Scott Wara
{{Short description|Fijian footballer (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Scott Wara
|image =
|caption =
|fullname = Semi Scott Wara{{NFT player|pid=71685|accessdate=28 September 2018}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|9|22|df=y}}{{soccerway|scott-wara/453717|accessdate=10 April 2018}}
|birth_place = Lautoka, Fiji
|height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
|position = Defender
|currentclub = Stafford Rangers
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Stoke City
|years1 = 2017–2020
|clubs1 = Stoke City
|caps1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2017–2018
|clubs2 = → Leek Town (loan)
|caps2 = 2
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2021–2023
|clubs3 = Leek Town
|caps3 = 59
|goals3 = 3
|years4 = 2023
|clubs4 = Finn Harps
|caps4 = 7
|goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2023–2024
|clubs5 = Stalybridge Celtic
|caps5 = 15
|goals5 = 1
|years6 = 2024
|clubs6 = Prescot Cables
|caps6 = 6
|goals6 = 1
|years7 = 2024–
|clubs7 = Stafford Rangers
|caps7 = 0
|goals7 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2019
|nationalteam1 = Fiji U23
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|nationalyears2 = 2018–
|nationalteam2 = Fiji
|nationalcaps2 = 5
|nationalgoals2 = 0
|club-update = 25 September 2024
|ntupdate = 19 June 2024
}}
Semi Scott Wara (born 22 September 1999) is a Fijian footballer who plays as a defender for Stafford Rangers. He has represented the Fiji national team.
Early and personal life
Wara was born in Lautoka, Fiji and moved to Staffordshire, England at a young age.{{cite web|url=http://oceaniafc.com/fiji-national-coach-visits-scott-wara|title=Fiji national coach visits Scott Wara to discuss international future|date=8 January 2018|accessdate=29 March 2018|publisher=Oceania FC|archive-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110155603/http://oceaniafc.com/fiji-national-coach-visits-scott-wara|url-status=live}} His father served with the British Army.{{cite web|url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-teenage-defender-went-throwing-591489|title=How teenage defender went from throwing coconuts to rising star at Stoke|date=7 October 2017|accessdate=9 September 2018|author=Peter Smith|publisher=Stoke Sentinel|archive-date=9 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222012/https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-teenage-defender-went-throwing-591489|url-status=live}} His brother Billy is a rugby player; Scott also played rugby at school before switching to football.
Club career
Wara began his career with Stoke City, playing for the U21 team in the EFL Trophy. He moved on a one-month loan to Leek Town in December 2017,{{cite web|url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leek-town-manager-neil-baker-963266|title=Leek Town manager Neil Baker signs up Stoke City defender on loan|date=22 December 2017|accessdate=29 March 2018|author=Jim Hannah|publisher=Stoke Sentinel|archive-date=25 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225065643/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leek-town-manager-neil-baker-963266|url-status=live}} making two league appearances.{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leektown/teams/17802/match-centre/1-2864523|title=Boxing day derby is a Christmas cracker|date=26 December 2017|accessdate=7 September 2018|publisher=Leek Town F.C.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leektown/teams/17802/match-centre/1-2864534|title=Chapman spot on to extend winning run|date=30 December 2017|accessdate=7 September 2018|publisher=Leek Town F.C.|archive-date=8 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908054244/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leektown/teams/17802/match-centre/1-2864534|url-status=live}} Wara was released by Stoke City in July 2020.{{cite web |title=Club announce retained list |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2020/july/Club-announce-retained-list/ |website=Stoke City |date=13 July 2020 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713112838/https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2020/july/Club-announce-retained-list/ |url-status=live }}
Wara went on trial with Premier League club Newcastle United in November 2020, having previously been on trial at National League club Wrexham.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-newcastle-united-trailist-scott-19234184|title=Who is Newcastle United trialist Scott Wara?|first=Lee|last=Ryder|date=6 November 2020|website=ChronicleLive|access-date=27 June 2021|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627090651/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-newcastle-united-trailist-scott-19234184|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-scott-wara-stoke-4656469|title=Ex-Stoke City youth Scott Wara lands trial at Newcastle United|first=Peter|last=Smith|date=30 October 2020|website=StokeonTrentLive|access-date=27 June 2021|archive-date=1 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801122044/https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-scott-wara-stoke-4656469|url-status=live}} He subsequently returned to Leek Town on a permanent basis in 2021, first appearing as an unused substitute against Trafford on 17 August,[https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leektown/teams/17802/match-centre/1-9407946/report Report: Leek Town 2-2 Trafford] Leek Town FC. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021. before making his debut in the FA Cup win against Gresley Rovers four days later.[https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leektown/teams/17802/match-centre/2-11190054/report Report: Gresley Rovers 0-2 Leek Town] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112231749/https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leektown/teams/17802/match-centre/2-11190054/report |date=12 November 2021 }} Leek Town FC. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
On 22 June 2023, Wara was confirmed as a new signing by League of Ireland club Finn Harps on an 18-month contract.{{Cite web|url=https://finnharps.ie/harps-bolster-backline-with-double-swoop/|title=Harps Bolster Backline with Double Swoop – Finn Harps FC|date=22 June 2023 |access-date=22 June 2023|archive-date=22 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622193758/https://finnharps.ie/harps-bolster-backline-with-double-swoop/|url-status=live}}
On 8 September 2023, Stalybridge Celtic announced that they had signed Wara from Finn Harps.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stalybridgeceltic.co.uk/news.php?id=3639|title=Scott Wara signs for Celtic}}
In August 2024, Wara joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Prescot Cables.{{cite tweet|number=1821124149542113525|title=🚨 NEW SIGNING 🚨 We are thrilled to announce the signing of Fijian International defender, Scott Wara 🇫🇯 Wara, 24, began his career at @stokecity and has also represented @leektown and @StalyCelticFC as well as @FinnHarpsFC in the League of Ireland 🇮🇪. Welcome, @scottwara!|user=PrescotCablesFC|author-link=Prescot Cables F.C.|date=7 August 2024|accessdate=10 August 2024}} He departed the club the following month due to travel and logistical issues.{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/prescotcablesfootballclub/news/player-departure--scott-wara-2875059.html|title=Player Departure - Scott Wara|publisher=Prescot Cables F.C.|date=23 September 2024|accessdate=25 September 2024|archive-date=25 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925220413/https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/prescotcablesfootballclub/news/player-departure--scott-wara-2875059.html|url-status=live}}
On 3 October 2024, Wara joined Stafford Rangers.{{cite web|url=https://www.staffordrangersfc.co.uk/club-statement/|title=Club Statement|website=www.staffordrangersfc.co.uk|date=3 October 2024|accessdate=4 October 2024}}
International career
Wara is eligible to represent either Fiji or England at international level. He received his first call-up to the Fiji senior national team in March 2018.{{cite web|url=http://oceaniafc.com/scott-wara-stoke-city-called-fiji-squad-first-time|title=Scott Wara of Stoke City called up to Fiji squad for the first time|date=1 March 2018|accessdate=29 March 2018|publisher=Oceania FC|archive-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322231843/http://oceaniafc.com/scott-wara-stoke-city-called-fiji-squad-first-time|url-status=live}} He made his debut on 5 September 2018, in a 1–1 draw against the Solomon Islands, appearing as a half-time substitute for Narendra Rao.{{cite web|url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/solomons-and-fiji-draw-even/|title=Solomons and Fiji draw even|date=6 September 2018|accessdate=6 September 2018|publisher=OFC|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906125022/https://www.oceaniafootball.com/solomons-and-fiji-draw-even/|url-status=live}} In September 2019 he joined the Fiji under-23 team.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pressreader.com/fiji/the-fiji-times/20190905/282583084691245 |title=Wara joins Fiji U23 side |publisher=Fiji Times |date=5 September 2019 |access-date=25 April 2023 |via=PressReader |archive-date=9 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909115831/https://www.pressreader.com/fiji/the-fiji-times/20190905/282583084691245 |url-status=live }}
Personal life
He appeared on the 2023 BBC documentary Boot Dreams: Now or Never, about young footballers trying to gain a professional contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/boot-dreams-now-or-never/|title=Boot Dreams: Now or Never – meet the players, presenter Roman Kemp and head coach Gifton Noel-Williams|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|end of 2023–24 season}}
{{notelist}}
=International=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{GSA player|scott-wara/203940}}
{{Fiji squad 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wara, Scott}}
Category:Sportspeople from Lautoka
Category:Fijian emigrants to England
Category:Fijian men's footballers
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Stoke City F.C. players
Category:Leek Town F.C. players
Category:Finn Harps F.C. players
Category:Stalybridge Celtic F.C. players
Category:Prescot Cables F.C. players
Category:Stafford Rangers F.C. players
Category:Northern Premier League players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Fiji men's international footballers
Category:Fijian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Fijian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Fijian expatriate sportspeople in Ireland
Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in the Republic of Ireland