Andy Gara

Name: Andrew Gara
Born: 15 August 1878, Roscommon
Position: Centre-Forward

Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Full Caps/3 Goals (1902).

Club Career:
Clubs............ --Seasons-- League FACup
Temple Bar Juniors
Wigan County..... (Lancashire League)
Preston North End 98/99-01/02 .66/27 .7/ 1
Nottingham Forest 02/03...... ..6/ 1
Bristol City..... 02/03...... .18/ 6 .3/ 0
Ashton Town...... (Lancashire Combination)
Earlestown....... (Lancashire Combination)
Totals........... ........... .90/34 10/ 1



Biography:
Andy Gara had a relatively short Football League career, encompassing 90 appearances in five seasons. His best spell came with Preston North End where he averaged just short of a goal every other game. His best season, individually at least, was 1900/01 when he top-scored with eleven First Division goals, although the club suffered their first ever relegation. He did however impress the Irish selectors while playing in the Second Division, and was called into the squad for the 1902 Home Nations Championship. He marked his debut against Wales with a hattrick (the only player ever to do so), but failed to add to his total in defeats by Scotland and England, his international career ending with the impressive statistic of three games, three goals.

Gara arrived at Preston from Wigan County in January 1898 after impressing in friendly match between the teams. He moved back to Division One with Nottingham Forest in August 1902. Described as an enthusiastic forward, with a powerful right-foot shot, he failed to settle at the City Ground, and left after just three months for Bristol City. He regained some of his form back in Division Two, but Gara decided to return to the north-west of England in 1904, signing with Ashton Town, where he had lived prior to his career taking-off.

Ireland Cap Details:
22-02-1902 Wales... W 3-0 BC 3 Goals
01-03-1902 Scotland L 1-3 BC
22-03-1902 England. L 0-1 BC



Summary: 3/3. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 2.