Gary Mulligan

Gary Mulligan
Personal information
Full nameGary Thomas Mulligan[1]
Date of birth23 April 1985
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Kettering Town
Youth career
Belvedere
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2004–2005Wolverhampton Wanderers1(0)
2004Rushden & Diamonds (loan)13(3)
2005–2006Sheffield United0(0)
2005Port Vale (loan)10(1)
2005Gillingham (loan)13(1)
2006–2009Gillingham94(14)
2009–2010Northampton Town9(0)
2010–2012Gateshead45(7)
2012–2014Brackley Town68(6)
2014–2015Dunstable Town
2015–Kettering Town
National team
Republic of Ireland under-21s
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 3 May 2014 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Gary Thomas Mulligan (born 23 April 1985) is an Irish footballer who plays as a forward for Southern Football League club Kettering Town.

Coming through the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy in 2004, and played on loan at Rushden & Diamonds, before he joined Sheffield United the following year. He did not make a first team appearancee for the "Blades", and instead was loaned out to Port Vale and Gillingham. In 2006 he transferred to Gillingham on a permanent basis, where he remained for three years before joining Northampton Town. In 2010 he joined non-league Gateshead. He signed with Brackley Town in February 2012, and helped the club to the Southern League title in 2011–12. In 2015 he signed for Kettering Town via Dunstable Town.

Career

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Born in Dublin, Mulligan played his youth football at Belvedere before moving on to Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom he made only one appearance, as an 82nd minute substitute in the 1–1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor on 21 August 2004. Wolves sent him on loan to Rushden & Diamonds in October that year.[2] Mulligan made his debut for Diamonds, again as a substitute, in the 1–0 home defeat to Chester City, and made his first start, and scored his first goal, in their next match, a 1–1 draw away to Wycombe Wanderers. He scored three goals in twelve games for Rushden & Diamonds, but was released by his parent club at the end of the season.[3]

Sheffield United

Mulligan was signed by Sheffield United in July 2005.[4] He only made two appearances for them in the League Cup as chances at Bramall Lane were limited. In the 2005–06 season he went on loan to Port Vale for a month,[5] which was extended by four weeks in October,[6] and again in November, scoring once in twelve games.

Gillingham

In January he joined Vale's League One rivals Gillingham. He spent a month on the sidelines with ligament damage, which at first was feared to be a broken leg.[7] Following his recovery he was back in the Gills' first team[8] and remained so until the end of the season. He scored one goal in thirteen appearances for the "Gills".

"The only thing missing from his game is goals and hopefully they will come."
Gillingham boss Ronnie Jepson on Mulligan.[9]

His hard-working style had impressed Gillingham manager Ronnie Jepson[10] and on 12 May 2006 he signed for Gillingham on a permanent basis.[11] With 42 games to his credit in 2006–07, he was third in the club's player of the year voting behind Andrew Crofts and Mark Bentley. Following Mark Stimson's appointment in November 2007, Mulligan dropped out of first team plans as the Gills sunk to relegation in 2007–08. His five goals fell way short of the target of 15–20 he had set himself.[12] He admitted he considered switching to another club, though eventually he decided to stick with the Kent club,[13] agreeing a one-year deal in June 2008.[14][15] He kicked off the 2008–09 season with a goal against Bournemouth, though did not believe this would mean a return in the first 11.[16] Indeed he scored just two goals in 31 games over the rest of the season, and he was released in the summer.[17]

Northampton Town

He joined Northampton Town on a one-year deal in July 2009.[18]

"He has a first class attitude...a good pedigree...[and is] a team player, he works his socks off for the benefit of the team and he can stretch defences with his work rate and his ability to run the channels and create space and opportunities for others."
Northampton Town boss Stuart Gray on Mulligan.[19]

He was released by the club in May 2010, along with five other players.[20]

Gateshead

In August 2010, Mulligan joined Gateshead on an initial five-month deal,[21] making his debut against Kettering Town on 14 August.[22] Mulligan scored his first goal for Gateshead on 21 August, away at Forest Green Rovers.[23] On 23 December 2010, Gateshead extended Mulligan's contract until the end of the season.[24] It was announced on 20 December 2011 that Mulligan would be released on 1 January 2012, at the end of his contract.[25]

Brackley Town

In February 2012, Mulligan joined Brackley Town.[26] He made his debut on 21 February as a late substitute in a 2–1 win against Barwell.[27] He played 12 games as the "Saints" won promotion was champions of the Southern League title in 2011–12. He helped the club to the Conference North play-off final at the end of the 2012–13 season, where they were beaten 1–0 by F.C. Halifax Town.[28] He made 31 appearances in the 2013–14 campaign.

Dunstable to Kettering

In February 2015 he signed with Southern Football League club Kettering Town after moving from Dunstable Town.[29]

Career statistics

As of 12 May 2013.
Club Season Division League[A] FA Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers2004–05[30]Championship1000000010
Rushden & Diamonds (loan)2004–05[30]League Two133000000133
Sheffield United2005–06[31]Championship0000200020
Port Vale (loan)2005–06[32]League One101100010121
Gillingham (loan)2005–06[33]131000000131
Gillingham2006–07[34]387211011429
2007–08[35]305101020345
2008–09[36]League Two262401000312
Total 1071571303112017
Northampton Town2009–10[37]League Two90000030120
Gateshead2010–11[38]Conference National317200020357
2011–12[39]140000010150
Total 457200030507
Brackley Town2011–12[40]Southern League122000000122
2012–13[41]Conference North274000010284
2013–14[41]260500000310
Total 686500010746
Career totals 250321515011128134
A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League and Football Conference.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the FA Trophy and Football League Trophy.

Honours

with Brackley Town

References

  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 296. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. "Rushden snap up Mulligan on loan". BBC Sport. 13 October 2004. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  3. "Striker Mulligan leaves Molineux". BBC Sport. 11 May 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  4. "Blades recruit Nix and Mulligan". BBC Sport. 3 July 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  5. "Vale nab Blades striker on loan". BBC Sport. 22 September 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  6. "Mulligan gets Vale loan extension". BBC Sport. 24 October 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  7. "Gills rocked by Mulligan injury". BBC Sport. 21 February 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  8. "Blades striker is back with Gills". BBC Sport. 16 March 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  9. "Mulligan goal pleases boss Jepson". BBC Sport. 18 October 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  10. "Mulligan display delights Jepson". BBC Sport. 12 February 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  11. "Mulligan eyeing a move to Gills". BBC Sport. 11 April 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  12. "Mulligan sets Gillingham target". BBC Sport. 4 September 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  13. "Mulligan considered other offers". BBC Sport. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  14. "Mulligan pens new Gillingham deal". BBC Sport. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  15. "MULLIGAN SIGNS NEW CONTRACT". gillinghamfootballclub.com. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  16. "Mulligan not confident of start". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  17. "Promoted Gillingham let eight go". BBC Sport. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  18. "Mulligan makes move to Cobblers". BBC Sport. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  19. "Cobblers Make Mulligan Move". ntfc.co.uk. 22 Jul 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  20. "Northampton Town release midfielder Luke Guttridge". BBC Sport. 12 May 2010.
  21. "Gateshead sign Irish striker Mulligan". Gateshead FC. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  22. "Gateshead 0–0 Kettering Town". Gateshead FC. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  23. "Forest Green Rovers 1–1 Gateshead". Gateshead FC. 22 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  24. "Gateshead extend Mulligan contract". Gateshead FC. 23 December 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  25. "Gateshead release Nix, Mulligan & Moyes". Gateshead FC. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  26. "Experienced Duo Join Brackley". Pitchero Non-League. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  27. "Six points help Saints to hold on to top spot". buckinghamtoday.co.uk. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  28. "Brackley Town 0–1 FC Halifax Town". bluesqnorth.com. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  29. "Poppies snap up striker Mulligan". Northamptonshire Telegraph. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  30. 30.0 30.1 "Wolves 2004/05 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  31. "Sheff Utd 2005/06 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  32. "Port Vale 2005/06 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  33. "Gillingham 2005/06 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  34. "Gillingham 2006/07 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  35. "Gillingham 2007/08 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  36. "Gillingham 2008/09 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  37. "Northampton 2009/10 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  38. Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Gateshead 2010/11 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
    "FA Cup – fourth qualifying round results and scorers". BBC Sport. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
    "Gateshead 2 Southport 2". The Journal. 15 December 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  39. Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Gateshead 2011/12 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
    "Gateshead 3–2 Kettering Town". Gateshead FC. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  40. Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Six points help Saints to hold on to top spot". buckinghamtoday.co.uk. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "Report: Hitchin Town 2 Brackley Town 1". thecomet.net. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "Team vs Cambridge City...". Brackley Town FC (via Twitter). 3 March 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "Match Details – Bashley 1–1 Brackley Town – ESPD – 10th March 2012". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "Brackley stretch lead at top of Premiership". buckinghamtoday.co.uk. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "BRACKLEY TOWN 5 1 CHIPPENHAM TOWN". Chippenham Town FC. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "Saints still top despite defeat at Stourbridge". buckinghamtoday.co.uk. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "Brackley Town 3 Hemel Hempstead Town 0". Hemel Hempstead Town FC. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "Banbury United 0 Brackley Town 2". Banbury United FC. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "Highriding Saints inch closer to Premier title". buckinghamtoday.co.uk. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "Jubilant Brackley capture league crown". buckinghamtoday.co.uk. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
    "Saints wave white flag as champions run riot". stalbansreview.co.uk. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  41. 41.0 41.1 "G. Mulligan". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 September 2012.

External links