George Wardle (24 September 1919 â November 1991) was an English footballer who scored 27 goals from 227 appearances in the Football League playing for Middlesbrough, Exeter City, Cardiff City, Queens Park Rangers and Darlington either side of the Second World War. He played as a wing half or outside forward. He guested for clubs including Chelsea and Lincoln City during the war.
Wardle then went into coaching, first with Crook Town and then with Middlesbrough's youth teams. In his book Walk Alone, former Middlesbrough and Liverpool midfielder Craig Johnston credited Wardle with saving his career by supporting him when other members of the Middlesbrough coaching team wanted to let the young Australian go.