Rory McArdle

Rory Alexander McArdle (born 1 May 1987) is a former professional footballer. He has previously played for Sheffield Wednesday, Rochdale, Aberdeen, Bradford City and Scunthorpe United, and represented the Northern Ireland national football team.

Rory McArdle

McArdle in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Rory Alexander McArdle[1]
Date of birth	(1987-05-01) 1 May 1987 (age 38)
Place of birth	Sheffield, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s)	Defender
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)
2020–2021	Exeter City	21	(1)
2021–2023	Harrogate Town	35	(1)
International career
	Northern Ireland U19[2]	11	(0)
2006–2008	Northern Ireland U21	19	(1)
2010–2014	Northern Ireland	7	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

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]

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

As of end of 2021–22 season

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rochdale (loan)	2005–06[25]	League Two	19	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	20	1
Sheffield Wednesday	2006–07[26]	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
Rochdale (loan)	2006–07[26]	League Two	25	0	1	0	—		0	0	26	0
Rochdale	2007–08[27]	League Two	46	3	1	0	2	0	0	0	49	3
	2008–09[28]	League Two	43	2	3	0	1	0	2[a]	0	49	2
	2009–10[29]	League Two	20	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	22	0
	Total		109	5	6	0	3	0	2	0	120	5
Aberdeen	2010–11[30]	Scottish Premier League	28	2	4	1	4	1	0	0	36	4
	2011–12[31]	Scottish Premier League	25	0	5	0	2	1	0	0	32	1
	Total		53	2	9	1	6	2	0	0	68	5
Bradford City	2012–13[32]	League Two	40	2	4	0	8	1	4[b]	1	56	4
	2013–14[33]	League One	41	3	1	0	0	0	1[a]	0	43	3
	2014–15[34]	League One	43	3	8	0	3	0	1[a]	0	55	3
	2015–16[35]	League One	35	3	5	0	1	0	3[c]	0	44	3
	2016–17[36]	League One	24	1	1	0	0	0	8[d]	1	33	2
	Total		183	12	19	0	12	1	17	2	231	15
Scunthorpe United	2017–18[37]	League One	36	1	3	0	2	0	2[e]	0	43	1
	2018–19[38]	League One	38	0	2	0	1	0	2[a]	0	43	0
	2019–20[39]	League Two	26	3	1	0	1	0	3[a]	0	31	3
	Total		100	4	6	0	4	0	7	0	117	4
Exeter City	2020–21[40]	League Two	21	1	3	0	1	0	2[a]	0	27	1
Harrogate Town	2021–22[41]	League Two	23	1	1	0	0	0	2[a]	0	26	1
Career total			534	26	46	1	27	3	30	2	649	32

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

• Football League Two play-offs: 2013^[42]
• Football League Cup runner-up: 2012–13^[43]