Gareth Ainsworth
| Date of birth | 10 May 1973 |
| Place of birth | Blackburn |
| Nationality | English |
| Weight | 75 kg |
| Height | 1.75 m |
| Position | Midfielder |
Gareth Ainsworth's 2000-01 season didn't kick off until January due to injury but once he was back, Wimbledon showed a significant upturn in form.
A speedy right winger who laid on many goals for his colleagues, he is a true character and entertainer and regularly worth the entrance fee alone.
Unfortunately, he broke a wrist during the Stockport County away match and so missed another short spell but was soon back in the team.
The Dons' faithful were left with the feeling that had he been fit all season an automatic promotion place would have been there for the taking.
Gareth re-signed for Wimbledon in August 2002 after being released by the Dons at the end of the 2001-02 season.
He had attracted interest from West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End.
After a brief stint at Cardiff City, Gareth joined Queens Park Rangers in July 2003 on a two-year contract.
It was extended to June 2008 in August 2006.
After a loan spell, he joined Wycombe Wanderers in February 2010 with a contract to June 2011 that was extended to June 2012 in May 2011 and to June 2013 in May 2012.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackburn Rovers | 01 Jul 1989 | 30 Jun 1991 | |
| Northwich Victoria | 01 Jul 1991 | 21 Jan 1992 | |
| Preston North End | 21 Jan 1992 | 17 Aug 1992 | |
| Cambridge United | 17 Aug 1992 | 23 Dec 1992 | |
| Preston North End | 23 Dec 1992 | 31 Oct 1995 | |
| Lincoln City | 31 Oct 1995 | 12 Sep 1997 | |
| Port Vale | 12 Sep 1997 | 03 Nov 1998 | |
| Wimbledon | 03 Nov 1998 | 17 Mar 2003 | |
| Preston North End | 27 Mar 2002 | 22 Apr 2002 | L |
| Walsall | 05 Dec 2002 | 05 Jan 2003 | L |
| Cardiff City | 17 Mar 2003 | 30 Jun 2003 | |
| Queens Park Rangers | 17 Jul 2003 | 01 Feb 2010 | |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 20 Nov 2009 | 20 Dec 2009 | L |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 01 Feb 2010 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | Lincoln City | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Port Vale | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Wimbledon | Premier League | 5 | 3 |
|||
| 1999-00 | Wimbledon | Premier League | 2 |
2 |
1
|
||
| 2000-01 | Wimbledon | FA Cup | 5 | 1 |
1 |
1
|
|
| 2000-01 | Wimbledon | League Division 1 | 8 | 4 |
2 |
1
|
|
| 2001-02 | Preston North End | League Division 1 | 3 | 2 |
1 |
||
| 2001-02 | Wimbledon | League Division 1 | 2 |
||||
| 2002-03 | Cardiff City | League Division 2 | 9 |
1
|
|||
| 2002-03 | Walsall | League Division 1 | 2 | 3 |
1 |
1
|
|
| 2002-03 | Wimbledon | FA Cup | 1 |
||||
| 2002-03 | Wimbledon | League Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2002-03 | Wimbledon | League Division 1 | 8 | 4 |
2 |
1
|
|
| 2003-04 | Queens Park Rangers | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Queens Park Rangers | LDV Vans Trophy | 2 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Queens Park Rangers | League Cup | 2 | 1 |
1 |
||
| 2003-04 | Queens Park Rangers | League Division 2 | 21 | 8 |
6 |
1
|
|
| 2004-05 | Queens Park Rangers | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Queens Park Rangers | League Championship | 14 | 8 |
2 |
2
|
|
| 2005-06 | Queens Park Rangers | FA Cup | 1 |
||||
| 2005-06 | Queens Park Rangers | League Championship | 33 | 10 |
9 |
5
|
|
| 2006-07 | Queens Park Rangers | FA Cup | 1 |
||||
| 2006-07 | Queens Park Rangers | League Championship | 18 | 4 |
1 |
4
|
|
| 2007-08 | Queens Park Rangers | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2007-08 | Queens Park Rangers | League Championship | 16 | 8 |
2 |
2
|
|
| 2009-10 | Queens Park Rangers | League Championship | 1 |
||||
| 2009-10 | Queens Park Rangers | League Cup | 1 |
||||
| 2009-10 | Wycombe Wanderers | League One | 12 | 2 |
2 |
1
|
1
|
| 2010-11 | Wycombe Wanderers | FA Cup | 3 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2010-11 | Wycombe Wanderers | League Two | 39 | 4 |
10 |
5
|
|
| 2011-12 | Wycombe Wanderers | League One | 16 | 16 |
2 |
1
|
1
|
| 2012-13 | Wycombe Wanderers | League Two | 12 | 13 |
2 |
3
|
|
| 2016-17 | Wycombe Wanderers | Football League Trophy | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Nov 1998 | Nottingham Forest v Wimbledon | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 14 Nov 1998 | Chelsea v Wimbledon | L | 3-0 | Premier League | |
| 21 Nov 1998 | Wimbledon v Arsenal | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 28 Nov 1998 | Newcastle United v Wimbledon | L | 3-1 | Premier League | |
| 05 Dec 1998 | Wimbledon v Coventry City | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 05 Apr 1999 | Middlesbrough v Wimbledon | L | 3-1 | Premier League | |
| 11 Apr 1999 | Wimbledon v Chelsea | L | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 19 Apr 1999 | Arsenal v Wimbledon | L | 5-1 | Premier League | |
| 21 Aug 1999 | Newcastle United v Wimbledon | D | 3-3 | Premier League | |
| 25 Aug 1999 | Everton v Wimbledon | L | 4-0 | Premier League | |
| 06 Jan 2001 | Wimbledon v Notts County | D | 2-2 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 13 Jan 2001 | Wimbledon v Preston North End | W | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 20 Jan 2001 | Portsmouth v Wimbledon | L | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 27 Jan 2001 | Notts County v Wimbledon | W | 0-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round replay |
| 06 Feb 2001 | Middlesbrough v Wimbledon | D | 0-0 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 10 Feb 2001 | Wimbledon v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 4-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Feb 2001 | Wimbledon v Middlesbrough | W | 3-1 | FA Cup | 4th round replay |
| 17 Feb 2001 | Wycombe Wanderers v Wimbledon | D | 2-2 | FA Cup | 5th round |
| 20 Feb 2001 | Wimbledon v Wycombe Wanderers | L | 2-2 (7-8) | FA Cup | 5th round replay |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Wimbledon v Queens Park Rangers | W | 5-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 03 Mar 2001 | Stockport County v Wimbledon | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 10 Apr 2001 | Wimbledon v Burnley | L | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 Apr 2001 | Wimbledon v Barnsley | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 Apr 2001 | Sheffield United v Wimbledon | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 24 Apr 2001 | Wimbledon v Crewe Alexandra | D | 3-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 28 Apr 2001 | Fulham v Wimbledon | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 May 2001 | Wimbledon v Huddersfield Town | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 06 May 2001 | Wimbledon v Norwich City | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 12 Jan 2002 | Wimbledon v Burnley | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 16 Feb 2002 | Wimbledon v Crystal Palace | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 28 Aug 2002 | Nottingham Forest v Wimbledon | L | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 07 Sep 2002 | Wimbledon v Leicester City | L | 2-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 10 Sep 2002 | Southend United v Wimbledon | W | 1-4 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 17 Sep 2002 | Portsmouth v Wimbledon | L | 4-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Sep 2002 | Wimbledon v Coventry City | L | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 05 Nov 2002 | Wimbledon v Rotherham United | L | 1-3 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 25 Jan 2003 | Walsall v Wimbledon | L | 1-0 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 01 Feb 2003 | Wimbledon v Nottingham Forest | L | 2-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 04 Feb 2003 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Wimbledon | W | 2-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 08 Feb 2003 | Wimbledon v Bradford City | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 22 Feb 2003 | Leicester City v Wimbledon | L | 4-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 Mar 2003 | Wimbledon v Reading | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 04 Mar 2003 | Wimbledon v Portsmouth | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 08 Mar 2003 | Coventry City v Wimbledon | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 11 Mar 2003 | Gillingham v Wimbledon | D | 3-3 | League Division 1 | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.