Scott Wara

Semi Scott Wara (born 22 September 1999) is a Fijian footballer who plays as a defender for Northern Premier League Division One West club Stalybridge Celtic. He has represented the Fiji national team.

Scott Wara
Personal information
Full name Semi Scott Wara[1]
Date of birth (1999-09-22) 22 September 1999[2]
Place of birth Lautoka, Fiji
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Stalybridge Celtic
Youth career
Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2020 Stoke City 0 (0)
2017–2018 → Leek Town (loan) 2 (0)
2021–2023 Leek Town 59 (3)
2023 Finn Harps 7 (0)
2023– Stalybridge Celtic 3 (0)
International career‡
2019 Fiji U23
2018 Fiji 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:00, 8 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 September 2018

Early and personal life

Wara was born in Lautoka, Fiji and moved to Staffordshire, England at a young age.[4] His father served with the British Army.[5] His brother Billy is a rugby player; Scott also played rugby at school before switching to football.[5]

Club career

Wara began his career with Stoke City, playing for the U21 team in the EFL Trophy.[5] He moved on a one-month loan to Leek Town in December 2017,[6] making two league appearances.[7][8] Wara was released by Stoke City in July 2020.[9]

Wara went on trial with Premier League club Newcastle United in November 2020, having previously been on trial at National League club Wrexham.[3][10] He subsequently returned to Leek Town on a permanent basis in 2021, first appearing as an unused substitute against Trafford on 17 August,[11] before making his debut in the FA Cup win against Gresley Rovers four days later.[12]

On 22 June 2023, Wara was confirmed as a new signing by League of Ireland club Finn Harps on an 18 month contract.[13]

On 8 September 2023, Stalybridge Celtic announced that they had signed Wara from Finn Harps.[14]

International career

Wara is eligible to represent either Fiji or England at international level.[4] He received his first call-up to the Fiji senior national team in March 2018.[15] He made his debut on 5 September 2018, in a 1–1 draw against the Solomon Islands, appearing as a half-time substitute for Narendra Rao.[16] In September 2019 he joined the Fiji under-23 team.[17]

Personal life

He appeared on the 2023 BBC documentary Boot Dreams: Now or Never, about young footballers trying to gain a professional contract.[18]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 7 October 2023
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City U23 2017–18[2] ————3[lower-alpha 1]030
2018–19[2] ————3[lower-alpha 1]030
Total ———6060
Stoke City 2018–19 EFL Championship 000000—00
Leek Town (loan) 2017–18 NPL Division One South 200000—20
Leek Town 2021–22[19] NPL Division One West 24120003[lower-alpha 2]0291
2022–23[20] NPL Division One West 35210006[lower-alpha 3]0422
Total 593300090713
Finn Harps 2023[21] League of Ireland First Division 7010000080
Stalybridge Celtic 2022–23[22] NPL Division One West 3000002[lower-alpha 4]050
Career total 7334000170923
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. Two appearances in Staffordshire Senior Cup, one appearance in NPL West Play-offs
  3. Two appearances in FA Trophy, three appearances in Staffordshire Senior Cup, one appearance in NPL West Play-offs
  4. Appearances in FA Trophy

International
As of match played 5 September 2018[1]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Fiji 201810
Total10

References
  1. "Scott Wara". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  2. Scott Wara at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  3. Ryder, Lee (6 November 2020). "Who is Newcastle United trialist Scott Wara?". ChronicleLive.
  4. "Fiji national coach visits Scott Wara to discuss international future". Oceania FC. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  5. Peter Smith (7 October 2017). "How teenage defender went from throwing coconuts to rising star at Stoke". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  6. Jim Hannah (22 December 2017). "Leek Town manager Neil Baker signs up Stoke City defender on loan". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  7. "Boxing day derby is a Christmas cracker". Leek Town F.C. 26 December 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  8. "Chapman spot on to extend winning run". Leek Town F.C. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  9. "Club announce retained list". Stoke City. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  10. Smith, Peter (30 October 2020). "Ex-Stoke City youth Scott Wara lands trial at Newcastle United". StokeonTrentLive.
  11. Report: Leek Town 2-2 Trafford Leek Town FC. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  12. Report: Gresley Rovers 0-2 Leek Town Leek Town FC. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  13. "Harps Bolster Backline with Double Swoop – Finn Harps FC".
  14. "Scott Wara signs for Celtic".
  15. "Scott Wara of Stoke City called up to Fiji squad for the first time". Oceania FC. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  16. "Solomons and Fiji draw even". OFC. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  17. "Wara joins Fiji U23 side". Fiji Times. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via PressReader.
  18. "Boot Dreams: Now or Never – meet the players, presenter Roman Kemp and head coach Gifton Noel-Williams". www.bbc.co.uk.
  19. "Football Web Pages | Leek Town | Appearances | Scott Wara". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  20. "Football Web Pages | Leek Town | Appearances | Scott Wara". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  21. "Scott Wara". flashscore.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  22. "Stalybridge Celtic | Player Profile | Scott Wara". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
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