Career
He played as an inside forward. Gardner was born in West Smethwick, Staffordshire, and played football for Smethwick Hall before joining Small Heath in 1898. He scored twice on his debut in a 9–0 defeat of Luton Town on 12 November 1898, and scored a further seven times in the club"s next 17 games, but lost his place on the arrival of Walter Wigmore, and returned to non-league football with Oldbury Town and later with Oldbury Broadwell.
