Luke Garrard (born 22 September 1985) is an English professional football manager and former player who manages National League South club Boreham Wood.

Luke Garrard
Garrard as manager of Boreham Wood in 2016
Personal information
Full name Luke Garrard[1]
Date of birth (1985-09-22) 22 September 1985 (age 39)[1]
Place of birth Barnet, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Boreham Wood (manager)
Youth career
000?–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)
2009–2010Boreham Wood (loan)
2010–2015 Boreham Wood 140 (7)
Managerial career
2015–2024 Boreham Wood
2024– Boreham Wood
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

edit

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.

Coaching career

edit

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

edit
As of match played 23 November 2024[21]
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Boreham Wood 12 October 2015 20 April 2024 441 158 139 144 035.83
Boreham Wood 13 September 2024 Present 15 9 3 3 060.00
Total 450 163 141 146 036.22

Honours

edit

Player

edit

AFC Wimbledon

Individual

Manager

edit

Boreham Wood

Individual

  • National League Manager of the Month: February 2022,[24] December 2020[25]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 163. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. ^ "Match Preview: Boreham Wood vs Brentford". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Games played by Luke Garrard in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  4. ^ Luke Garrard at Soccerbase  
  5. ^ Swindon Town FC website – Luke Garrard page Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ AFC Wimbledon Official Site, Luke Garrard player profile Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ a b c d "AFC Wimbledon | Player Profile | Luke Garrard". wimbledonheritage.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Luke Garrard: Boreham Wood promote assistant to manager". 14 October 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Boreham Wood 2–1 AFC Fylde". BBC Sport. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Sutton United 2–3 Boreham Wood". BBC Sport. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Boreham Wood 1–2 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Boreham Wood 2–1 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Boreham Wood knock out AFC Wimbledon". BBC Sport. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Boreham Wood stun Bournemouth in FA Cup". BBC Sport. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Everton end Boreham Wood's superb cup run". BBC Sport. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  16. ^ "FA Cup: 'It has been a fairytale' - Boreham Wood out but not down". BBC Sport. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  17. ^ Aloia, Andrew (7 May 2023). "Notts County 3–2 Boreham Wood". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  18. ^ "CLUB STATEMENT: LUKE GARRARD". www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  19. ^ [–https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/boreham-wood-say-goodbye-as-halifax-seal-play-off--81465 "Boreham Wood Say Goodbye As Halifax Seal Play-Off Spot"]. www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  20. ^ "WELCOME BACK, LUKE!". www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Managers: Luke Garrard". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  22. ^ a b AFC Wimbledon F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  23. ^ "Club Honours". Boreham Wood Football Club. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  24. ^ "GARRARD PICKS UP MANAGER OF THE MONTH AWARD FOR FEBRUARY". Boreham Wood Football Club. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard named Vanarama National League Manager of the Month – all the award winners". The Non-League Paper. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
edit