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Gardner was one of a host of players brought in by Brian Miller in the summer of 1987 just after our escape from the drop out of the league. He was just 19 and had been released by Manchester United.
He started playing alongside Peter Zelem but shortly afterwards we signed Steve Davis from Crewe and he went on to partner the first Davis for two full seasons and he represented the Clarets in the Sherpa Van Trophy Final against Wolves.
After two full seasons as first choice he broke his ankle in pre-season in 1989 and was out for much of the season returning in the last few weeks to play in nine more games. But he was then released by manager Frank Casper and went into non-league football.
A couple of years later he had a spell with Bradford City and then moved on to Bury where he played just one game before leaving league football for good.
He was a player who played a significant part in lifting the club from those dark days of 1987, we can now give him one last reception before wishing him well in his new career in Texas.