Rory McArdle

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Rory McArdle bigraphy, stories - Footballer

Rory McArdle : biography

1 May 1987 –

Rory Alexander McArdle (born 1 May 1987) is a footballer, who plays for Bradford City. He plays in central defence, and has previously played for Sheffield Wednesday, Rochdale and Aberdeen.

Club career

Sheffield Wednesday

Rory McArdle first started out his professional career as a footballer with Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. McArdle struggled to break into the first team, only making one appearance for the Owls’ in a 2–1 victory over Plymouth Argyle. As a result of his alienation from first team football, McArdle was loaned out to Football League One club Rochdale on two separate occasions.

Rochdale

On 8 January 2007, McArdle signed permanently for Rochdale for an undisclosed fee on a two and a half-year contract and went onto have a successful spell with the League Two club making 120 appearances. McArdle was part of the Rochdale side that made it to the League Two play-off final against Stockport County at Wembley Stadium. McArdle scored the first goal in a 3–2 defeat to Stockport County. McArdle played a vital part in Rochdale’s promotion season in 2009–10. McArdle partnered Nathan Stanton in the centre of the defence for the majority of the campaign. It was announced at the end of the 2009–2010 season that McArdle’s contract was not to be renewed.

Aberdeen

On 19 May 2010, McArdle signed a contract with Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen. McArdle went onto become a regular in the first team during his first season with the SPL outfit. Due to the transfer of Richard Foster on loan to rivals Rangers, McArdle often played out of position at full back. Mid-way through the season Aberdeen changed managers as a poor run of form lead to the sacking of Mark McGhee, who was to be replaced by Motherwell manager Craig Brown. The former Scotland boss began playing McArdle at his more suited position of central defence alongside Zander Diamond. McArdle scored his first goal for Aberdeen away to Alloa Athletic in the Scottish League Cup. McArdle went onto score a further three goals during the course of the rest of the season against Kilmarnock and twice against St. Mirren. In fact, it was McArdle who scored a dramatic late equaliser in a quarter-final Scottish Cup tie against St. Mirren, which took the tie to a replay, which the Dons won at Pittodrie. McArdle only missed eleven games of the 2010–11 season partly due to a suspension he picked up after receiving a straight red card for a challenge on St. Johnstone’s Sam Parkin.

Near the end of the 2011–12 season, McArdle was advised that his contract with Aberdeen would not be extended.

Bradford City

Rory McArdle signed for Bradford City on 6 June 2012, signing a two-year contract. He made his debut on 11 August in a 1–0 win in the League Cup against Notts County. BBC Sport. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. He made his league debut a week later against Gillingham. BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. He made his home debut on 21 August, in a 1–0 win against Fleetwood Town. BBC Sport. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012. He scored his first goal for the club on 25 August in a 5–1 win against AFC Wimbledon. BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012. On 8 January, McArdle scored a header against Premier League side Aston Villa in the first leg of the semi-final of the League Cup, as Bradford incredibly won 3–1. BBC Sport. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013. He also played in the second leg, which saw Bradford advance to the final 4–3 on aggregate. BBC Sport. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013. He started in the final which Bradford lost to Premier League side Swansea City. BBC Sport. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013. He scored his second league goal for the club on 1 April, helping Bradford to a 3–1 away to Torquay United. BBC Sport. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013. He then scored in the 2013 Football League Two play-off Final, which Bradford won 3–0 against Northampton Town securing promotion to League One. BBC Sport. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

International career

McArdle made his full debut for Northern Ireland on 26 May 2010 against Turkey in a friendly. McArdle gained further caps for his country, coming on as a second half substitute four days later against Chile and later on in the year in November against Morocco. McArdle was selected to start his first ever international game, when Northern Ireland were beaten 3–0 by Scotland in the Nations Cup on 9 February 2011. McArdle came on as a second half substitute to gain his fifth international cap in a 6–0 defeat against Netherlands on 2 June 2012.