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Gareth McAuley

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Gareth McAuley
Personal information
Full name Gareth McAuley
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Ipswich Town
Number 4
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2000 Linfield 0 (0)
1999–2000 → Ballyclare Comrades (loan) 7 (0)
2000–2002 Crusaders 62 (3)
2002–2004 Coleraine 65 (4)
2004–2006 Lincoln City 72 (8)
2006–2008 Leicester City 74 (5)
2008– Ipswich Town 76 (5)
International career‡
2003 Northern Ireland B 1 (0)
2005– Northern Ireland 21 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:10, 9 May 2010 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:19, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

Gareth McAuley (born 5 December 1979) is a Northern Irish footballer currently playing for Ipswich Town.

Career

Coming from Glenoe outside of Larne and nicknamed "Big G", Gareth began his career at Linfield and spent some time in early 2000 on loan at Ballyclare Comrades. After four years at Linfield, he moved to Crusaders in the summer of 2000. After two successful seasons, he moved to Coleraine. During this period, he worked as a window draftsman.

Lincoln City

In the summer of 2004, Gareth decided the time had come to look for a move into full-time football in the English Football League.[1] After attracting interest from Lincoln City and Stockport County he linked up with Edgeley Park based club for a two week trial under the eye of the former Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy who had given McAuley his first Northern Ireland B call-up.[2] After impressing in his trial, McAuley seemed set to sign for Stockport[3] but talks broke down and he instead joined Lincoln City on a two-year deal with Coleraine receiving £10,000 for his services.[4] With Lincoln already boasting one of the strongest defences in League Two at the time of McAuley's arrival, he did not walk straight into the first team. His first few appearances for the club were all as a substitute, and often in the role of a target man striker.

However, when Dean West was dropped from the squad and club captain Paul Morgan sidelined with injury, McAuley moved into central defence to partner Ben Futcher. He immediately drew the plaudits for his excellent performances, which included a man of the match display against Derby County. He thereafter battled for a starting centre back roll with fellow giant Jamie McCombe for much of the season.

However, in March 2005, McAuley earnt a starting roll as the right full back, replacing the perpetually out of form fan favourite Matthew Bloomer. He continued to play in this position for the rest of the season, helping Lincoln to the play off final, not just with his exceptional defensive performances, but with 5 goals, including both in a 2-1 aggregate victory over Macclesfield in the play off semi final.

The 2005/2006 season however saw him cement a spot in the centre of the Imps defence. With Ben Futcher leaving on a free transfer to join rivals Boston United, McAuley took his place. He enjoyed a fantastic season, which culminated ultimately in play off defeat for Lincoln again, but saw him named in the League Two Team of the Year, and also caught the attention of a number of bigger clubs.

The lure of playing at a higher level saw McAuley reject Lincoln City's offer of a new contract in the summer of 2006, and he moved on a free transfer to Leicester City.

Leicester City

McAuley signed for Leicester City on 5 June 2006, after reaching the end of his contract at Lincoln, signing a three-year deal.[5] He scored his first senior goal for Leicester on January 17 in a 4-3 defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup,[6] and was also on the scoresheet against Ipswich Town on February 10, heading in both as Leicester won 2-0.[7]

McAuley (No. 5) watches as Coventry score a penalty kick in an M69 derby at the Ricoh Arena


In the 2007-08 season, McAuley was appointed captain in a 0-0 draw against Wolves on October 2, 2007, following Stephen Clemence's injury.[8] He scored his fourth goal on 5 October against Sheffield Wednesday, helping Leicester earn their second only league win of the season,[9] and was then named in the Championship Team of the Week three days later.[10] McAuley is one of three players (DJ Campbell & Carl Cort) who netted in three goals against Chelsea in a League Cup match on October 31 at Stamford Bridge, but could not prevent his side from losing 4-3.[11]

In January 2008, Ipswich Town manager Jim Magilton made two bids to sign McAuley, but both of these were turned down.[12] Despite signing a new three-and-a-half year deal on 8 February,[13] McAuley decided to leave Leicester following their relegation three months later.

Ipswich Town

McAuley signed for Ipswich Town on 18 June 2008 and was named captain for the 08/09 season.[14] The defender got off too a somewhat shakey start, but after settling into the squad, established himself as a commanding leader and consistent defender. McAuley further enhanced his international credentials whilst with the Suffolk team.

International

In May 2003, McAuley received his first senior international call when he was one of five League of Ireland players named in the squad for the Northern Ireland B team fixture with Scotland B on 20 May, 2003.[15] Selected in the starting eleven,[16] the team fell to a 2-1 defeat in front of just 1,502 spectators at Firhill Stadium.[17]

He received his first cap against Germany as his team lost 4-1 in a friendly match on 4 June 2005.[18]

McAuley contemplated international retirement after being left out of the squad to face Sweden on 17 October 2007.[19] But on 9 October, Nigel Worthington recalled him to the squad.[20] McAuley made his comeback against Sweden on October 17, drawing 1-1.[21] He was also part of the squad that defeated Denmark 2-1 in a memorable victory on November 17, keeping the national team's hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2008.[22] Their hopes were dashed when they lost 1-0 to Spain in Las Palmas on November 21, finishing third in Group F with twenty points.[23] McAuley scored his first international goal against San Marino on February 11, 2009.

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 February 2009 Serravalle, San Marino  San Marino 1-0 3-0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Coleraine

References

  1. ^ "McAuley eyes English move". BBC Sport. 6 June, 2004. Retrieved 20 April, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  2. ^ "McAuley for Stockport trial". BBC Sport. 9 June, 2004. Retrieved 20 April, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  3. ^ "McAuley set for Stockport". BBC Sport. 19 July, 2004. Retrieved 20 April, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  4. ^ "McAuley signs for Lincoln". BBC Sport. 5 August, 2004. Retrieved 20 April, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  5. ^ McAuley signs for Leicester City, BBC Sport 2006-06-05. Retrieved on 2007-09-01
  6. ^ Fulham 4-3 Leicester, BBC Sport 2007-01-17. Retrieved on 2007-09-01
  7. ^ Ipswich 0-2 Leicester, BBC Sport 2007-02-10. Retrieved on 2007-09-01
  8. ^ Leicester 0-0 Wolves, BBC Sport 2007-10-02. Retrieved on 2007-10-04.
  9. ^ Sheff Wed 0-2 Leicester, BBC Sport 2007-10-06. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  10. ^ Team of the Week, Football League 2007-10-08. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  11. ^ "Chelsea 4-3 Leicester". BBC Sport. 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  12. ^ "McAuley set for new deal". Sky Sports. 2008-01-30. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  13. ^ "McAuley Pens New Deal". Leicester City. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  14. ^ "Ipswich Capture Defender McAuley". BBC Sport. 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  15. ^ "Irish League players in 'B' squad". BBC Sport. 9 May, 2003. Retrieved 20 April, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  16. ^ "No Wilkie and Webster for Scots". BBC Sport. 20 May, 2003. Retrieved 20 April, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Scottish second string win". BBC Sport. 20 May, 2003. Retrieved 20 April, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Northern Ireland 1-4 Germany". BBC Sport. 2005-06-11. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  19. ^ McAuley ponders N Ireland future, BBC Sport 2007-10-03. Retrieved on 2007-10-04.
  20. ^ McAuley Wins Call-Up, Leicester City 2007-10-09. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
  21. ^ Sweden 1-1 Northern Ireland, BBC Sport 2007-10-17. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  22. ^ "Northern Ireland 2-1 Denmark". BBC Sport. 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  23. ^ "Spain 1-0 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. 2007-11-21. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
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