Thomas Gardner (soccer)
Thomas Gardner (born March 17, 1998) is a Canadian soccer player who plays for the UBC Thunderbirds.
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 | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | UBC Thunderbirds | ||
Number | 26 | ||
Youth career | |||
2007–2015 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018– | UBC Thunderbirds | 37 | (11) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015–2017 | Whitecaps FC 2 | 40 | (0) |
2018 | TSS FC Rovers | 6 | (1) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 9, 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 13, 2015 |
Career
Whitecaps FC 2
Gardner signed with Whitecaps FC 2 on August 26, 2015.[1] 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.[2] In December 2016, Whitecaps FC 2 announced that Gardner would return to the club for the 2017 season.[3] He played three seasons with Whitecaps FC 2 before the club ceased operations after the 2017 season.[4] Rather than sign a USL deal with the Whitecaps new affiliate, Fresno FC, Gardner elected to evaluate playing opportunities in college.[5]
TSS FC Rovers
After three seasons with Whitecaps FC 2, Gardner signed with TSS FC Rovers of the Premier Development League for the 2018 season.[6]
Pacific FC
On November 12, 2018, Gardner was selected 6th overall by Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League's inaugural U Sports draft.[7] 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.[8] He was once again selected 12th overall by Pacific FC in the 2019 CPL–U Sports Draft.
FC Edmonton
In the 2021 CPL-U Sports Draft, he was selected first overall by FC Edmonton.[9][10]
References
- "Whitecaps FC sign three local Residency players to pro contracts with WFC2". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 26, 2015.
- 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.
- 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.
- "Thomas Gardner". CanadaSoccer.com.