Gareth Owen
Owen with Port Vale in 2010
Personal information
Full name Gareth David Owen[1]
Date of birth (1982-09-21) 21 September 1982[2]
Place of birth Cheadle, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Stoke City (academy director)
Youth career
1999–2001 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Stoke City 5 (0)
2004 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 15 (1)
2004 → Torquay United (loan) 5 (0)
2005 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 9 (0)
2005–2007 Oldham Athletic 17 (0)
2006–2007 → Stockport County (loan) 39 (0)
2007–2009 Stockport County 44 (0)
2008 → Yeovil Town (loan) 7 (0)
2008–2009 → Port Vale (loan) 4 (0)
2009–2013 Port Vale 110 (2)
Total 255 (3)
International career
2001 Wales under-19s 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gareth David Owen (born 21 September 1982) is an English-born Welsh former footballer, now working as academy director with Stoke City.

A defender, he represented Wales at under-19 level.[3] He began his career at Stoke City, signing as a professional in August 2001. He made his first team debut in the 2003–04 season, also spending time on loan at Oldham Athletic. He spent part of 2004–05 on loan at Torquay United, before returning on loan at Oldham. His loan deal was made permanent in the summer for a £50,000 fee, though he did not find success in the 2005–06 campaign. He spent the 2006–07 season on loan at Stockport County, and was voted the club's Player of the Season, after which he joined Stockport permanently, and was installed as club captain. Following a successful 2007–08 season, he joined Yeovil Town on loan in October 2008, having fallen out with the management at Stockport. He then joined Port Vale on a loan deal that was made permanent in January 2009. He was a key member of the first team in 2009–10 and 2010–11, and was also appointed as the club's reserve team manager for the 2011–12 season. He retired from playing in January 2013, and began coaching at the Stoke City Academy.

Club career

Stoke City

Born and raised in Cheadle, Staffordshire (just outside Stoke-on-Trent), Owen attended Painsley High School in his youth. He was in the same school year as future Port Vale teammate Adam Yates.[4] Owen began his career as a trainee with his local club, Stoke City, turning professional in August 2001. However, in March 2002 he broke his leg in a youth team match against Leeds United; this meant two ankle operations which cost Owen fifteen months out of action.[5]

He made his senior debut in a First Division clash with Wigan Athletic on 14 October 2003; he replaced Clint Hill on the 80-minute mark, as Stoke lost 2–1 at the JJB Stadium thanks to two Geoff Horsfield goals. Four days later he made a further cameo against Ipswich Town. To gain first team experience he spent the second half of the 2003–04 season on loan at Second Division side Oldham Athletic. He scored his first senior goal at Boundary Park, in a 4–1 win over Plymouth Argyle on 17 April. Upon his return to the Potteries he won his home debut at the Britannia Stadium; he played the full ninety minutes in what was a 4–1 win over West Bromwich Albion.

At the start of the 2004–05 season he was loaned out to League One club Torquay United,[6] where he played six games. After returning from Plainmoor he played two further games for Stoke, making substitute appearances in 1–0 wins over Coventry City and Millwall.

Oldham Athletic

He returned to Oldham on loan in March 2005, playing nine times until the end of the season when he was transferred from Stoke to Oldham Athletic for a fee of £50,000.[7] However, he made only 21 appearances in 2005–06. Never fitting in at the club, in May 2006 he put in a transfer request, which was accepted.[8] He later claimed he had 'fallen out of love' with football at Boundary Park.[9]

Stockport County

On 3 July 2006, Owen joined Stockport County on a season-long loan deal.[10] He enjoyed a successful 2006–07 season, playing 42 games, including a FA Cup Third round tie at Premier League Watford.[11] He was voted the club's Player of the Season and joined Stockport permanently for an undisclosed fee in June 2007.[12] In the 2007–08 season, Owen went on to captain Stockport back to League One, lifting the play-off trophy after a 3–2 win over Rochdale at Wembley Stadium.[13] In the final he actually played with a face-mask due to an injury.[14] However, the season was not a complete success, as County suffered a shock defeat to Isthmian League Staines Town in the FA Cup First round.[11] In October 2008 he went out on loan to Yeovil Town[15] after a public falling-out with manager Jim Gannon.[16] After the loan was extended in November[17] he stated his aim to sign a permanently contract with the "Glovers",[18] though the next week he ended up joining Dean Glover's Port Vale.

Port Vale

Despite starting his career at Stoke City, in November 2008 Owen agreed to join local rivals Port Vale on loan until January 2009, with a view to a permanent deal.[19] He made his Vale debut on the day the loan move was agreed, helping the "Valiants" to keep a clean sheet against Barnet despite barely getting chance to meet his new teammates. Owen was expected to sign a permanent deal with Port Vale in January 2009 but was unexpectedly recalled by Stockport in order to negotiate a settlement for the remainder of his contract.[20][21] This issue was finally resolved on 19 January,[22] and he left Stockport by mutual consent to sign for Port Vale on a two and a half-year contract.[23] During this period he also held informal talks with Dario Gradi's Crewe Alexandra.[24] In March 2009 Owen picked up an ankle injury, which kept him out of action for the rest of the season.[25] During the downtime he spent time working on his coaching badges and helping Ray Williams on scouting duties.[26]

A key part of the back three in 2009–10, Owen scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 home win over Grimsby Town on 5 September.[27][28][29] He was transfer listed in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after manager Micky Adams saw his team slip to a third consecutive defeat.[30] A key member of the Vale defence, after breaking his cheekbone he once again donned a custom-made protective face mask.[31][32] He also was forced to take a few weeks on the sidelines in order to undergo surgery,[33][34] though he made a speedy recovery.[35] A muscle problem in his lower back meant he was forced to undergo sugar injections to keep playing during the latter half of the season.[36] At the end of the season he announced that he wished to extend his Port Vale career beyond summer 2011.[37]

He started the 2010–11 season as a key member of the Vale defence. When his former boss Jim Gannon arrived as Vale's new manager in January 2011, Owen insisted that 'what's done is done', and there was speculation that Gannon would make Owen captain.[38] However, the following month he was sidelined after fracturing his left ankle in a 1–1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers.[39][40] This 'fracture' in fact turned out to be severe bruising, leaving Owen a much shorter recovery time.[41] In April 2011, he began contract talks on a new two-year deal.[42] However, the new contract meant taking a pay cut, whilst Crewe Alexandra and Burton Albion both expressed an interest in the defender.[43][44] Before he made his decision he was awarded with the Chairman's Player of the Year award.[45] He decided to sign a two-year deal with Crewe Alexandra, citing unrest at Vale Park as one of his motivations for switching clubs.[46] However, once he discovered Micky Adams was returning as manager he reversed his decision and put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the "Valiants" as a player-coach.[47] He hoped his role as reserve team coach would stand him in good stead for a future career in management.[48]

An achilles injury forced him to sit out most of the 2011–12 pre-season.[49] However, Adams allowed Owen to act as manager for a pre-season friendly against Stone Dominoes, a game which Vale won 2–0.[50] Despite coaching the reserves and continuing his university work, as a player he missed just one of the "Valiants" first ten league games of the season.[51] However, he was then struck down by injury, and underwent a hernia operation in November.[52] The next month he took up yoga to help overcome his injuries,[53] and also undertook scouting assignments for the club.[54] He returned to action in the boxing day win at Hereford United.[55] However, a week later he split his foot open.[56] Deciding to play on against the pain, he was sidelined again in mid-January after breaking his left hand in training.[57][58] On 29 February, after learning that the club were unable to pay the wage bill, he injured his knee in a reserve team game against Stoke City; the injury effectively ended his season.[59]

He began the 2012–13 season on the bench, and requested a loan move, though remained at Vale Park as Micky Adams was unable to sign any more covering defenders due to the club being in administration.[60] As the club's PFA representative, Owen negotiated a compromise agreement with the administrators that saw the players take a temporary wage cut until new owners were found.[61] He made only his second appearance of the campaign against Northampton Town on 27 October, but had to leave the game at half-time after injuring himself with an "ugly lunge" on Adebayo Akinfenwa.[62] He left the club by mutual consent in January 2013.[63] He claimed to have "a burning desire to play football", though he had also made inroads into coaching and media work during his time at the club.[64]

International career

Owen picked up two Wales under-19s caps, both easy victories over the Faroe Islands under-19s. The first was a 4–1 win on 7 August 2001,[65] the second was an 8–2 victory two days later.[66]

Coaching career

Having rejected playing offers from numerous clubs, Owen retired as a player and began working as the under-12 coach at the Stoke City Academy in 2013.[67] Owen was promoted to assistant manager of Stoke City U18s for the 2018–19 season.[68] He was promoted again to the role of academy director in April 2019, following the departure of Gareth Jennings to FIFA.[69][70] In July 2023, Owen announced he will leave Stoke in September 2023, however, he later reversed his decision.[71][72]

Personal life

Although from Staffordshire (where he played county cricket as a youngster), he supports Chelsea, thanks to his father.[9] With a brother in the Armed Forces, Owen ran in the Stoke-on-Trent 2010K run, a marathon to celebrate the city's centenary, to raise money for Help for Heroes.[73] He managed to raise over £1,000.[74]

In June 2009 he started a course to earn his UEFA Level Two coaching badge.[75] A few months later he began a sports science degree course at Manchester Metropolitan University, with the aim of getting into teaching or coaching.[76] In 2012, he graduated from Staffordshire University with a First Class degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting.[77] He began writing weekly columns on Port Vale for The Sentinel for the 2011–12 season.[78] In November 2011, he was voted onto the PFA's management committee.[79][80]

Career statistics

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City2001–02[81]Second Division0000000000
2002–03[82]First Division0000000000
2003–04[83]First Division3000000030
2004–05[84]Championship2000000020
Total 5000000050
Torquay United (loan)2004–05[84]League One5000100060
Oldham Athletic2003–04[83]Second Division151000000151
2004–05[84]League One9000000090
2005–06[85]League One170301000210
Total 410301000440
Stockport County2006–07[86]League Two39010101[lower-alpha 1]0420
2007–08[87]League Two36020204[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]0440
2008–09[88]League One8000101[lower-alpha 1]0100
Total 830304060960
Yeovil Town (loan)2008–09[88]League One7000000070
Port Vale2008–09[88]League Two120100000130
2009–10[89]League Two40110302[lower-alpha 1]0461
2010–11[90]League Two36140201[lower-alpha 1]0431
2011–12[91]League Two24000001[lower-alpha 1]0250
2012–13[92]League Two2000000020
Total 11426050401292
Career total 25531201101002883
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.
  2. ↑ Appearance/s in the play-offs.

Honours

Individual

Stockport County

References

  1. ↑ "Gareth Owen". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Name: Gareth Owen". port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "Opposing View – Oldham". Wrexham A.F.C. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  4. ↑ "Port Vale: Yates has new lease of life". The Sentinel. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  5. ↑ Owen, Gareth (10 September 2011). "Lewis can bounce back, with determination and support". The Sentinel: The New Green UN. p. 8.
  6. ↑ "Gulls swoop for Owen". BBC Sport. 30 June 2004. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  7. ↑ "Defender Owen signs for Oldham". BBC Sport. 17 May 2005. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  8. ↑ "Owen's transfer request accepted". BBC Sport. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  9. 1 2 "Interview With Gareth Owen". vitalfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  10. ↑ "Stockport capture Oldham's Owen". BBC Sport. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  11. 1 2 Owen, Gareth (12 November 2011). "It prompts tears and cheers ... but we still dream of FA Cup glory". The Sentinel. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  12. 1 2 "Stockport sign Owen from Oldham". BBC Sport. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  13. 1 2 Fletcher, Paul (26 May 2008). "Stockport 3–2 Rochdale". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  14. ↑ "Masked Owen set for Wembley final". BBC Sport. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  15. ↑ "Defender Owen now set for Yeovil". BBC Sport. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  16. ↑ "Gannon Wants Owen Apology". Manchester Evening News. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  17. ↑ "Slade targets Owen loan extension". BBC Sport. 17 November 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  18. ↑ "Owen waits for offer from Yeovil". BBC Sport. 19 November 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  19. ↑ "Defender Owen joins Vale on loan". BBC Sport. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  20. ↑ "Stockport recall Owen from Vale". BBC Sport. 6 January 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  21. ↑ "Hatters defender set for exit". TeamTalk.com. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  22. ↑ "Owen completes move to Port Vale". BBC Sport. 19 January 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  23. ↑ "Glover backed to revive Valiants". The Sentinel. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  24. ↑ "Port Vale: Rejecting Crewe was right move, says Owen". The Sentinel. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  25. ↑ Shaw, Steve. "Port Vale: Owen out for up to six weeks". 12 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  26. ↑ "Defender Owen scouting for Vale". BBC Sport. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  27. ↑ "Port Vale 4 – 0 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  28. ↑ "Port Vale 4, Grimsby Town 0". The Sentinel. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  29. ↑ "Owen delighted to be among goals". BBC Sport. 6 September 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  30. ↑ "Adams puts Vale squad up for sale". BBC Sport. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  31. ↑ "Owen: We Will Take a Point". port-vale.co.uk. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  32. ↑ "Vale's Owen happy to play in mask". BBC Sport. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  33. ↑ "Port Vale: No masking Owen's disappointment at enforced break". The Sentinel. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  34. ↑ "Vale defender Owen has operation". BBC Sport. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  35. ↑ "Port Vale's Gareth Owen is fully fit after cheek op". BBC Sport. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  36. ↑ "Port Vale's Gareth Owen fully fit after back problem". BBC Sport. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  37. ↑ "Port Vale: Gareth Owen is happy to extend stay with Valiants". The Sentinel. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  38. ↑ Shaw, Steve (7 January 2011). "Port Vale: Gannon and Owen team up again aiming for a second promotion success". The Sentinel. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  39. ↑ "Port Vale defender Gareth Owen fractures ankle". BBC Sport. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  40. ↑ Shaw, Steve (7 February 2011). "Port Vale: Broken ankle misery for Gareth Owen". The Sentinel. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  41. ↑ "Port Vale manager Jim Gannon happy with defensive cover". BBC Sport. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  42. ↑ Shaw, Steve (8 April 2011). "Port Vale: Trio offered chance to extend Vale Park stay". The Sentinel. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  43. ↑ "Port Vale: Valiants hoping to persuade in-demand Owen to sign on again". The Sentinel. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  44. ↑ Steve Shaw (6 May 2011). "Port Vale: Burton boss keen on Vale ace Owen". The Sentinel. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  45. ↑ "Player of the Year Awards 2011". port-vale.co.uk. 9 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  46. ↑ Steve Shaw (11 May 2011). "Port Vale: Owen to join Crewe Alexandra after rejecting two-year deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  47. ↑ Steve Shaw (13 May 2011). "Port Vale: Micky Adams is back to finish the job he started". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  48. ↑ "Micky Adams back as Port Vale boss on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  49. ↑ "Port Vale: Owen out of America tour". The Sentinel. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  50. ↑ "Match report: Stone Dominoes 0, Port Vale 2". The Sentinel. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  51. ↑ "Port Vale defender Gareth Owen coping with dual roles". BBC Sport. 29 September 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  52. ↑ "Port Vale: Adams signs three loan players to bolster squad". The Sentinel. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  53. ↑ "Port Vale: Gareth Owen takes up yoga to speed recovery from op". The Sentinel. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  54. ↑ Owen, Gareth (17 December 2011). "Scouting missions broaden horizons during injury absence". The Sentinel. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  55. ↑ "Hereford 1 – 2 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  56. ↑ Carter, Mike (19 January 2012). "Owen Praises Work Ethic". port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  57. ↑ "Owen Injury Blow". port-vale.co.uk. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  58. ↑ "Port Vale's Gareth Owen suffers broken hand in training". BBC Sport. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  59. ↑ "Match report: Port Vale 2, Stoke City 1". The Sentinel. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  60. ↑ "Defensive poser for Valiants boss Micky Adams". The Sentinel. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  61. ↑ "Saving Vale all in a day's work for PFA man Gareth". The Sentinel. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  62. ↑ Pearson, Guy (27 October 2012). "Northampton Town 2, Port Vale 0". The Sentinel. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  63. ↑ "Port Vale: Injury-hit Gareth Owen and Darren Murphy allowed to exit". BBC Sport. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  64. ↑ "Owen ready to play on after opting to leave Valiants". The Sentinel. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  65. ↑ "Match Report – Wales 4 – 1 Faroe Islands". faw.org.uk. 7 August 2001. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  66. ↑ "Match Report – Wales 8 – 2 Faroe Islands". faw.org.uk. 9 August 2001. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  67. ↑ "Gareth Owen makes return to Britannia Stadium". The Sentinel. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  68. ↑ "Academy coaching details confirmed". Stoke City. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  69. ↑ "Stoke City's new Academy director is one of their own". Stoke Sentinel. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  70. ↑ "OWEN APPOINTED ACADEMY DIRECTOR". Stoke City. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  71. ↑ "Owen opts for Potters departure". Stoke City. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  72. ↑ "Owen opts to remain with the Potters". Stoke City. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  73. ↑ "Owen Supports Help for Heroes". port-vale.co.uk. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  74. ↑ "Owen raises £1k for heroes". The Football League. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  75. ↑ Shaw, Steve (9 June 2009). "Port Vale: Owen on first step to being a manager". The Sentinel. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  76. ↑ "Ben's Banter: Port Vale's Gareth Owen". Betfair. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  77. ↑ "Gareth Owen". port-vale.co.uk. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  78. ↑ Owen, Gareth (1 November 2011). "Gareth Owen: Football must reflect society ... even in the manager's dug-out". The Sentinel. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  79. ↑ Owen, Gareth (3 December 2011). "PFA is so much more that just a players' union". The Sentinel. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  80. ↑ "Port Vale's Gareth Owen elected onto PFA Committee". BBC Sport. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  81. ↑ "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  82. ↑ "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  83. 1 2 "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  84. 1 2 3 "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  85. ↑ "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  86. ↑ "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  87. ↑ "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  88. 1 2 3 "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  89. ↑ "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  90. ↑ "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  91. ↑ "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  92. ↑ "Games played by Gareth Owen in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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