Rory McArdle
Full nameRory Alexander McArdle[1]
Birth date1 May 1987 (age 39)
Birth placeSheffield, England
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
PositionDefender
Years 12004–2007
Clubs 1Sheffield Wednesday
Caps 11
Goals 10
Years 22005–2006
Clubs 2→ Rochdale (loan)
Caps 219
Goals 21
Years 32006–2007
Clubs 3→ Rochdale (loan)
Caps 39
Goals 30
Years 42007–2010
Clubs 4Rochdale
Caps 4125
Goals 45
Years 52010–2012
Clubs 5Aberdeen
Caps 553
Goals 52
Years 62012–2017
Clubs 6Bradford City
Caps 6183
Goals 612
Years 72017–2020
Clubs 7Scunthorpe United
Caps 7100
Goals 74
Clubs 8Exeter City
Years 82020–2021
Caps 821
Goals 81
Years 92021–2023
Clubs 9Harrogate Town
Caps 935
Goals 91
Totalcaps546
Totalgoals26
Nationalteam 1Northern Ireland U19[2]
Nationalcaps 111
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22006–2008
Nationalteam 2Northern Ireland U21
Nationalcaps 219
Nationalgoals 21
Nationalyears 32010–2014
Nationalteam 3Northern Ireland
Nationalcaps 37
Nationalgoals 30

Rory Alexander McArdle (born 1 May 1987) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender for Sheffield Wednesday, Rochdale, Aberdeen, Bradford City, and Scunthorpe United. Born in England, he made seven appearances for the Northern Ireland national team.

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 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]

Harrogate Town

On 30 June 2021, McArdle joined fellow League Two club Harrogate Town for an undisclosed fee.[21] McArdle signed a new one-year deal in May 2022.[22]

McArdle retired at the end of the 2022–23 season.[23]

International career

McArdle made his full debut for Northern Ireland on 26 May 2010 against Turkey in a friendly.[24]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rochdale (loan)2005–06[25]League Two191100000201
Sheffield Wednesday2006–07[26]Championship1000100020
Rochdale (loan)2006–07[26]League Two25010—00260
Rochdale2007–08[27]League Two463102000493
2008–09[28]League Two43230102[a]0492
2009–10[29]League Two200200000220
Total10956030201205
Aberdeen2010–11[30]Scottish Premier League282414100364
2011–12[31]Scottish Premier League250502100321
Total532916200685
Bradford City2012–13[32]League Two40240814[b]1564
2013–14[33]League One41310001[a]0433
2014–15[34]League One43380301[a]0553
2015–16[35]League One35350103[c]0443
2016–17[36]League One24110008[d]1332
Total1831219012117223115
Scunthorpe United2017–18[37]League One36130202[e]0431
2018–19[38]League One38020102[a]0430
2019–20[39]League Two26310103[a]0313
Total10046040701174
Exeter City2020–21[40]League Two21130102[a]0271
Harrogate Town2021–22[41]League Two23110002[a]0261
2022–23[42]League Two120100000130
Total351200020391
Career total5462647127330265232
  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 Football League Trophy and two in League One play-offs
  4. ^ Five appearances in EFL Trophy and three in League One play-offs
  5. ^ Appearances in League One play-offs

Honours

Bradford City

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Exeter City". English Football League. p. 28. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  2. ^
  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. 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. 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". Exeter City F.C. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  20. ^ Parker, Simon (5 February 2021). "BANTAMS OPPOSITION: McArdle's painful blow for Exeter". Telegraph & Argus. Archived 5 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Rory McArdle: Harrogate Town sign Exeter City defender". BBC. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Rory McArdle: Harrogate Town defender signs new one-year contract". BBC Sport. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  23. ^ Harrogate Town's former Bradford City stalwart Rory McArdle to retire from football, harrogateadvertiser.co.uk, 3 May 2023
  24. ^ "N Ireland 0–2 Turkey". BBC Sport. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
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  43. ^ "Starting Lineups - Bradford vs Northampton". Sky Sports. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  44. ^ "Starting Lineups - Bradford vs Swansea". Sky Sports. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2024.