[2] He played for local club Boston United before joining Blackburn Rovers as an apprentice, turning professional in July 1978.
Garner scored 14 league goals in the 1987–88 season, when they qualified for the recently introduced playoffs, but defeat in the semi-finals denied them promotion.
In his final season at Ewood Park, he helped fulfil chairman Jack Walker's dream as Blackburn were promoted in time for the inaugural Premier League season, although he played fewer games that campaign following the arrival of new signings including David Speedie and Mike Newell, and then came the summer signing of Alan Shearer.
[6] He first played a league match for Wycombe in the 1993–94 season and helped the club to promotion from the Third Division, scoring a goal in the play-off final at Wembley against Preston North End.
Following Martin O'Neill's departure as manager, he fell out of favour with new boss Alan Smith and went on loan at Torquay United, playing 11 league games for the Gulls.