Luke Garrard
English football manager (born 1985)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luke Garrard (born 22 September 1985) is an English professional football manager and former player who manages National League club Boreham Wood.
|
Garrard as manager of Boreham Wood in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luke Garrard[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 22 September 1985[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Barnet, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] | ||
| Position | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Boreham Wood (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ?–2002 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2005 | Swindon Town | 11 | (0) |
| 2005 | Bishop's Stortford | ||
| 2005 | Boreham Wood | ||
| 2005–2006 | Northwood | ||
| 2006–2010 | AFC Wimbledon | 98 | (5) |
| 2009–2010 | → Boreham Wood (loan) | ||
| 2010–2015 | Boreham Wood | 140 | (7) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2015–2024 | Boreham Wood | ||
| 2024– | Boreham Wood | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
Garrard started his career as a trainee at Tottenham Hotspur but was released as a schoolboy.[2] He went on to sign as an apprentice for Swindon Town, making his professional league debut against Oldham Athletic on 26 April 2003.[3] Between 2002 and 2005, Garrard made 17 appearances for Swindon,[4] before being released on 19 April 2005.[5]
Garrard went on to have spells with Bishop's Stortford, Boreham Wood and Northwood, before joining AFC Wimbledon in March 2006.[6]
A popular figure with Wimbledon's fans, he made over 100 appearances for the club,[7] mainly in a right side defensive role, but in November 2008 Garrard picked up an injury during training that kept him out for the rest of that season. From the start of the 2009–10 season, he made only occasional appearances for the team and eventually in January 2010, he was allowed to re-join Boreham Wood after his request for regular first team football could not be guaranteed.[citation needed]
Coaching career
On 14 October 2015, Garrard was appointed as the manager of Boreham Wood, following the resignation of Ian Allinson, making him the youngest manager in England's top five divisions.[8]
In Garrard's third season in charge, he led Boreham Wood to the National League play-offs for the first time. His side defeated AFC Fylde[9] and Sutton United[10] to set up a play-off final with Tranmere Rovers at Wembley Stadium in which Garrard's side were defeated 2–1.[11] Also in this season, Boreham Wood defeated Football League opposition for the first time in their history when they defeated League One side Blackpool in the FA Cup first round.[12]
In the 2021–22 season, Boreham Wood reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. Having reached the third round, his side defeated League One side AFC Wimbledon 2–0[13] before winning away at Championship promotion chasers AFC Bournemouth 1–0.[14] His side were eventually defeated 2–0 at Premier League club Everton.[15][16]
In the 2022–23 season, Boreham Wood reached the play-offs again but lost in the semi-finals to Notts County after a late goal in extra time.[17] On 2 April 2024, following a defeat to Southend United that left relegation-threatened Boreham Wood three points from safety with just four matches remaining, the club announced that they would part company with Garrard following the final match of the season.[18] Following a 0–0 draw with Ebbsfleet United on the final day of the season, Wood's relegation was confirmed.[19]
On 13 September 2024, Garrard returned to Boreham Wood as manager following the sacking of Ross Jenkins.[20]
Managerial Statistics
- As of match played 14 March 2025
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Boreham Wood | 12 October 2015 | 20 April 2024 | 441 | 158 | 139 | 144 | 35.8 | [21][failed verification] |
| Boreham Wood | 13 September 2024 | Present | 96 | 59 | 16 | 21 | 61.5 | [21][failed verification] |
| Total | 537 | 217 | 155 | 165 | 40.4 | |||
Honours
Player
AFC Wimbledon
- Conference South: 2008–09[7][22]
- Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs: 2008[7][22]
Individual
- AFC Wimbledon Young Player of the Year: 2006–07[7]
Manager
Boreham Wood
- National League South play-offs: 2025[23]
- Herts Senior Cup: 2017–18, 2018–19[24]
Individual
