Garath James McCleary (born 15 May 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger or attacking midfielder for club Gillingham. Born in England, he played for the Jamaica national team.
Club career
Early career McCleary was born in Oxford, Oxfordshire. His football career began with Oxford City, and spent time with Oxford United but never signed a contract with the team despite spending three months with the club.
He joined Slough Town playing in 24 games and scoring on six occasions. He then moved to Bromley in January 2007. In total McCleary made over 40 appearances for Bromley scoring 11 goals. Nottingham Forest manager Colin Calderwood offered him a trial where he did well enough to secure a contract on 31 January 2008.
Nottingham Forest McCleary made his first team debut as an 87th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 home defeat against Carlisle United, on 3 March 2008. He scored his first goal for the club on 1 April 2008 in injury time, in a 2–0 win at Carlisle. On 5 April he was handed his first start where he was voted Man of the Match as Forest beat Cheltenham Town 3–1 at the City Ground.
In the 2011/12 season McCleary scored nine goals after returning from injury in December 2011; six of which came in March 2012. Four came in a high-scoring game away to Leeds United at Elland Road, where Forest won 7–3. These performances resulted in McCleary being named as the Football League Championship Player of the Month. He was voted Forest's Player of the Season by the Forest supporters, beating Joel Lynch and Chris Gunter into second and third respectively.
Reading On 16 May 2012 it was announced that McCleary had turned down a new contract at Forest and instead signed a three-year contract at Reading and fulfill his dream of playing in the Premier League. His first goal for Reading came in a 3–3 draw with Fulham.
McCleary signed a new contract with Reading on 3 October 2014, keeping at the club until the summer of 2017, before again extending it on 17 January 2017, this time until the summer of 2020.
Wycombe Wanderers On 4 November 2020, it was announced by Wycombe Wanderers manager during a live webcast that the club had signed McCleary, who had been training with the club as a free transfer until the end of the current season. He scored his first goal for Wycombe in a 2–2 draw against Preston North End on 5 December 2020.
Gillingham On 1 September 2025, McCleary joined Gillingham on a one-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months.
International career
In October 2012 he was earmarked by the Jamaica Football Federation to play for Jamaica during their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. He received his first call up on 24 January 2013 alongside Reading teammates Jobi McAnuff and Adrian Mariappa for the World Cup qualifier against Mexico on 6 February. McCleary started the match and helped Jamaica to a 0–0 draw at the Estadio Azteca.
Career statistics
Club FA Cup ties sourced individually to:
+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsOxford City2004–05Southern West22310—6Two appearances and two goals in the FA Trophy, one appearance and one goal in the Southern League Cup and three appearances in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup3296Slough Town2005–06Isthmian Premier24700—7Five appearances and two goals in the Isthmian League Cup, two appearances in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup23192006–07Isthmian Premier9010—1Appearance in the Isthmian League Cup0110Total33710—82429Bromley2006–07Isthmian Premier6200—911532007–08Conference South18642—50278Total24842—1414211Nottingham Forest2007–08League One81000000812008–09Championship3912020—4312009–10Championship2402010002702010–11Championship18220101Appearances in the Championship play-offs02222011–12Championship2291000—239Total1111370401012313Reading2012–13Premier League3133130—3742013–14Championship4251000—4352014–15Championship2614200—3032015–16Championship3442021—3852016–17Championship4191010204592017–18Championship1802010—2102018–19Championship3101000—3202019–20Championship1915000—241Total24223193712027027Wycombe Wanderers2020–21Championship3241000—3342021–22League One 421100004One appearance in the EFL Trophy, three appearances in the EFL League One play-offs046112022–23League One3970000—3972023–24League One40610107Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy04962024–25League One43430303One appearance in the EFL Trophy, two appearances in the EFL League One play-offs0524Total19632504014021932Career total6288637515145672598
International
+ International statistics National teamYearAppsGoalsJamaica2013702014112015112201650Total243
International goals Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first.
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 5 March 2014 Beauséjour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia 3–0 5–0 Friendly 2. 8 July 2015 StubHub Center, Carson, United States 1–0 2–2 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup 3. 14 July 2015 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada 1–0 1–0 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Honours Wycombe Wanderers EFL Trophy runner-up: 2023–24
Individual Nottingham Forest Player of the Season: 2011–12
References
External links
Garath McCleary profile at Reading F.C. (archived) at the Jamaica Football Federation (archived)