Darren Garner

{{short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Darren Garner

| image =

| fullname = Darren John Garner{{cite book|title=The PFA Premier and Football League players' records 1946-1998|author=Barry J. Hugman|year=1998|publisher=Queen Anne Press|isbn=1-85291-585-4}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1971|12|10}}

| birth_place = Plymouth, Devon, England

| currentclub = Launceston

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1987–1989

| youthclubs1 = Plymouth Argyle

| years1 = 1989–1994

| years2 = 1994–1995

| years3 = 1995–2005

| years4 = 2005

| years5 = 2005–2006

| years6 = 2006–2007

| years7 = 2007

| years8 = 2007

| years9 = 2007

| years10 = 2007–

| clubs1 = Plymouth Argyle

| clubs2 = Dorchester Town

| clubs3 = Rotherham United

| clubs4 = → Torquay United (loan)

| clubs5 = Torquay United

| clubs6 = Newport County

| clubs7 = Launceston

| clubs8 = Truro City

| clubs9 = Bodmin Town

| clubs10 = Launceston

| caps1 = 27

| caps2 =

| caps3 = 265

| caps4 = 9

| caps5 = 51

| caps6 = 9

| caps7 =

| caps8 = 11

| goals1 = 1

| goals2 =

| goals3 = 23

| goals4 = 0

| goals5 = 3

| goals6 = 0

| goals7 =

| goals8 = 2

| club-update = 20 June 2007

}}

Darren John Garner (born 10 December 1971 in Plymouth) is an English professional footballer. He currently plays for Launceston F.C.

Garner began his professional football career as a trainee with Plymouth Argyle, turning professional in March 1989. He moved to non-league Dorchester Town on a free transfer in August 1994 and in June 1995 moved to Rotherham United for a fee of £30,000.

In ten years at Rotherham, in which he played over 250 games, he helped the Millers to two promotions and an Auto Windscreen Shield in 1996,{{cite news|url=http://itsmillerstime.co.uk/rotherhams-1996-auto-windscreens-shield-winning-side-where-are-they-now/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422053116/http://itsmillerstime.co.uk/rotherhams-1996-auto-windscreens-shield-winning-side-where-are-they-now/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=22 April 2017|title=Rotherham's 1996 Auto Windscreens Shield winning side: Where are they now? |publisher=itsmillerstime.co.uk|date=14 April 2017 |access-date=12 June 2019}} but fell out of favour with both his manager and the club's fans in February 2005 after being substituted in a game at home to Nottingham Forest. The hand gestures he gave while leaving the field were reported by the Fourth Official, leading to FA charges and a £500 fine.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rotherham_utd/4271931.stm Garner is hit with fine from FA]

The following month Garner moved to Torquay United on loan until the end of the season,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/4341851.stm Garner completes Gulls loan move] failing to prevent Torquay's relegation. He joined Torquay on a free transfer in June 2005,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/4070884.stm Garner agrees move to Plainmoor] playing in a side almost relegated for a second successive season.

In June 2006 he was given in 3-month contract extension,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/5136834.stm Pair pen new Plainmoor contracts] but in October 2006 was told by Torquay manager Ian Atkins that he would be released at the end of November.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/6096778.stm Garner will be released by Gulls] He left Torquay in early November having agreed a settlement for the end of his contract. He signed for Newport County on 7 November 2006.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014812/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=38439 Garner coup for exiles]}} He first featured for County as a sub against Swansea City in the FA Cup 1st round proper. He joined Cornish non-league side Launceston after being released by Newport in March 2007.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930040606/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=41023 Garner released - and no John]}}{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033228/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=41175 Garner could be next for Truro]}}

However, Garner joined Truro City later the same month. He left Truro in the summer of 2007 to join Bodmin Town, but left Bodmin in September 2007 to re-join Launceston.

On 14 February 2009 Garner had his debut as Manager for Launceston, after the resignation of Paul Smith.