Top 20 Players : 16th - Gareth McAuley
By theimps.tk
November 23 2009
Gareth McAuley was one of a number of players that Keith Alexander extracted from the Irish Leagues and after two years at Sincil Bank, including singly handedly getting City into the 2005 Playoff Final, he moved on to be a consistent performer in the Championship. He went on to become a full Northern Ireland international whilst at Sincil Bank.
GARETH MCAULEY (2004-2006)
SIGNED FROM COLERAINE
Gareth McAuley was Keith Alexander's first successful foray into the Irish League and became a regular first team player from the moment he arrived, making his debut in City's opening day victory at Shrewsbury in the 2004/5 season. At 6 foot 4, McAuley didn't look out of place in a defence that included 6'5 Jamie McCombe and 6'7 Ben Futcher and much like his two fellow defenders, McAuley developed a reputation for scoring headers.
His first goal was the opener in a 2-2 draw at Mansfield before a brace (a very rare feat for a defender) against Leyton Orient couldn't help the Imps record a win as Orient won 4-3, that despite City having the lead three times.
McAuley continued to be a consistent, if unspectacular performer in the defence, his versitility proving an asset as he was a near ever present for the Imps throughout the season. His finest games as an Imps player came in the Playoffs against Macclesfield Town. McAuley scored early in both legs, both from headers, to secure City a second trip to Cardiff, winning 2-1 on aggregate. City went onto lose that final.
However, the summer was a good time for McAuley as he made his debut for Northern Ireland in a game against Germany.
The following season saw City struggle against the drop for most of the season and although he was again a regular starter for City, he wasn't really getting on the scoresheet and he was part of a defence that were conceding goals for fun, including being part of a defence that conceded a 4-1 hammering at Cheltenham. It was at this point that everything changed.
The defence suddenly closed itself up and despite Paul Morgan being rated as City's best defender, it was the defender's absense due to injuries and suspensions that often saw the best defensive displays. McAuley excelled in a central defence partnership with McCombe and both started winning major plaudits.
McAuley again ended the season strong, scoring two goals in the final two League games to secure City an unlikely Playoff place. The two games against Grimsby in the semi finals proved to be his last in a Lincoln shirt.
He left to go to Leicester City, playing for them for two years and now plays for Ipswich Town.
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Quote:Normanstanley
I would have him in the top 5, personally.
Yep, one of the best players Ive seen at the Bank.
Isnt it sickening that out of Macauley, McCombe and Fletcher (all now Championship players), we hardly received a fee for any of them?
Excellent articles Nathan, we were so unlucky not to go up in those years, and you have to say that if we hadn't always lost several key players at the end of every season, usually for no fee, we surely would have secured automatic promotion. I actually think in terms of talent, we have a better team now, but in terms of an actual TEAM who will run through brick walls for the club, as well as entertain the fans, the current lot aren't a patch on those Play-Off years.
Yeo didn't score in the League between September 21st - May 3rd, Cropper didn't score after October 26th and Ward scored twice before being dropped.
If we'd have kept the 04/5 squad for the 05/6 season then we would have walked this League.
I think every footballer will be after McCombe's agent for getting that clause!!