Gareth Ainsworth

His mother worked as a professional singer during the 1960s while his father worked in several different jobs including a bookmakers, a driving instructor and a factory clerk.

His parents were avid music fans and his mother taught Ainsworth to sing as a child.

He is a supporter of Blackburn Rovers and became a season ticket holder at the age of six.

He attended St Augustine's Roman Catholic High School in Billington.

Ainsworth started his career as a trainee with Second Division club Blackburn Rovers, but despite forming a useful partnership with Peter Thorne he was not offered professional terms at the end of his two-year training period.

Gareth Ainsworth (born 10 May 1973) is an English professional football manager and former player who last managed club Queens Park Rangers.

He dropped into the Football Conference with Northwich Victoria, scoring his first goal in the 3–1 home victory over Cheltenham Town on 26 October 1991.

Released at the end of the 1991–92 season, Ainsworth joined First Division Cambridge United under the management of John Beck.

A former youth player at Blackburn Rovers, the midfielder, who was known for his crossing ability, moved to Preston North End in 1992 after impressing at non-League Northwich Victoria.

His form attracted the attention of Third Division club Preston North End and, in January 1992, they offered him a second chance at the professional game.

Ainsworth had a spell on loan with former club Northwich Victoria, making his second debut for the "Vics" in a 2–1 home victory over Bromsgrove Rovers on 5 September 1992.

Beck was sacked by Cambridge in October 1992 but was swiftly appointed manager at Preston North End, and in December returned to the Abbey Ground to sign Ainsworth.

Ainsworth's second spell with Preston lasted three years.

He signed for Cambridge United, who in turn loaned him back to Northwich, and returned to Preston in 1993, establishing himself in the first team during his second spell.

On 6 April 1993, he spent 13 minutes in goal after goalkeeper Simon Farnworth was knocked unconscious, Ainsworth conceded one goal as Preston played out a 2–2 at Port Vale.

Preston reached the Third Division play-off final in 1994, and Ainsworth played in the Wembley final, but could not prevent Wycombe Wanderers winning the game 4–2.

Preston reached the play-offs again the following year, but exited at the semi-final stage with a 2–0 aggregate defeat to Bury.

Beck left Preston following the disappointments at the play-offs, and was appointed manager at Third Division rivals Lincoln City.

Sold on to Lincoln City in 1995, his performances earned him a place on the PFA Third Division Team of the Year in 1996–97, resulting in a £500,000 move to Port Vale.

In October 1995, Beck signed Ainsworth for a third time, this time for a fee of £25,000.

He won the club's Player of the Year award for both the 1995–96 and 1996–97 campaigns.

In 1996–97, Ainsworth scored 22 goals to make him the division's second-highest goalscorer after Wigan Athletic's Graeme Jones.

For this achievement he was named on the PFA's Third Division Team of the Year.

In September 1997 he signed for John Rudge's First Division Port Vale for a club record £500,000 fee; he was signed to replace Jon McCarthy and Steve Guppy, wingers who had been sold for a combined £2.35 million earlier in the year.

He became the club's Player of the Year for his performances in the 1997–98 season, helping the "Valiants" to narrowly avoid relegation above Manchester City and local rivals Stoke City.

After being named as the Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year in 1998, Ainsworth was sold to Premier League club Wimbledon for £2 million.

He was dogged by injuries at the club, and following loan spells with Preston and Walsall, he moved to Cardiff City in March 2003.

He signed with Queens Park Rangers in June 2003, where he spent seven years.

During his time at QPR, he helped the club to promotion from the Second Division in 2003–04, and twice served as caretaker manager.

A popular player at Sincil Bank, Ainsworth was voted fourth in the club's top 100 legends after a poll conducted in May 2007.

He suited the long ball style at Lincoln and later said that "It was the club where I played my best football, probably of my whole career".

He joined Wycombe Wanderers in February 2010, following a short loan period.

He was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year in 2010–11, as Wycombe won promotion.

He was appointed manager in November 2012, after a short period as caretaker manager.

He retired from regular playing appearances to concentrate on management in April 2013, but remained registered as a player.

He led the club to promotion from League Two at the end of the 2017–18 season and then from League One in 2020, securing a place in the Championship for the first time in the club's history.

He left Wycombe in February 2023 to become head coach of QPR, where he would remain for eight months.

Ainsworth was born in Blackburn.

He had been hopeful of earning a professional contract but was informed of his release by manager Don Mackay on his 18th birthday.

He later described his release from his hometown club as "devastating" and admitted walking into the car park at the ground and crying.