Gareth Jonathan Seddon (born 23 May 1980) is an English footballer who played as a striker. He played 80 games in the Football League for Bury.

Gareth Seddon
Personal information
Full name Gareth Jonathan Seddon
Date of birth (1980-05-23) 23 May 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth Burnley, England
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Bury 79 (18)
2003Northwich Victoria (loan) 1 (0)
2004–2005 Rushden & Diamonds 0 (0)
2005–2006 Padiham[1] ? (18)
2006 Worcester City[2] 1 (1)
2006–2008 Hyde United[3] 75 (52)
2008–2009 Kettering Town 46 (15)
2009–2012 Fleetwood Town 98 (26)
2012–2013 FC Halifax Town 32 (13)
2013–2014 Chester 35 (7)
2014–2016 Salford City[4][5] 60 (26)
2016–2017 Ramsbottom United[6] 23 (9)
International career
2007 England C 2 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:33, 3 September 2016 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 May 2011

Career

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Early career

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Seddon was a fitness instructor in the RAF when he came close to joining Reading in 2001.[7] When he failed to win a deal with the Berkshire club Gareth still chose to quit the forces in order to begin a football career at Bury. While at Bury he scored the club's 6000th goal.[8] He was Bury's leading scorer in the 2001–02 season with eight goals[9] but made just a handful of appearances in the next season, and joined Northwich Victoria on loan in January 2003.[10] After three seasons at Bury, in the last of which he again finished as leading scorer, he rejected a new deal and instead joined Rushden & Diamonds on a Bosman free transfer in 2004.[9] However Seddon was plagued by the onset of reactive arthritis, a condition brought on by the rigours of full-time training. He never gained fitness to play for his new team and doctors advised him to retire from the professional game.[11][12][13]

During his time out of the game he also taught football part-time at St Theodore's RC High School in Burnley, a school which he himself had attended. In 2005, he returned to football and completed an entire season with North West Counties League side Padiham. This extended break from the professional game allowed Seddon to recuperate and by March 2006 the illness had left his system.[13] He joined up with his former Bury manager Andy Preece at Worcester City and played one match for the team on a non-contract basis in April 2006, scoring in a 3–2 win against Stalybridge Celtic. He was set to sign for the Midlands team and agreed personal terms but baulked at the distance he would have to commute from his Accrington home.[12]

Hyde United

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Despite interest from several fully professional Conference National clubs such as Morecambe, Seddon chose to continue his recuperation at part-time level and joined Hyde United in the summer of 2006.[13] Seddon has gained a reputation for scoring spectacular goals and on 1 January 2007 scored 5 goals in a 7–3 local derby win away at Stalybridge Celtic.[14] This achievement won him the Hyde United Magic Moment of the Season award along with the Fans' and Players' Player of the Season titles during his first year with the club.[15]

During the summer of 2007 Gareth was called up to the England National Game squad for the Four Nations Tournament. He won his first cap against the Republic of Ireland, then scored twice in a 3–0 win over Wales.[16] Seddon scored 62 goals in 87 appearances for Hyde over the two seasons, winning the Conference North golden boot in both.[17]

Kettering Town

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In July 2008 he joined Conference National side Kettering Town on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[18] Seddon was leading scorer with 21 goals in his first season.

Fleetwood Town

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In September 2009, Seddon signed for Conference North outfit Fleetwood Town becoming a regular first team player and helping the club gain promotion to the Conference National in 2010. After promotion Seddon was key in helping the club gain a play-off spot in their first season in the top-flight non-league league where they lost to play-off winners AFC Wimbledon in the semi-finals. In 2011–12 Seddon became one of Fleetwood's top scorers, being a super-sub after scoring several goals from coming on as a substitute. During his time at Fleetwood Seddon played with now England international Jamie Vardy. He was released by the club in May 2012.[19]

FC Halifax Town

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In the summer of 2012, Seddon signed for Conference North side F.C. Halifax Town, opting to turn part-time and focus on his modelling career instead of going full-time with Luton Town or Macclesfield Town. In a game against Bradford Park Avenue, Seddon scored in the club's 1–1 draw in the West Yorkshire derby, however he was also awarded a red card for an off the ball incident. In the First Round of the FA Trophy Seddon set a new record the fastest hat-trick in an FA Competition, recorded at 2 minutes and 37 seconds. The hat-trick included a fine solo run past the Altrincham defence. Seddon scored his second hat-trick for the club away to Droylsden in February 2013 in a 6–0 victory. Halifax sealed promotion, with a 1-0 win against Brackley in the playoff final.[20]

Chester

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In May 2013 he moved to Chester.[21]

Salford City

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In the summer of 2014 he moved to Salford City.[22] In his first league match for the club he scored a hat-trick .[23] In October 2015 Seddon appeared in the BBC One series Class of '92: Out of Their League.[24]

Ramsbottom United

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After his departure from Salford City, Seddon signed for Ramsbottom United in June 2016.[25] He made his competitive debut for Ramsbottom on the opening day of the season, at home in a 3–1 win against Goole on 13 August 2016. Seddon scored his first goal for the club the following game, in a 2–1 away defeat to Kendal Town 3 days later.[26]

Post-playing career

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Since retiring as a player Seddon has begun working as football agent.[27]

References

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  1. ^ "Seddon Back in Big Time?". Seddon Back in Big Time?. 31 May 2007. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
  2. ^ "Worcester City Player Gary Seddon". Worcester City FC Archive. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  3. ^ "Player Statistics: Gareth Seddon". Hyde United F.C. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  4. ^ "Gareth Seddon – 1st Team – Salford City Football Club". Archived from the original on 12 November 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Gareth Seddon – 1st Team – Salford City Football Club". Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  6. ^ "All Time Player Stats".
  7. ^ "Royals deserve to go up with us". Reading Post. 2 May 2001. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  8. ^ "6,000 Goals – Gareth Seddon". Bury F.C. 1 June 2007. Archived from the original on 15 August 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  9. ^ a b "Seddon heads south". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 29 May 2004. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  10. ^ "Games played by Gareth Seddon in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  11. ^ "Official Club History". Rushden & Diamonds F.C. 27 July 2009. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  12. ^ a b "Seddon says no to City transfer". Worcester News. 6 April 2006. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  13. ^ a b c Geldard, Suzanne (2 June 2007). "Saturday Interview: Gareth Seddon". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Celtic Humiliated". 1 January 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  15. ^ "nonleaguezone.com :: View Topic – End of season bash!". Archived from the original on 1 January 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2006.
  16. ^ "Kettering sign Seddon from Hyde". BBC News. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  17. ^ Dunlavy, Chris (10 August 2008). "The 181 New Boys". Non-League Paper. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  18. ^ "Poppies swoop for Seddon". Non League Daily. 14 July 2008. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ^ "Town Release List". Fleetwood Town F.C. 1 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  20. ^ Liam Norcliffe (16 February 2013). "Droylsden: Match Report". FC Halifax Town. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013.
  21. ^ "Chester FC sign Gareth Seddon from FC Halifax Town". BBC Sport. July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  22. ^ "Ammies 2014-2015 Squad Update". Salford City FC. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  23. ^ "Seddon Strikes Secure Points for Salford". Salford City FC. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  24. ^ "BBC One – Class of '92: Out of Their League". BBC. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Seddon Goes 'Home'". pitchero.com. 4 June 2016.
  26. ^ "Statistics: Ramsbottom United [Powered by tplSoccerStats]".
  27. ^ "Goal king turns provider – The footballing rebirth of Gareth Seddon | Non League Daily". 24 August 2018. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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