Ainsworth started his footballing career as a member of the Northwich Victoria youth team before being brought by Preston North End. He made a total of 87 appearances in 2 spells (with a spell at Cambridge in between) for the men from Deepdale, scoring 12 goals before leaving them in 1995 to join Lincoln City.

His first full season in 1996/7 saw him have his most prolific season of his career. 24 goals in all competitions saw him finish the season as one of Division 3's leading goalscorers. 2 of those goals came against Southampton, one gaining City a draw at the Dell and the other a mere consolation in the home leg where Southampton won 3-1. It's safe to say he was the main reason for City's promotion push that season, his goals won City a huge 17 points that season (in other words, his goals turned defeats into draw, defeats into wins and draws into wins).

The following season continued with a less impactful spell, scoring 4 times for the Imps (including a hatrick against Scarborough) before he left the Imps following a 3-1 defeat at Rotherham. He joined Port Vale, a side who at that point were in Division One, he wasted no time in making himself as popular with the Vale fans as he did with the City fans.

His goals were less frequent for the Valiants, scoring just 5 goals in his first season at Vale Park. He did help Port Vale avoid relegation by just a single point though.

The following season again saw him make huge leaps as after a decent 3 months for Port Vale, Wimbledon forked out £2million for him and he made his debut for them in a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Injuries shortened his season as he played just 8 times for Wimbledon between October and the end of the season. Injuries again saw his next season come to a premature end, although he did score 2 goals in their 3-3 draw at Newcastle. Wimbledon were relegated from the Premiership that season.

Another injury filled season saw him score 3 times in 18 appearances. The following season and Wimbledon had enough of him being injured all the time and he returned to Preston North End on a loan deal. 5 appearances and 1 goal later, he helped Preston almost get into the Division One Playoffs.

A few appearances for Wimbledon later and he was given a choice. Both Walsall and Lincoln wanted to take him on loan. He claimed it was a tough decision as he went to Walsall. Later on that season he left Wimbledon for good and joined Cardiff City. Although he didn't score for them, he helped them win the Division 2 Playoffs, beating QPR in the final.

A few months later and he joined the team Cardiff had just beaten, a few games in and they faced Rushden and Ainsworth scored two of the best goals you're ever likely to see. The first saw him volley a cross in from 35 yards out, the second was from a similar distance but was just a normal shot that sailed over Billy Turley and into the net.

He helped QPR achieve promotion back to the Championship that season and has been at QPR ever since. He was rumoured to be rejoining the Imps in the 2007 summer, but a broken leg sustained towards the end of the 2006/7 denied him that.

He was then nominated in 4th place for Lincoln City's League Legends, with only Andy Graver, Percy Freeman and Grant Brown ahead of him.

Gareth is coming towards the end of his career and a return to Sincil Bank looks unlikely. He has already planned for life after football by being in the band "Dog Chewed the Handle."

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