Rory McArdle

Rory Alexander McArdle (born 1 May 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for League Two club Exeter City. He has previously played for Sheffield Wednesday, Rochdale, Aberdeen, Bradford City and Scunthorpe United.

Rory McArdle

McArdle in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Rory Alexander McArdle[1]
Date of birth	1 May 1987
Place of birth	Sheffield, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Club information
Current team	Exeter City
Number	6
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2007	Sheffield Wednesday	1	(0)
2005–2006	→ Rochdale (loan)	19	(1)
2006–2007	→ Rochdale (loan)	9	(0)
2007–2010	Rochdale	125	(5)
2010–2012	Aberdeen	53	(2)
2012–2017	Bradford City	183	(12)
2017–2020	Scunthorpe United	100	(4)
2020–	Exeter City	8	(1)
National team^‡
	Northern Ireland U19[2]	11	(0)
2006–2008	Northern Ireland U21	19	(1)
2010–	Northern Ireland	7	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:15, 2 February 2021 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:35, 5 May 2017 (UTC)

Club career

Aberdeen

On 19 May 2010, McArdle signed a contract with Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen.[3] Near the end of the 2011–12 season, McArdle was advised that his contract with Aberdeen would not be extended.[4]

Bradford City

McArdle with the victory parade that followed Bradford City's victory in the 2013 Football League Two play-off Final

McArdle signed for Bradford City on 6 June 2012, signing a two-year contract.[5][6] He made his debut on 11 August in a 1–0 win in the League Cup against Notts County.[7] He made his league debut a week later against Gillingham.[8] He made his home debut on 21 August, in a 1–0 win against Fleetwood Town.[9] He scored his first goal for the club on 25 August in a 5–1 win against AFC Wimbledon.[10] 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.[11] He also played in the second leg, which saw Bradford advance to the final 4–3 on aggregate.[12] He started in the final which Bradford lost to Premier League side Swansea City.[13] He scored his second league goal for the club on 1 April, helping Bradford to a 3–1 away to Torquay United.[14] 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.[15] On 3 August, the opening day of the season, McArdle scored a late header from a Raffaele De Vita corner to give Bradford a point in a 2–2 draw against Bristol City.[16]

He was Bradford City's 2014–15 Player of the Year.[17]

Scunthorpe United

McArdle signed a three-year deal with fellow League One club Scunthorpe United on 21 June 2017, with the deal coming into effect from 1 July 2017.[18]

Exeter City

On 19 May 2020, McArdle signed a contract with League Two club Exeter City.[19] He scored his first goal for the club in February 2021, a 'trademark near-post header' in a 1–0 win over Stevenage.[20]

International career

McArdle made his full debut for Northern Ireland on 26 May 2010 against Turkey in a friendly.[21]

Career statistics

As of match played 26 September 2017

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Domestic Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rochdale (loan)	2005–06[22]	League Two	19	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	20	1
Sheffield Wednesday	2006–07[23]	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
Rochdale (loan)	2006–07[23]	League Two	25	0	1	0	—		0	0	26	0
Rochdale	2007–08[24]	League Two	46	3	1	0	2	0	0	0	49	3
	2008–09[25]		43	2	3	0	1	0	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	49	2
	2009–10[26]		20	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	22	0
	Rochdale total		109	5	6	0	3	0	2	0	120	5
Aberdeen	2010–11[27]	Scottish Premier League	28	2	4	1	4	1	0	0	36	4
	2011–12[28]		25	0	5	0	2	1	0	0	32	1
	Aberdeen total		53	2	9	1	6	2	0	0	68	5
Bradford City	2012–13[29]	League Two	40	2	4	0	8	1	4[lower-alpha 2]	1	56	4
	2013–14[30]	League One	41	3	1	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	43	3
	2014–15[31]		43	3	8	0	3	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	55	3
	2015–16[32]		35	3	5	0	1	0	3[lower-alpha 3]	0	44	3
	2016–17[33]		24	1	1	0	0	0	8[lower-alpha 4]	1	33	2
	Bradford total		183	12	19	0	12	1	17	2	231	15
Scunthorpe United	2017–18[34]	League One	10	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	12	0
Career total			400	20	36	1	24	3	19	2	479	26

1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
2. One appearance in the Football League Trophy and three in the League Two play-offs
3. One appearance in the Football League Trophy and two in the League One play-offs
4. Five appearances in the EFL Trophy and three in the League One play-offs

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Exeter City" (PDF). English Football League. p. 28. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
2. Rory McArdle – UEFA competition record
3. "Rochdale's Rory McArdle agrees to Aberdeen switch". BBC Sport. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
4. "Aberdeen striker Darren Mackie among six to exit". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
5. "Rory McArdle becomes Bradford City's second summer signing". Telegraph & Argus. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
6. "Bradford City sign Aberdeen defender Rory McArdle". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
7. "Notts County 0–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
8. "Gillingham 3–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
9. "Bradford 1–0 Fleetwood" BBC Sport. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
10. "Bradford 5–1 AFC Wimbledon" BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
11. "Bradford 3–1 Aston Villa" BBC Sport. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
12. "Aston Villa 2–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
13. "Bradford 0–5 Swansea" BBC Sport. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
14. "Torquay 1–3 Bradford" BBC Sport. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
15. "Bradford 3–0 Northampton" BBC Sport. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
16. "Bristol City 2–2 Bradford" BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
17. "McARDLE DOMINATES PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS". Bradford City A.F.C. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
18. "Iron Sign Rory McArdle". Scunthorpe United F.C. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
19. "✍️ Rory McArdle signs for Exeter City". www.exetercityfc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
20. Parker, Simon (5 February 2021). "BANTAMS OPPOSITION: McArdle's painful blow for Exeter". Telegraph & Argus. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
21. "N Ireland 0–2 Turkey". BBC Sport. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
22. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
23. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
24. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
25. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
26. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
27. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
28. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
29. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
30. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
31. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
32. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
33. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
34. "Games played by Rory McArdle in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

External links

• "Rory McArdle profile". Aberdeen FC. Archived from the original on 2 August 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
• Rory McArdle at Soccerbase