Rory Alexander McArdle (born 1 May 1987) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender for Sheffield Wednesday, Rochdale, Aberdeen, Bradford City, and Scunthorpe United. Born in England, he made seven appearances for the Northern Ireland national team.
Club career Aberdeen On 19 May 2010, McArdle signed a contract with Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen. Near the end of the 2011–12 season, McArdle was advised that his contract with Aberdeen would not be extended.
Bradford City
McArdle signed for Bradford City on 6 June 2012, signing a two-year contract. He made his debut on 11 August in a 1–0 win in the League Cup against Notts County."Notts County 0–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. He made his league debut a week later against Gillingham."Gillingham 3–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. He made his home debut on 21 August, in a 1–0 win against Fleetwood Town."Bradford 1–0 Fleetwood" BBC Sport. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012. He scored his first goal for the club on 25 August in a 5–1 win against AFC Wimbledon."Bradford 5–1 AFC Wimbledon" BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012. On 8 January, McArdle scored a header against Premier League side Aston Villa in the first leg of the semi-final of the League Cup, as Bradford incredibly won 3–1."Bradford 3–1 Aston Villa" BBC Sport. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013. He also played in the second leg, which saw Bradford advance to the final 4–3 on aggregate."Aston Villa 2–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013. He started in the final which Bradford lost to Premier League side Swansea City."Bradford 0–5 Swansea" BBC Sport. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013. He scored his second league goal for the club on 1 April, helping Bradford to a 3–1 away to Torquay United."Torquay 1–3 Bradford" BBC Sport. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013. He then scored in the 2013 Football League Two play-off final, which Bradford won 3–0 against Northampton Town securing promotion to League One."Bradford 3–0 Northampton" BBC Sport. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013. On 3 August, the opening day of the season, McArdle scored a late header from a Raffaele De Vita corner to give Bradford a point in a 2–2 draw against Bristol City."Bristol City 2–2 Bradford" BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
He was Bradford City's 2014–15 Player of the Year.
Scunthorpe United McArdle signed a three-year deal with fellow League One club Scunthorpe United on 21 June 2017, with the deal coming into effect from 1 July 2017.
Exeter City On 19 May 2020, McArdle signed a contract with League Two club Exeter City. He scored his first goal for the club in February 2021, a 'trademark near-post header' in a 1–0 win over Stevenage.
Harrogate Town On 30 June 2021, McArdle joined fellow League Two club Harrogate Town for an undisclosed fee. McArdle signed a new one-year deal in May 2022.
McArdle retired at the end of the 2022–23 season.Harrogate Town's former Bradford City stalwart Rory McArdle to retire from football, harrogateadvertiser.co.uk, 3 May 2023
International career McArdle made his full debut for Northern Ireland on 26 May 2010 against Turkey in a friendly.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRochdale (loan)2005–06League Two191100000201Sheffield Wednesday2006–07Championship1000100020Rochdale (loan)2006–07League Two25010—00260Rochdale2007–08League Two4631020004932008–09League Two4323010204922009–10League Two200200000220Total10956030201205Aberdeen2010–11Scottish Premier League2824141003642011–12Scottish Premier League250502100321Total532916200685Bradford City2012–13League Two4024081415642013–14League One4131000104332014–15League One4338030105532015–16League One3535010304432016–17League One241100081332Total1831219012117223115Scunthorpe United2017–18League One3613020204312018–19League One3802010204302019–20League Two263101030313Total10046040701174Exeter City2020–21League Two211301020271Harrogate Town2021–22League Two2311000202612022–23League Two120100000130Total351200020391Career total5462647127330265232
Honours Bradford City Football League Two play-offs: 2013 Football League Cup runner-up: 2012–13
References
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