Gary Mulligan

Gary Mulligan

Personal information
Full name	Gary Thomas Mulligan [1]
Date of birth	(1985-04-23) 23 April 1985 (age 39) [2]
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland [2]
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [3]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Harborough Town
Youth career
	Belvedere
	2001–2004Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2005	Wolverhampton Wanderers	1	(0)
2004	→ Rushden & Diamonds (loan)	13	(3)
2005–2006	Sheffield United	0	(0)
2005	→ Port Vale (loan)	10	(1)
2005	→ Gillingham (loan)	13	(1)
2006–2009	Gillingham	94	(14)
2009–2010	Northampton Town	9	(0)
2010–2012	Gateshead	45	(7)
2012–2014	Brackley Town	72	(6)
2014–2015	Dunstable Town	16	(2)
2015–2018	Kettering Town	132	(4)
2018–2022	Corby Town	69	(2)
2022–	Harborough Town [C]	46	(0)
International career
	Republic of Ireland U21
Managerial career
2019–2020	Corby Town (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:29, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

Gary Thomas Mulligan (born 23 April 1985) is an Irish footballer who plays as a forward for Southern League Premier Division Central club Harborough 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 appearance for the "Blades" and instead was loaned out to Port Vale and Gillingham. In 2006, he transferred to Gillingham permanently, 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, and helped Kettering to win the Southern League Division One Central title in 2014–15 and then successive Hillier Cup titles in 2017 and 2018. He signed with Corby Town in June 2018 and served as joint-caretaker manager the following year. He signed with Harborough Town in March 2022 and helped the club to win the United Counties League Premier Division South title at the end of the 2021–22 season.

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 of that year. ^[4] 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 13 games for Rushden & Diamonds but was released by his parent club at the end of the season. ^[5]

Sheffield United

Mulligan was signed by Sheffield United in July 2005. ^[6] 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, ^[7] which was extended by four weeks in October, ^[8] and again in November, scoring once (against Walsall ^[9] ) 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. ^[10] Following his recovery he was back in the Gills' first-team ^[11] 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. ^[12]

His hard-working style had impressed Gillingham manager Ronnie Jepson ^[13] and on 12 May 2006 he signed for Gillingham permanently. ^[14] 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. ^[15] He admitted he considered switching to another club, though eventually he decided to stick with the Kent club, ^[16] agreeing a one-year deal in June 2008. ^{[17] [18]} He kicked off the 2008–09 season with a goal against AFC Bournemouth, though did not believe this would mean a return in the first XI. ^[19] Indeed, he scored just two goals in 31 games over the rest of the season, and he was released in the summer. ^[20]

Northampton Town

He joined Northampton Town on a one-year deal in July 2009. ^[21]

"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. ^[22]

He was released by the club in May 2010, along with five other players. ^[23]

Non-League

In August 2010, Mulligan joined Gateshead on an initial five-month deal, ^[24] making his debut against Kettering Town on 14 August. ^[25] Mulligan scored his first goal for Gateshead on 21 August, away at Forest Green Rovers. ^[26] On 23 December 2010, Gateshead extended Mulligan's contract until the end of the season. ^[27] It was announced on 20 December 2011 that Mulligan would be released on 1 January 2012, at the end of his contract. ^[28]

In February 2012, Mulligan joined Brackley Town. ^[29] He made his debut on 21 February as a late substitute in a 2–1 win against Barwell. ^[30] 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. ^[31] He made 31 appearances in the 2013–14 campaign.

In February 2015 he signed with Southern League club Kettering Town after moving from Dunstable Town. ^[32] The "Poppies" won promotion as champions of Division One Central in 2014–15 and finished sixth and then ninth in the Premier Division in 2015–16, with Mulligan scoring three goals from 45 matches in the latter campaign. Kettering again finished sixth in the 2016–17 season as Mulligan featured 47 times, including an appearance in the final of the Hillier Cup where Kettering beat Corby Town after a penalty shoot-out. ^[33] He made 49 appearances across the 2017–18 campaign as Marcus Law led the side to a fourth-place finish and defeat in the play-off semi-finals to Slough Town. ^[34] They also retained the Hillier Cup after beating Brackley Town 2–1 in the final. ^[35]

On 28 June 2018, Mulligan signed with Southern League Division One Central side Corby Town and was immediately named club captain by manager Steven Kinniburgh, who was a former Kettering teammate. ^[36] He made 43 appearances throughout the 2018–19 season, helping the "Steelmen" to a third-place finish and a place in the play-offs. ^[37] Corby went on to reach the play-off final but were beaten 4–3 by Bromsgrove Sporting after extra time. ^[38] He and Ash Robinson stepped up to the post of joint-caretaker managers following Kinniburgh's resignation in July 2019. ^[39] They stayed in the role until the appointment of Mark Peters on 28 February, at which point Mulligan remained in a playing capacity. ^[40] He made 28 appearances in the 2019–20 season, which was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, and again he confirmed he would be staying on at the club in June. ^[41] He featured eleven times in the 2020–21 season, which was also curtailed early due to the ongoing pandemic. ^[42]

On 7 March 2022, Mulligan joined United Counties League Premier Division South side Harborough Town. ^[43] He helped the "Bees" to win the United Counties League Premier Division South title at the end of the 2021–22 season. ^[44] He featured 36 times in the 2022–23 campaign as the club posted an eighth-place finish in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands. ^[45] He played 23 games in the 2023–24 season, including the play-off semi-final defeat to Hinckley Leicester Road. ^[45]

Personal life

After leaving full-time professional football, Mulligan worked as a teacher at Kettering Buccleuch Academy. ^[46]

Career statistics

As of match played 30 April 2024

Club	Season	Division	League [A]		FA Cup		League Cup		Other [B]		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Wolverhampton Wanderers	2004–05 [47]	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Rushden & Diamonds (loan)	2004–05 [47]	League Two	13	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	3
Sheffield United	2005–06 [48]	Championship	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	0
Port Vale (loan)	2005–06 [48]	League One	10	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	12	1
Gillingham (loan)	2005–06 [48]	League One	13	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	1
Gillingham	2006–07 [49]	League One	38	7	2	1	1	0	1	1	42	9
	2007–08 [50]	League One	30	5	1	0	1	0	2	0	34	5
	2008–09 [51]	League Two	26	2	4	0	1	0	0	0	31	2
	Total		107	15	7	1	3	0	3	1	120	17
Northampton Town	2009–10 [52]	League Two	9	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	12	0
Gateshead	2010–11 [2]	Conference National	31	7	2	0	0	0	2	0	35	7
	2011–12 [2]	Conference National	14	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	15	0
	Total		45	7	2	0	0	0	3	0	50	7
Brackley Town	2011–12 [53]	Southern League Premier Division	12	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	2
	2012–13 [2]	Conference North	28	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	29	4
	2013–14 [2]	Conference North	26	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	31	0
	2014–15 [2]	Conference North	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	Total		72	6	5	0	0	0	1	0	78	6
Dunstable Town	2014–15 [37]	Southern League Premier Division	16	2	3	0	0	0	1	0	20	2
Kettering Town	2014–15 [37]	Southern League Division One Central	13	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	14	1
	2015–16 [37]	Southern League Premier Division	39	2	3	0	0	0	3	1	45	3
	2016–17 [37]	Southern League Premier Division	40	0	4	0	0	0	3	0	47	0
	2017–18 [37]	Southern League Premier Division	40	1	5	0	0	0	4	0	49	1
	Total		132	4	12	0	0	0	11	1	155	5
Corby Town	2018–19 [37]	Southern League Division One Central	37	2	5	0	0	0	3	0	45	2
	2019–20 [37]	Southern League Division One Central	25	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	28	0
	2020–21 [37]	Southern League Division One Central	7	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	11	0
	Total		69	2	7	0	1	0	7	0	84	2
Harborough Town [C]	2022–23 [45]	Northern Premier League Division One Midlands	28	0	4	0	0	0	2	0	36	0
	2023–24 [45]	Northern Premier League Division One Midlands	18	0	2	0	0	0	3	0	23	0
Career totals			517	40	43	1	6	0	35	2	603	43

A.  ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the English Football League and Conference.

B.  ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the FA Trophy, Football League Trophy, play-offs and Hillier Cup.

C.  ^ Statistics for the 2021–22 season not recorded.

Honours

Brackley Town

• Southern League: 2011–12

Kettering Town

• Southern League Division One Central: 2014–15
• Hillier Cup: 2017 & 2018 ^{[33] [35]}

Harborough Town

• United Counties League Premier Division South: 2021–22 ^[44]

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. Gary Mulligan at Soccerway
3. "FootballSquads – Port Vale – 2005/06". footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
4. "Rushden snap up Mulligan on loan". BBC Sport. 13 October 2004. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
5. "Striker Mulligan leaves Molineux". BBC Sport. 11 May 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
6. "Blades recruit Nix and Mulligan". BBC Sport. 3 July 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
7. "Vale nab Blades striker on loan". BBC Sport. 22 September 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
8. "Mulligan gets Vale loan extension". BBC Sport. 24 October 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
9. "Port Vale 3-2 Walsall". BBC. 1 October 2005. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
10. "Gills rocked by Mulligan injury". BBC Sport. 21 February 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
11. "Blades striker is back with Gills". BBC Sport. 16 March 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
12. "Mulligan goal pleases boss Jepson". BBC Sport. 18 October 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
13. "Mulligan display delights Jepson". BBC Sport. 12 February 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
14. "Mulligan eyeing a move to Gills". BBC Sport. 11 April 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
15. "Mulligan sets Gillingham target". BBC Sport. 4 September 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
16. "Mulligan considered other offers". BBC Sport. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
17. "Mulligan pens new Gillingham deal". BBC Sport. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
18. "MULLIGAN SIGNS NEW CONTRACT". gillinghamfootballclub.com. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
19. "Mulligan not confident of start". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
20. "Promoted Gillingham let eight go". BBC Sport. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
21. "Mulligan makes move to Cobblers". BBC Sport. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
22. "Cobblers Make Mulligan Move". ntfc.co.uk. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 12 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
23. "Northampton Town release midfielder Luke Guttridge". BBC Sport. 12 May 2010.
24. "Gateshead sign Irish striker Mulligan". Gateshead FC. 6 August 2010. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
25. "Gateshead 0–0 Kettering Town". Gateshead FC. 15 August 2010. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
26. "Forest Green Rovers 1–1 Gateshead". Gateshead FC. 22 August 2010. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
27. "Gateshead extend Mulligan contract". Gateshead FC. 23 December 2010. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
28. "Gateshead release Nix, Mulligan & Moyes". Gateshead FC. 20 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
29. "Experienced Duo Join Brackley". Pitchero Non-League. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
30. "Six points help Saints to hold on to top spot". buckinghamtoday.co.uk. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
31. "Brackley Town 0–1 FC Halifax Town". bluesqnorth.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
32. "Poppies snap up striker Mulligan". Northamptonshire Telegraph. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
33. "MIDWEEK SPORT – Poppies on the spot to win Hillier Cup while Diamonds are beaten at home". Northamptonshire Telegraph. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
34. "Slough Town FC". sloughtownfc.net. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
35. Association, The Football. "Kettering Town Retain Hillier Senior Cup". northamptonshirefa.com. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
36. Dunham, Jon (28 June 2018). "Mulligan ready for a new challenge with Corby". Northamptonshire Telegraph. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
37. "Gary Mulligan Profile | Aylesbury United FC". aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
38. "Bromsgrove Sporting 4 vs. 3 Corby Town FC – 6 May 2019 – Corby Town First Team – Corby Town FC". corbytown.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
39. Dunham, Jon (8 July 2019). "Mulligan and co keen to seize 'good opportunity' at Corby". Northamptonshire Telegraph. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
40. Dunham, Jon (28 February 2020). "Robinson leaves Corby as Peters returns as new boss". Northamptonshire Telegraph. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
41. Dunham, Jon (25 June 2020). "Mulligan and Sandy staying at Corby". Northamptonshire Telegraph. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
42. "FA Update on Steps 3-6". 24 February 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
43. "New Signing". Harborough Town FC. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
44. Dunham, Jon (5 May 2022). "Harborough boss Mitch reflects on a memorable treble". Harborough Mail. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
45. "Harborough Town | Appearances | Gary Mulligan | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
46. Berry, Paul (22 February 2024). "Remembered in a chippy! Former Wolves man Gary Mulligan still pulling the boots on". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
47. "Games played by Gary Mulligan in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
48. "Games played by Gary Mulligan in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
49. "Games played by Gary Mulligan in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
50. "Games played by Gary Mulligan in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
51. "Games played by Gary Mulligan in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
52. "Games played by Gary Mulligan in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
53. 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.