007–2015 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2022 | UBC Thunderbirds | 66 | (13) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2017 | Whitecaps FC 2 | 40 | (0) |
| 2018 | TSS FC Rovers | 6 | (1) |
| 2021 | FC Edmonton | 10 | (0) |
| 2022 | Varsity FC | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 21, 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 13, 2015 | |||
Thomas Gardner (born March 17, 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder.
Club career
[edit]Whitecaps FC 2
[edit]Gardner signed with Whitecaps FC 2 on August 26, 2015.[1] He made his professional debut 11 days later against Sacramento Republic FC.[2] Gardner, along with fellow Whitecaps Academy products Matthew Baldisimo and Kadin Chung were praised during the club's USL playoff run in the 2016 USL season.[3] In December 2016, Whitecaps FC 2 announced that Gardner would return to the club for the 2017 season.[4] He played three seasons with Whitecaps FC 2 before the club ceased operations after the 2017 season.[5] Rather than sign a USL deal with the Whitecaps new affiliate, Fresno FC, Gardner elected to evaluate playing opportunities in college.[6]
TSS FC Rovers
[edit]After three seasons with Whitecaps FC 2, Gardner signed with TSS FC Rovers of the Premier Development League for the 2018 season.[7]
Pacific FC
[edit]On November 12, 2018, Gardner was selected 6th overall by Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League's inaugural U Sports draft.[8] However he sustained a knee injury shortly after being drafted and was unable to play for three months, resulting in him not signing with Pacific. So, he went back to the University of British Columbia and played in the 2019 U Sports season.[9] He was once again selected 12th overall by Pacific FC in the 2019 CPL–U Sports Draft.
FC Edmonton
[edit]In the 2021 CPL-U Sports Draft, he was selected first overall by FC Edmonton.[10][11] On March 23, 2021, Gardner signed a development contract with the club.[12] Gardner appeared in 10 games with the Eddies before returning to the University of British Columbia.
Varsity FC
[edit]In 2022, Gardner joined Varsity FC in League1 British Columbia.[13]
International career
[edit]Gardner qualifies to play for Canada, where he and his father were born, or Indonesia, where his mother was born.[14]
In 2013, Gardner participated in U-15 evaluation camps for the Canadian men's program and played in the Copa Mexico de Naciones Sub-15.[14] The following year, he participated in camps for the Canadian U17 team and played at the 2014 Tournoi Montaigu.[14] He subsequently participated in another U17 camp in 2015, but was not called up for competitive matches.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Whitecaps FC sign three local Residency players to pro contracts with WFC2". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 26, 2015.
- ^ Campbell, Aaron (May 12, 2016). "Ten Count with Vancouver Whitecaps U18 and USL player Thomas Gardner". Away from the Numbers.
- ^ Weber, Marc (October 7, 2016). "'Telepathic' trio hooks talent, soccer dreams to WFC2 playoff wagon". Vancouver Province.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC 2 re-sign Sem de Wit and Will Seymore, announce roster update". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 20, 2016.
- ^ Michael McColl (October 14, 2017). "California Dreaming: Goodbye WFC2, hello new beginnings – the ins and outs of the Whitecaps/Fresno partnership". AFTN Canada.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC assign three players to USL affiliate Fresno FC". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 7, 2017.
- ^ Michael McColl (April 3, 2018). "Rovers Return: TSS' 2018 PDL roster combines key returnees, Whitecaps alumni, and top local college talent". AFTN.ca.
- ^ "Pacific FC stay local, drafting UBC's Gardner, Verhoven, Fussell in CPL-U SPORTS Draft". Canadian Premier League. 13 November 2018.
- ^ Thompson, MArty (2019-11-08). "'Ready for next level': Injury-redeemed Gardner, UBC stars pique Pacific interest". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
- ^ Prest, Andy (January 29, 2021). "North Vancouver's Thomas Gardner picked first in CPL soccer draft". North Shore News.
- ^ Molinaro, John (January 29, 2021). "FC Edmonton take UBC's Thomas Gardner 1st overall in CPL-U SPORTS Draft". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ "FC Edmonton signs CPL-U SPORTS first overall pick Thomas Gardner". Canadian Premier League. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ @Varsity_FC (13 April 2022). "Welcome Thomas Gardner Currently playing for @ubcmsoc Gardner was the @USPORTS_Soccer Rookie of the Year & 1st Te…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d "Thomas Gardner". CanadaSoccer.com.