Shane McFaul

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Shane McFaul
Personal information
Full nameShane McFaul
Date of birth (1986-05-23) 23 May 1986
Place of birthDublin, Republic of Ireland
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current clubFree agent
Youth career
Cherry Orchard
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2005Notts County45(0)
2006Virginia Beach15(0)
2007UCD24(1)
2008Brighton & Hove Albion1(0)
2008UCD15(0)
2009–2010Sporting Fingal65(1)
2011St Patrick's Athletic36(0)
2012FC Haka32(0)
2013St Patrick's Athletic24(1)
National team
2007Republic of Ireland U211(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Shane McFaul, born in Dublin on 23 May 1986, is an Irish footballer currently in his second spell at his boyhood club, St Patrick's Athletic in the Airtricity League.

During his career, he has also played for FC Haka, Sporting Fingal, Virginia Beach Mariners, UCD, Notts County F.C and Brighton.

Shane started out his career with local side C.A.R.C FC before moving on to the notorious schoolboy club Cherry Orchard. He played there in a successful team with the likes of Stephen Quinn, Gary Dicker, Paul Byrne and Derek Doyle.

In 2002 Shane signed a 4-year professional contract with League One side Notts County. After only a short few months at Meadow Lane Shane was given the number 16 squad number as a then 16-year old. He made numerous appearances as an unused substitute during that season. It was the 2003/2004 season where he really came to prominence. Making his debut at 17 as a second half replacement against Swindon Town, filling in at right back. Although losing 4–1 McFaul made a huge impression with his passing ability, energy and drive. More so in fact that he earned a starting spot 2 days later against Peterborough United.

McFaul earned rave reviews after his performance and left the field to a standing ovation. His creativity on the ball and work rate caught the eye and he went on to make 8 more appearances that season. 2004/2005 saw McFaul make 37 first team appearances, filling in for 20 games at right back although performing well it was at his preferred central midfield role where he excelled. 2005/2006 saw McFaul on the way out of Meadow Lane as new manager Guðjón Þórðarson restricted his chances in the first team.

A brief stint at Virginia Beach Mariners in 2006 followed, where he was recommended by former Tottenham Hotspur star Darren Caskey. Unfortunately, the Virginia Beach Mariners went defunct so McFauls 2-year deal was retracted.

The 2007 season saw McFaul linking up with former Cherry Orchard team mates at UCD in the Eircom Premier League. It was here he shone with fellow under 21 international Ronan Finn in the centre of the park. The highlights of the season was an outstanding performance live on television against Shamrock Rovers, earning not only the Man of the Match award but a call up to the Irish Under 21s squad. A low was missing out on a FAI Cup Semi-final against Longford Town due to ankle ligament damage.

In the close season McFaul had successful trials at Championship side Scunthorpe United and League One side Brighton.

Shane agreed to join Brighton on a free transfer until the end of the 2007/08 season on 11 January 2008.[1]

Shane made his Brighton debut coming on as a late substitute during the 3–0 home victory over Crewe.

After 6 months of a lack of opportunities and 1 first team appearance and 6 unused substitute appearances McFaul was released on 6 May 2008[2]

Shane returned to Ireland and re-signed for UCD on 15 May 2008.[3]

For the 2009 season McFaul signed with the newly founded but exciting project Sporting Fingal under the stewardship of former Irish International Liam Buckley.

Fingal achieved promotion to the Premier Division at the end of 2009 and better was to come as Fingal and McFaul won the FAI Cup when beating Sligo Rovers 2–1 at Tallaght Stadium.[4] McFaul was later named Man of the Match in the F.A.I Cup Final Vs Sligo Rovers and also the honour of being named Sporting Fingal Player of the Year 2009 . #

In the 2010 season his performances for Fingal attracted the interest of Scottish giants Celtic FC. http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/celtic-track-sporting-fingal-pair-27948702.html

Shane made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut in a friendly game against Germany on 21 August 2007. He was also an unused sub in the European Under-21 Football Championship Qualifying games against Portugal and England.

McFaul signed for the club he supported as a boy, St.Patrick's Athletic in February 2011 after Sporting Fingal went out of business. McFaul won the St.Patrick's Athletic Supporters Club Player of the Month for July 2011 after his brilliant performances.

In December 2011, McFaul signed for Finnish club FC Haka[5] McFaul had a good season personally, but unfortunately this was not the case for Haka as they were relegated.

McFaul returned to St Patrick's Athletic on 20 November 2012, linking up with his former Sporting Fingal manager Liam Buckley. He made his comeback to the Saints in a 0–0 draw with Glentoran live on Setanta Sports. On the opening day of the season at home to Drogheda United, McFaul came from the bench in the 58th minute and it took him just 7 minutes to end a goal drought that went back three years to win the game 1–0 for Pats. The season ended with St Patricks Athletic winning the Airtricty League title.

[6]


Honours

Club

Sporting Fingal

St Patrick's Athletic

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Brighton sign Irish prospect McFaul". 1 November 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008. 
  2. ↑ McFaul and Rents released The Argus, 6 May 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2008
  3. ↑ Shane McFaul re-signs for UCD ucdsoccer.com, 14 May 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2008
  4. ↑ Fingal win FAI Cup
  5. ↑ Finnish challenge awaits McFaul
  6. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19061/2/

External links


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