Joe Garner

Born in Blackburn, Garner started his career at then Premier League club Blackburn Rovers and playing as a striker played in the same position as his namesake Simon Garner, Blackburn's highest-ever goalscorer and club legend during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Contrary to some stories, the two are not related.

He played for the youth and reserve teams at Ewood Park and was a prolific scorer at youth level, his record including scoring two hat tricks in one game against Manchester United U16.

Despite Blackburn having high hopes for the player, Garner didn't make the breakthrough into the Blackburn Rovers senior squad due to competition for places in the Blackburn line up with players such as Paul Dickov, Paul Gallagher, Craig Bellamy, Benni McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz forcing Garner to drop down two divisions in search of regular first team football.

Joseph Alan Garner (born 12 April 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for National League side Oldham Athletic.

Garner started his career with Blackburn Rovers before joining Carlisle United.

On 19 January 2007, Garner joined Carlisle United on loan until the end of the 2006–07 season.

Garner scored his first ever league goal for Carlisle United at Brunton Park on 10 February 2007, in a game against Yeovil Town, which Carlisle went on to lose 4–1.

On 17 March 2007, he scored and was sent off in a 1–1 draw with Huddersfield Town at Brunton Park, receiving a second yellow card for diving after a tackle from former United goalkeeper Matt Glennon.

His powerful shot, from well outside the box, at Port Vale on 7 April 2007 was voted goal of the season by United fans.

Despite initial resistance to a permanent deal from the Blackburn Rovers management, Garner eventually signed permanently for Carlisle United on 10 August 2007 for a club record fee of £140,000, which could rise to £150,000 if United gain promotion to the Championship.

Scottish Premier League side Dundee United were also interested in signing Garner, before he joined Carlisle United.

On 25 July 2008, less than a year after joining Carlisle, Garner was sold to Nottingham Forest for a fee of £1.14m.

Garner returned from his injury in late October 2008, when he started in a 1–0 home defeat to Cardiff City.

He then scored his first goal for the club three weeks later, scoring the first goal in a 2–2 draw at Bristol City.

A further two weeks later, he scored his first goal at the City Ground in Forest's 1–0 victory against Barnsley, and followed this up with another goal at Coventry City.

He then netted a 'majestic' 35-yard chip in a 2–0 victory at Southampton, before scoring his fifth of the season in the 4–2 home loss against Doncaster Rovers, a result which cost the Forest manager Colin Calderwood his job.

After the arrival of new manager Billy Davies at Forest on 1 January 2009, Garner struggled to hold a regular first-team place during the remainder of the season and was limited to mainly substitute appearances.

However, Garner netted his first goal under Davies with a crucial 83rd-minute equaliser against Bristol City on 11 April 2009, a game that ended in a 3–2 Forest win.

The beginning of the 2009–10 season saw Garner forge his way into Davies' plans, playing on the right side of midfield occasionally.

He scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season on 17 April 2010 against Blackpool.

His second and last of the season was a 'cool finish' against Scunthorpe United, in a game that finished in a 2–2 draw.

He made 14 league starts during the season.

Due to then Forest manager Billy Davies preferring other striking options, Garner spent almost the entire 2010–11 season out on loan with a spell at Huddersfield Town and then Scunthorpe United.

On 21 July 2010, Garner joined League One side Huddersfield Town on a six-month loan deal.

He made his Terriers debut in the 3–0 win over Notts County at Meadow Lane on 7 August 2010.

Scunthorpe finished bottom of the Championship league table and were relegated, and Garner returned to Forest at the end of the 2010–11 season.

The following season, with a depleted number of striking options available to new manager Steve McClaren, Garner made his first appearance for Forest in over a year coming on as a second-half substitute against Barnsley.

He failed to score during his time at Huddersfield, and on 5 January 2011, he returned to Forest.

After making no appearances for Forest upon his return, Garner joined Scunthorpe United on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season on 31 January 2011.

Davies went on record stating that the move to United was to give Garner playing time.

He scored twice in Scunthorpe's 4–1 win against league leaders Queens Park Rangers on 9 April 2011.

On 31 August 2011, Garner signed for Watford for an undisclosed fee believed to be £200,000.

Garner stated that he was 'desperate for first-team football', while manager Sean Dyche said that he hoped he could 'revitalise' his new striker.

Garner made his Watford debut as a substitute in a 2–0 away win against Reading, replacing Marvin Sordell, on 10 September 2011.

His first start came on 24 September 2011 against his old club Nottingham Forest, a game which Watford lost 1–0.

He signed a four-year contract, keeping him at the Reds until 2012.

He was recovering from a knee ligament operation at the time of the transfer.

Garner had a three-year spell with Preston North End, where he made over 150 appearances and won the 2015 Football League One play-off final.

Garner had previously moved to Wigan Athletic in 2018 and played there until 2020.