Gary Warren

Gary Robert Warren (born 16 August 1984) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Clachnacuddin.

He is also Head of Professional Academy at Scottish Premiership club Ross County.

Warren's football career began at Mangotsfield United in the Southern League, for whom he played between 2002 and 2006.

He rose up through the youth & reserve ranks to the first team and made his debut for Mangotsfield away to Evesham United on 1 April 2003.

He played a pivotal role in the team's 2004–2005 Southern League – Western Division championship-winning side.

His career record with Mangotsfield totalled 164 appearances with 11 goals.

In the summer transfer window of 2006, Warren went on trial at Bristol Rovers, with a view to permanent contract, but he eventually opted to join Team Bath.

Warren captained Team Bath to play-off promotion and played a pivotal part in the university's rise to conference football.

Team Bath folded in his last year and Warren then joined Newport County after interest from a number of clubs including Hereford.

In July 2009, following the disbandment of Team Bath, Warren signed for Newport County, then in the Conference South.

He made his debut in a friendly match against Mansfield Town on 19 July 2009.

Warren was immediately a regular for Newport and was appointed captain.

In the 2009–10 season Newport County were crowned Conference South champions with a record 103 points, 28 points ahead of second-placed Dover Athletic.

During this time Warren was handed the Conference South player of the year and selected as Newport County's Player of the Year for the 2009–10 season.

During Warren's time at Newport he was selected for Great Britain in 2009 in Serbia and in China (Shenzhen) 2011 where he finished top scorer and in 4th place and as a silver medalist.

In the 2010–11 season, Warren was linked with a move to a number of clubs including Blackpool, then managed by Ian Holloway and also a £10k move to League Two side Cheltenham Town.

This bid was rejected, with manager Anthony Hudson criticising Cheltenham for their offer, describing it as a 'insult'.

Hudson also insisted the club had no plans to sell Warren.

At the end of the 2011–12 season, Warren's contract at Newport expired.

Despite being offered a new contract he chose to move on to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

For Newport, Warren's departure was the end-of-an-era as he was the last of Dean Holdsworth's team to depart.

Upon joining Inverness, Warren said he signed for the club because he 'couldn't say no' to playing under manager Terry Butcher.

In the opening game of the season, Warren made his debut in a 2–2 draw against St Mirren.

On 12 May 2012, Warren played for Newport in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium – a match they lost 2–0 to York City.

Two-months later on 22 December 2012, he scored his first goal for Inverness in a 4–1 win over Dundee.

In the quarter-final of the Scottish League Cup, he scored his second goal for Inverness in a 3–0 win over Rangers, helping the club to reach the semi-final.

In the first part of the season, Warren and his teammates struggled as the club found themselves near the foot of the table, but the fans soon began to see the best of him.

His second league goal came in a 3–2 win over Aberdeen on 27 November 2012, followed up two-weeks later when he scored in a 4–4 thriller against Dundee United.

In late December 2012, Warren said his future in Scotland was uncertain due to personal issues.

However, three-months later, he signed a new two-year deal.

Prior to signing the new contract, Warren scored a 'brace' as Inverness beat Heart of Midlothian 3–2.

The 2013–14 season started positively for Warren.

Alongside Josh Meekings in central defence and new goalkeeper Dean Brill, he helped Inverness keep three consecutive clean sheets in their opening matches, before eventually conceding in a 2–2 draw against Celtic on 24 August 2013.

In October, Warren scored his first goal of the season, a header, in a 2–1 loss against Partick Thistle.

He then scored in the next match, equalising against Dundee United in the quarter-final of the Scottish League Cup.

Inverness CT won through after extra-time to reach the semi-finals.

However, in the semi-final against Hearts, he was sent-off.

Despite this, Inverness CT won in a penalty-shootout, but Warren's dismissal meant he missed the final through suspension.

An attempt to overturn his ban was unsuccessful.

On 22 February 2014, he scored in a 1–0 win over St Johnstone, giving Inverness their first victory in Perth in three years.