Experienced Championship campaigner adds competition
Huddersfield Town has fought off interest from a number of other Championship clubs to secure the signature of defender Anthony Gerrard from Cardiff City.
The 26 year-old arrives at the Club on a three year deal for an undisclosed fee, adding real competition for places at centre back alongside the likes of Peter Clarke, Joel Lynch and Murray Wallace.
The powerful, 6’2” tall Gerrard brings good Championship experience to the Club having made over 120 appearances in the second tier of English football, during which time he was named as Hull City’s ‘Fans Player of the Year’ during the 2010/11 season.
Huddersfield Town Manager Simon Grayson explained the reasons behind Anthony’s arrival:
“We’re delighted to welcome Anthony to Huddersfield, because we’ve worked very hard to seal his signature amid a lot of competition from other clubs.
“Just like the large majority of our summer signings – the likes of Keith Southern, Joel Lynch, Sean Scannell, Adam Clayton and Oliver Norwood – he has plenty of Championship experience, but also he is still a young player who has yet to reach his peak - exactly the type of player I want. He’s also a real leader and you can never have enough of those on the pitch.
“He has a real hunger to succeed too, as Cardiff has deemed him surplus to requirements. He’s shown he can perform very well at the top end of the Championship over the last few years and he’ll do well for us.
“The centre back department is vital for any team and I think we have fantastic competition for places and depth now when you add Anthony to the likes of Joel, Peter and Murray.”
Born in Liverpool in February 1986, Gerrard has previously represented the Republic of Ireland at under-18 level as his grandmother was born in the country. He came through the Everton youth system but never made his professional debut for the Toffees, instead getting his first taste of senior football through loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Walsall.
It was at the Banks’s Stadium that he made his mark as a player. Joining permanently in the summer of 2005 following a successful loan spell, Gerrard was named as their ‘Player of the Year’ during his first year but the Saddlers still suffered relegation from League 1.
Anthony was a virtual ever-present in the Walsall side that won League 2 at the first attempt the following season and he went onto grab his second ‘Player of the Year’ accolade at the Club in 2008, peaking the reported interest of Southampton.
After 157 Saddlers appearances – during many of which he captained the side – manager Dave Jones brought him to Championship outfit Cardiff City for an undisclosed fee in July 2009, amid interest from Scunthorpe United and Charlton Athletic. Anthony played quite regularly during his first season in Wales, but was loaned out to fellow Championship side Hull City ahead of the 2010/11 campaign.
Gerrard immediately cemented a centre back spot with the Tigers, making 42 appearances, and was named the Fans’ ‘Player of the Year’ at the conclusion of the season due to his committed, physical displays.
He returned to Cardiff City last season and played 25 further games, which includes a substitute appearance in the Carling Cup Final against Premier League Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. That took him to 75 Cardiff appearances in all competitions ahead of his move to Town.
Anthony's first interview as a Huddersfield Town player will appear shortly on htafc.com!
