Graham Gartland

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Graham Gartland

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Graham Robert Gartland

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|7|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland

| height =

| position = Centre back

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Stella Maris

| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Home Farm

| youthyears3 = | youthclubs3 = Barnsley

| years1 = 2001–2003 | clubs1 = Dundee United | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2003 | clubs2 = St Patrick's Athletic | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2003–2004 | clubs3 = Longford Town | caps3 = 30 | goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2005–2008 | clubs4 = Drogheda United | caps4 = 102 | goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2008–2012 | clubs5 = St Johnstone | caps5 = 35 | goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2010–2011 | clubs6 = → Ross County (loan) | caps6 = 3 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2012 | clubs7 = Shamrock Rovers | caps7 = 15 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2013 | clubs8 = Shelbourne | caps8 = 24 | goals8 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 1999–2000 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U17

| nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2007 | nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland B

| nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0

}}

Graham Gartland (born 13 July 1983) is an Irish football coach and former player. He played for Drogheda United, Shamrock Rovers, Home Farm, Barnsley, Dundee United, St Patrick's Athletic, Longford Town and St Johnstone.{{Cite web|url=https://punditarena.com/irish-football/thepateam/exclusive-ex-drogheda-man-graham-gartland-discusses-life-as-a-coach/|title=Ex-Drogheda Man Graham Gartland Discusses Life As A Coach|date=12 March 2016 |publisher=punditarena.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/graham-gartland-ive-accepted-time-5407347|title=Graham Gartland: I've accepted my time in football is up and moved on|date=27 March 2015 |publisher=irishmirror.ie}} Gartland also played for the Republic of Ireland B national football team.

Playing career

Gartland scored a goal for Drogheda in a UEFA Cup tie against HJK Helsinki in August 2006.{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=203756&cc=5739|title=Drogheda Utd 3–1 HJK Helsinki|work=Soccernet|publisher=ESPN|date=27 July 2006|access-date=7 January 2012|archive-date=23 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023075418/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=203756&cc=5739|url-status=dead}} In the next round against IK Start Gartland became the first player in UEFA Cup history to miss two penalties in a shoot out as Drogheda were eliminated.{{cite web|title=Heartbreak for Drogheda as Gartland misses two penalties|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/heartbreak-for-drogheda-as-gartland-misses-two-penalties-273771.html|work=BreakingNews.ie|publisher=Thomas Crosbie Media|access-date=15 February 2013|date=24 August 2006}}

He then had a good UEFA Champions League run with Drogheda in 2008. He scored the winner against FC Levadia Tallinn in the second leg of the first round tie.[http://www.eircomloi.ie/news-centre/news-1/july-2008/news-66/index.xml]{{dead link|date=February 2013}} He also scored a late equaliser against Dynamo Kyiv in the second round tie.{{cite web|last=Linnyk|first=Igor|title=Dynamo survive late Drogheda charge|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01d0-0e6f9661e9ca-e5b5082e35a6-1000--dynamo-survive-late-drogheda-charge/|publisher=UEFA Champions League|access-date=15 February 2013|date=6 August 2008}} His form attracted the interest of Ipswich Town, but Drogheda rejected a bid of £250,000.

Gartland signed for St Johnstone under freedom of contract in December 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/12/30/sportstory12441278t0.asp |title=Saints sign Ireland B internationalist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605014344/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/12/30/sportstory12441278t0.asp |access-date=5 June 2011 |work=The Courier |date=30 December 2008|archive-date=5 June 2011 }}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/st_johnstone/7804476.stm|title=Saints take Drogheda's Gartland|publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 December 2008|access-date=30 December 2008}} Almost immediately after joining, Gartland suffered an injury to his cruciate ligament which would go on to keep him out the game for six weeks. Graham continued to help his old club Drogheda United with fundraising after the club entered examinership.{{cite news|title=Fundraising efforts continue|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/fundraising-efforts-continue-27129472.html|access-date=15 February 2013|newspaper=Drogheda Independent|date=10 December 2008}}

Almost exactly a month after signing, Gartland made his competitive debut for the Perth club in an away fixture against Greenock Morton. As part of a new look three-man defence, Gartland helped Saints keep a clean sheet as they drew 0–0. He made seven league appearances for Saints as they won promotion to the Scottish Premier League by winning the First Division. Gartland was released from his contract with St Johnstone by mutual consent in January 2012. He had not played for the club in the 2011–12 season, after recovering from a long-term injury.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16452470.stm|title=St Johnstone and Graham Gartland part ways by mutual consent|publisher=BBC Sport|date=6 January 2012|access-date=7 January 2012}}

On 13 January 2012, Gartland signed for his home town club.{{cite web|title=Gartland becomes a Hoop|url=http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/35-news/2360-gartland-becomes-a-hoop|work=Shamrock Rovers FC|access-date=15 February 2013|date=13 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115062249/http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/35-news/2360-gartland-becomes-a-hoop|archive-date=15 January 2012}} On 24 January 2013, Garland signed for Shelbourne FC.{{cite web|title=Graham Gartland joins Shelbourne|url=http://www.shelbournefc.ie/news.php?id=2380|work=Shelbourne Football Club|access-date=15 February 2013|archive-date=21 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121102355/http://www.shelbournefc.ie/news.php?id=2380|url-status=dead}}

=International career=

Graham represented Republic of Ireland at every age level up to and including under-21. He played for the Republic of Ireland U16 in the qualifiers for the 2000 UEFA European Under-16 Championship, and has also played at B international level.{{cite web|last=Lindsay|first=Clive|title=Scotland B 1–1 Rep of Ireland B|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7100835.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=15 February 2013|date=20 November 2007}}

Coaching career

Gartland assisted Neil McCann at Scottish Premiership club Dundee until they were both sacked by the club in October 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45658038 |title=Neil McCann: Dundee manager leaves role after 18 months in charge |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2018 |access-date=16 October 2018}}