Gareth McAuley

Infobox Football biography
playername = Gareth McAuley


fullname = Gareth McAuley
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|12|5
cityofbirth = Larne
countryofbirth = Northern Ireland
height = height|ft=6|in=3
nickname =
position = Centre back
currentclub = Ipswich Town
clubnumber = 4
youthyears = 1996–2000
youthclubs = Linfield
years = 1996–2000
1999–2000
2000–2002
2002–2004
2004–2006
2006–2008
2008–
clubs = Linfield
→Ballyclare Comrades (loan)
Crusaders
Coleraine
Lincoln City
Leicester City
Ipswich Town
caps(goals) = 0? 0(?)
07 0(0)
60 0(0)
65 0(4)
72 0(8)
74 0(5)
04 0(0)
nationalyears = 2003
2005-
nationalteam = Northern Ireland B
Northern Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 01 0(0)
11 0(0)
pcupdate = 17:10, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 17:09, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

Gareth McAuley (born 5 December 1979, Larne, Northern Ireland) 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. In the summer of 2004, Gareth decided to move into the English professional leagues and signed for Lincoln City, twice helping them reach the play-offs. He was named in the 2005/2006 season League Two select eleven whilst playing for Lincoln City.

Leicester City

McAuley signed for Leicester City on 5th June 2006, after reaching the end of his contract at Lincoln, signing a three-year deal. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/5048224.stm McAuley signs for Leicester City] , BBC Sport 2006-06-05. Retrieved on 2007-09-01] He scored his first senior goal for Leicester on January 17 in a 4-3 defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/6258849.stm Fulham 4-3 Leicester] , BBC Sport 2007-01-17. Retrieved on 2007-09-01] and was also on the scoresheet against Ipswich Town on February 10, heading in both as Leicester won 2-0. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/6327229.stm Ipswich 0-2 Leicester] , BBC Sport 2007-02-10. Retrieved on 2007-09-01]

In the 2007/08 season, McAuley was appointed captain in a 0-0 draw against fc|Wolves on October 2 2007, following Stephen Clemence's injury. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7019676.stm Leicester 0-0 Wolves] , BBC Sport 2007-10-02. Retrieved on 2007-10-04.] He scored his fourth goal on 5 October against Sheffield Wednesday, helping Leicester earn their second only league win of the season, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7019695.stm Sheff Wed 0-2 Leicester] , BBC Sport 2007-10-06. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.] and was then named in the Championship Team of the Week three days later. [ [http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/b6/99/0,,10794~104886,00.pdf Team of the Week] , Football League 2007-10-08. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.] McAuley is one of three players (DJ Campbell & Carl Cort) who netted in three goals against fc|Chelsea in a Carling Cup match on October 31 at Stamford Bridge, but could not prevent his side from losing 4-3.cite news
title = Chelsea 4-3 Leicester
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/7065182.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-10-31
accessdate = 2007-11-01]

In January 2008, fc|Ipswich Town manager Jim Magilton made two bids to sign McAuley, but both of these were turned down, and McAuley signed a new three-and-a-half year contract with Leicester.cite news
title = McAuley set for new deal
url = http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11712_3092976,00.html
publisher = Sky Sports
date = 2008-01-30
accessdate = 2008-02-02] cite news
title = McAuley Pens New Deal
url = http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~1236516,00.html
publisher = Leicester City
date = 2008-02-08
accessdate = 2008-02-09]

Ipswich Town

McAuley signed for Ipswich Town on 18 June, 2008 and was named captain for the 08/09 season.cite news| title = Ipswich Capture Defender McAuley| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/7460593.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2008-06-18| accessdate = 2008-06-18]

International

McAuley has been capped ten times for Northern Ireland. His first and only international appearance in the B team was a 2-1 defeat to Scotland B in May 2003. He received his first cap against Germany as his team lost 4-1 in a friendly match on 4 June 2005.cite news
title = Northern Ireland 1-4 Germany
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4607207.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2005-06-11
accessdate = 2007-11-22]

McAuley contemplated international retirement after being left out of the squad to face Sweden on 17 October, 2007. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7026475.stm McAuley ponders N Ireland future] , BBC Sport 2007-10-03. Retrieved on 2007-10-04.] But on 9 October, Nigel Worthington recalled him to the squad. [ [http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~1131147,00.html McAuley Wins Call-Up] , Leicester City 2007-10-09. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.] McAuley made his comeback against Sweden on October 17, drawing 1-1. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7049815.stm Sweden 1-1 Northern Ireland] , BBC Sport 2007-10-17. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.] 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.cite news
title = Northern Ireland 2-1 Denmark
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7100041.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-11-17
accessdate = 2007-11-18] 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.cite news
title = Spain 1-0 Northern Ireland
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7105165.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-11-21
accessdate = 2007-11-22]

Career honours/achievements

;Coleraine
*Winner
**Irish Cup: 2003

References

External links

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