Gareth Griffiths
Encyclopedia
Gareth John Griffiths (born 10 April 1970 in Winsford
, Cheshire
) is an English
former footballer. A defender
, he played 337 league games in a 13 year career in the Football League
.
Starting his career with Welsh club Rhyl
, he made the move to the English professional game in 1993 with Port Vale
. After around 100 games in five years for the club he transferred to Wigan Athletic
in 1998. In another three years he moved on to Rochdale
. A constant first team player at 'Dale, he made 184 league appearances in five years with the club. In 2006 he joined non-league Northwich Victoria
, where he spent one season before retiring.
before being bought by John Rudge
's Port Vale
for £1,000 in February 1993. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Stockport County
on 12 February 1994 and found himself regularly appearing in the first team from August 1994. In November 1994 he developed a groin
injury which required him to go in for a double hernia
operation in January 1995, but by July of that year had regained his first team place. He played in the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup Final
, as Vale lost 5–2 to Genoa
. He spent November 1997 on loan at Shrewsbury Town
before moving to Wigan Athletic
on a free transfer in June 1998. He played over 50 games for Wigan before joining Rochdale
in July 2001. At Rochdale and played close to 200 games in his five years with the club. Announcing his retirement from professional football in May 2006, he moved out of the Football League
and joined Northwich Victoria
in July 2006, who he played for being leaving at the end of the 2006–07 season.
For the last four years of his playing career he served on the Management Committee of the Professional Footballers Association, reporting directly to Chief Executive Gordon Taylor and other senior members of the management board. Whilst playing he obtained a first class honours degree, a post graduate marketing certificate and qualified as a financial consultant.
He is also a director of Virtual Vista Ltd, who are involved in the sports and media technology sectors.
Winsford
Winsford is a town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies on the River Weaver south of Northwich and west of Middlewich, and grew around the salt mining industry after the river was canalised in the...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer. A defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, he played 337 league games in a 13 year career in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Starting his career with Welsh club Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
, he made the move to the English professional game in 1993 with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. After around 100 games in five years for the club he transferred to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
in 1998. In another three years he moved on to Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. A constant first team player at 'Dale, he made 184 league appearances in five years with the club. In 2006 he joined non-league Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
, where he spent one season before retiring.
Playing career
Griffiths started his career with RhylRhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
before being bought by John Rudge
John Rudge
John Robert Rudge is an English former football player and football manager. He is currently working as the director of football at Stoke City....
's Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
for £1,000 in February 1993. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
on 12 February 1994 and found himself regularly appearing in the first team from August 1994. In November 1994 he developed a groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
injury which required him to go in for a double hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
operation in January 1995, but by July of that year had regained his first team place. He played in the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup Final
1995–96 Anglo-Italian Cup
The 1995–96 Anglo-Italian Cup was the last ever Anglo-Italian Cup competition. The European football competition was played between eight clubs from England and eight clubs from Italy. Italian side Genoa lifted the trophy after beating English side Port Vale 5-2.-Format:For the competition there...
, as Vale lost 5–2 to Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
. He spent November 1997 on loan at Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
before moving to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
on a free transfer in June 1998. He played over 50 games for Wigan before joining Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
in July 2001. At Rochdale and played close to 200 games in his five years with the club. Announcing his retirement from professional football in May 2006, he moved out of the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and joined Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
in July 2006, who he played for being leaving at the end of the 2006–07 season.
For the last four years of his playing career he served on the Management Committee of the Professional Footballers Association, reporting directly to Chief Executive Gordon Taylor and other senior members of the management board. Whilst playing he obtained a first class honours degree, a post graduate marketing certificate and qualified as a financial consultant.
Post-retirement
Since retirement from football he has been working in the financial services industry. He is a current trustee at the Professional Footballers Association and is a partner in Pro Sport Wealth Management LLP. They are a Chartered firm of Independent Financial Advisers who specialise in bespoke planning for both individual and corporate sports professionals.He is also a director of Virtual Vista Ltd, who are involved in the sports and media technology sectors.