Gareth Owen

Gareth David Owen (born 21 September 1982) is an English-born Welsh former footballer, now working as academy director with Stoke City.

A defender, he represented Wales at under-19 level.

He began his career at Stoke City, signing as a professional in August 2001.

Owen began his career as a trainee with his local club, Stoke City, turning professional in August 2001.

However, in March 2002 he broke his leg in a youth team match against Leeds United; this meant two ankle operations which cost Owen fifteen months out of action.

He made his first team debut in the 2003–04 season, also spending time on loan at Oldham Athletic.

He made his senior debut in a First Division clash with Wigan Athletic on 14 October 2003; he replaced Clint Hill on the 80-minute mark, as Stoke lost 2–1 at the JJB Stadium thanks to two Geoff Horsfield goals.

Four days later he made a further cameo against Ipswich Town.

To gain first team experience he spent the second half of the 2003–04 season on loan at Second Division side Oldham Athletic.

He scored his first senior goal at Boundary Park, in a 4–1 win over Plymouth Argyle on 17 April.

Upon his return to the Potteries he won his home debut at the Britannia Stadium; he played the full ninety minutes in what was a 4–1 win over West Bromwich Albion.

He spent part of 2004–05 on loan at Torquay United, before returning on loan at Oldham.

At the start of the 2004–05 season he was loaned out to League One club Torquay United, where he played six games.

After returning from Plainmoor he played two further games for Stoke, making substitute appearances in 1–0 wins over Coventry City and Millwall.

His loan deal was made permanent in the summer for a £50,000 fee, though he did not find success in the 2005–06 campaign.

He returned to Oldham on loan in March 2005, playing nine times until the end of the season when he was transferred from Stoke to Oldham Athletic for a fee of £50,000.

However, he made only 21 appearances in 2005–06.

He spent the 2006–07 season on loan at Stockport County, and was voted the club's Player of the Season, after which he joined Stockport permanently, and was installed as club captain.

Never fitting in at the club, in May 2006 he put in a transfer request, which was accepted.

He later claimed he had 'fallen out of love' with football at Boundary Park.

On 3 July 2006, Owen joined Stockport County on a season-long loan deal.

He enjoyed a successful 2006–07 season, playing 42 games, including a FA Cup Third round tie at Premier League Watford.

Following a successful 2007–08 season, he joined Yeovil Town on loan in October 2008, having fallen out with the management at Stockport.

He was voted the club's Player of the Season and joined Stockport permanently for an undisclosed fee in June 2007.

In the 2007–08 season, Owen went on to captain Stockport back to League One, lifting the play-off trophy after a 3–2 win over Rochdale at Wembley Stadium.

In the final he actually played with a face-mask due to an injury.

However, the season was not a complete success, as County suffered a shock defeat to Isthmian League Staines Town in the FA Cup First round.

In October 2008 he went out on loan to Yeovil Town after a public falling-out with manager Jim Gannon.

After the loan was extended in November he stated his aim to sign a permanently contract with the "Glovers", though the next week he ended up joining Dean Glover's Port Vale.

Despite starting his career at Stoke City, in November 2008 Owen agreed to join local rivals Port Vale on loan until January 2009, with a view to a permanent deal.

He made his Vale debut on the day the loan move was agreed, helping the "Valiants" to keep a clean sheet against Barnet despite barely getting chance to meet his new teammates.

He then joined Port Vale on a loan deal that was made permanent in January 2009.

He was a key member of the first team in 2009–10 and 2010–11, and was also appointed as the club's reserve team manager for the 2011–12 season.

Owen was expected to sign a permanent deal with Port Vale in January 2009 but was unexpectedly recalled by Stockport in order to negotiate a settlement for the remainder of his contract.

This issue was finally resolved on 19 January, and he left Stockport by mutual consent to sign for Port Vale on a two and a half-year contract.

During this period he also held informal talks with Dario Gradi's Crewe Alexandra.

In March 2009 Owen picked up an ankle injury, which kept him out of action for the rest of the season.

He retired from playing in January 2013, and began coaching at the Stoke City Academy.

Born and raised in Cheadle, Staffordshire (just outside Stoke-on-Trent), Owen attended Painsley High School in his youth.

He was in the same school year as future Port Vale teammate Adam Yates.