Gareth Owen (footballer, born 1971)
Welsh footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gareth Owen (born 21 October 1971) is a Welsh former footballer, who played as a midfielder for various English and Welsh clubs between 1989 and 2011. He is the manager of Wrexham AFC Women Under 19s.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 October 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Chester, England | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Wrexham | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989–2001 | Wrexham | 298 | (37) |
| 2001–2003 | Doncaster Rovers | 53 | (7) |
| 2003 | → Northwich Victoria (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2003–2005 | Connah's Quay Nomads | ||
| 2005–2008 | Airbus UK Broughton | 89 | (13) |
| 2008–2011 | Rhyl | ||
| International career | |||
| Wales Under-21 | 8 | ||
| Wales B | 1 | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2005–2008 | Airbus UK Broughton (Player/Manager) | ||
| 2011–2012 | Airbus UK (Head Coach) | ||
| 2015–2016 | Rhyl | ||
| 2021– | Wrexham Women U19 | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
Club career
Owen spent twelve years as a professional at Wrexham, and was rewarded by a testimonial match against Manchester United in 2000 which drew a crowd of 13,000 to the Racecourse Ground.[1] He then spent two years at Doncaster Rovers before moving to Connah's Quay Nomads. He joined Airbus UK Broughton in August 2005 as Player-Manager.[2]
In July 2008 he moved to Rhyl on a one-year deal to play under his former assistant manager at Airbus, Allan Bickerstaff.[3] In May 2009 he was named as the Welsh Premier League's Player of the Season.[4] He remained at the club for three years before returning to Airbus in June 2011 as head coach.[5]
He also works in North Wales as Football Development Officer with Flintshire County Council, where one of key roles is to develop women's football in the region.[6]
He was appointed head coach at Airbus UK in 2011[5] but left the club in January 2012 when Andy Preece's management team was appointed.[7]
In the summer of 2021 Owen was appointed manager of Wrexham AFC Women's under-19s, guiding them to a league title in their first campaign.
International
Owen was capped by Wales at Under 21 level and 'B' international level.[5] He was called up to the full international team in 1998 but did not play.[8]
Personal life
He has been married to Gemma Owen since 2016. Gemma is Head of Women's Football Operations at Wrexham and is also Assistant Manager of the Women's Under-19s team.[9]
On 11 September 2023, Owen suffered an ischemic stroke.[10]
Honours
Player
Wrexham
- Third Division runner-up: 1992–93[11]
- Welsh Cup: 1994–95;[12] runner-up: 1990–91[13]
- FAW Premier Cup: 1997–98,[14] 1999–2000,[15] 2000–01[16]
Rhyl
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 1992–93 Third Division[18]
- Welsh Premier League Player of the Season: 2008–09[19]
- Welsh Premier League Team of the Year: 2008–09.[20]
Manager
Wrexham Women
- Genaro Adran North U19: 2021–22