Martin McGaughey
Encyclopedia
Martin McGaughey is a retired Northern Irish
footballer who played as a striker.
Having spent most of his career at Linfield
, he was noted for his scoring ability, being nicknamed 'Buckets'.
in 1977, McGaughey made his first team debuts midway through 1980–81, finishing his debut season with 14 goals in all competitions, including a brace in the County Antrim Shield
final against Glentoran FC
(4–1).
In 1984–85, he finished second in the European Golden Shoe race, to F.C. Porto's Fernando Gomes, scoring 34 league
goals in 26 matches (56 overall), and failing to add more as his season was cut short due to a severe knee
injury. In the club's European Cup
campaign, McGaughey helped it reach the second round, where he scored twice in a 3–3 home draw to Panathinaikos FC
(in a valliant 4–5 aggregate exit). In that season, he was also named the Ulster Footballer of the Year
.
Although he received a lot of interest from 'larger' clubs (notably England
's Barnsley
), McGaughey never left the country, and finished his career with a season at Ards FC
, retiring in 1994 due to recurrent physical problems. With Linfield, he netted 317 official goals, in 533 matches, also being team and league's top scorer in 1983–84 (15 goals), 1987–88 (18) and 1989–90 (19), helping the club to six national championships and one domestic cup
.
cap in 1984, in a friendly match with Israel
, replacing legendary Norman Whiteside
.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
footballer who played as a striker.
Having spent most of his career at Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
, he was noted for his scoring ability, being nicknamed 'Buckets'.
Club career
Having signed as a youth with Linfield F.C.Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
in 1977, McGaughey made his first team debuts midway through 1980–81, finishing his debut season with 14 goals in all competitions, including a brace in the County Antrim Shield
County Antrim Shield
The County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
final against Glentoran FC
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
(4–1).
In 1984–85, he finished second in the European Golden Shoe race, to F.C. Porto's Fernando Gomes, scoring 34 league
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
goals in 26 matches (56 overall), and failing to add more as his season was cut short due to a severe knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury. In the club's European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
campaign, McGaughey helped it reach the second round, where he scored twice in a 3–3 home draw to Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
(in a valliant 4–5 aggregate exit). In that season, he was also named the Ulster Footballer of the Year
Ulster Footballer of the Year
The Ulster Footballer of the Year is the older of two association football player of the year awards in Northern Ireland. It is awarded by Castlereagh Glentoran Supporters' Club to the player who is adjudged by an independent committee to have been the best of the season in the IFA Premiership...
.
Although he received a lot of interest from 'larger' clubs (notably England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
), McGaughey never left the country, and finished his career with a season at Ards FC
Ards F.C.
Ards F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1900, is from Newtownards, but plays its home matches at Dixon Park in Ballyclare, which it shares with Ballyclare Comrades...
, retiring in 1994 due to recurrent physical problems. With Linfield, he netted 317 official goals, in 533 matches, also being team and league's top scorer in 1983–84 (15 goals), 1987–88 (18) and 1989–90 (19), helping the club to six national championships and one domestic cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
.
International career
McGaughey gained one internationalNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
cap in 1984, in a friendly match with Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
, replacing legendary Norman Whiteside
Norman Whiteside
Norman Whiteside is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played in two World Cups.He appeared for Manchester United and Everton, before his career was ended by injury at the age of 26. He won the FA Cup twice during his time playing for Manchester United, in 1983 and 1985...
.
External links
- NIFG profile and bio
- Northern Ireland - List of Topscorers, at RSSSFRec.Sport.Soccer Statistics FoundationThe Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation is an international amateur organization dedicated to collecting statistics about association football...