Nicky Maynard

Nicky Maynard

Maynard warming up for West Ham United, February 2012
Personal information
Full name Nicholas David Maynard[1]
Date of birth (1986-12-11) 11 December 1986[1]
Place of birth Winsford, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
Milton Keynes Dons
Number 28
Youth career
1994 Arsenal
1994–2005 Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Crewe Alexandra 59 (32)
2006Witton Albion (loan) ? (?)
2008–2012 Bristol City 124 (45)
2012 West Ham United 14 (2)
2012–2015 Cardiff City 22 (2)
2014Wigan Athletic (loan) 16 (4)
2015– Milton Keynes Dons 48 (6)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:55, 19 October 2016.


Nicholas David "Nicky" Maynard (born 11 December 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for League One side Milton Keynes Dons.

Career

Born in Winsford, Cheshire, Maynard spent a year as a schoolboy with Arsenal.[2]

Crewe Alexandra

He then joined Crewe Alexandra's academy, famous for producing players such as Danny Murphy, Rob Hulse and Dean Ashton, at the age of seven.[3] He then represented Crewe at every age group level and scored 27 goals in one season at Under–18s level.[3] As a reward for his form in the youth team, Maynard was offered his first professional contract of his career in the summer of 2005.[4]

During the 2005–06 season, Maynard was loaned out to Witton Albion in January 2006. Maynard made a big impression at the non-league side, helping them to their most successful run of the season in the Northern Premier League. After returning to Crewe, Maynard continued to show fine form in the reserves side; before the end of the season, he made his Crewe début as a substitute for Michael Higdon in a 4–2 win over Millwall. He scored with his first touch in professional football, in front of scouts representing 20 different clubs,[5] after Michael O'Connor's shot hit the post; Eddie Johnson, Luke Varney and Steve Jones scored the other Crewe goals.

With players such as Steve Jones leaving relegated Crewe (for Championship side Burnley),[6] it seemed likely that Maynard would become a regular starter for Crewe during the 2006–07 season, However, new signings such as Ryan Lowe and the return of former player Rodney Jack gave Maynard competition for a place in the first eleven. Maynard performed well in his second year of professional football, forming a productive goal-scoring partnership with Varney, with a total of 33 League One goals between them. During his first full season, Maynard also picked up the "Player of the Month" award for September.[7]

With Luke Varney a £2m transfer to Charlton Athletic, Maynard was seen as Crewe's most likely goalscoring threat for the 2007-2008 season. But his second full season was brought to a standstill for four months after he suffered a bone fracture of his fibula and also damaged his ankle ligaments during the club's season opener against Brighton and Hove Albion.[8] In an interview with FourFourTwo magazine, Maynard admitted that he had "broke down a few times" during his four months of rehabilitation,[9] although he would later recover and return to fitness. He was a non-used substitute in an away match against Nottingham Forest before playing the second 45 minutes of the FA cup tie versus Oldham Athletic in December.

Maynard initially struggled to score upon his return to the first team, with only two goals scored in his first two months back from injury. But in February and March, the young striker showed his potential by scoring in seven consecutive games, including a first senior level hat-trick, against relegation rivals Cheltenham Town. "I've scored a couple of doubles before" he said in an interview in 2008, "so I thought it was a long time coming. I got all the lads to sign the match ball for me."[10] Crewe managed to avoid relegation for the second time in three seasons at the expense of Bournemouth, despite losing 4–1 to Oldham on the last day of the season.

Bristol City

On 31 July 2008, Maynard signed a four-year contract with Bristol City for a fee of £2.25m, becoming their record signing. He played his first game for his new club on 1 August against Royal Antwerp at Ashton Gate Stadium, where he scored two goals in the first half before completing his hat-trick early in the second half. However, the first half of his season at City was difficult and despite scoring 3 games into his Bristol City career, against Derby County he failed to hold down a regular first team place, often appearing as a substitute. However, just before Christmas he started scoring, with goals against Watford (twice) and Wolverhampton Wanderers, starting a Bristol City unbeaten run of eight games, before being beaten 1–0 by Doncaster Rovers.

Maynard made an explosive start to his second full campaign with City, scoring six times in his first seven games. He helped his side to three consecutive 1–0 victories, against Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers and away at Brentford in the Football League Cup. He also scored twice in a defeat of Middlesbrough. Maynard's sixth goal of the season came on 12 September away at Coventry City; after the ball was chested down by new signing and strike partner Álvaro Saborío, Maynard struck an unstoppable 25-yard half-volley in off the crossbar past Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood. However, Maynard bettered this goal on Boxing day against QPR at Loftus Road; facing away from goal just outside the box, he collected a bouncing ball in the air, controlled it with one touch, turned two defenders with a second touch, and then smashed a stunning volley into the top corner past an unmoved Radek Cerny, all without the ball hitting the ground. The goal was voted the 'Football League goal of 2009', out of five selected goals from 2009.[11]

Following a pre-season knee injury, his first appearance in the 2010–11 season was as a substitute against Leeds United on 12 February 2011. He then started and scored in each of the next three games as City went on a winning run to pull themselves away from the relegation zone. On 23 April 2011 Maynard received the first red card of his career in a 3–2 defeat at Sheffield United.

Maynard was put up for sale in the January 2012 transfer market after failing to negotiate a new contract at Ashton Gate.[12]

West Ham United

On 31 January 2012, Maynard signed for Football League Championship club West Ham United for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half year deal with an option for an extra year.[13] Maynard made his West Ham debut on 14 February 2012 in a 1–1 home draw with Southampton coming on as a 65th minute substitute for Carlton Cole.[14] On 21 February 2012, Maynard netted his first goal for the Hammers in a 4–1 win at Blackpool (Ricardo Vaz Tê and Gary O'Neil also scored their first professional goals for the club).[15] He scored his second goal for West Ham on 6 April in a 4–0 win at Barnsley.[16] He also scored in the play-off semi-final second leg against Cardiff City on 7 May, giving West Ham a 3–0 lead at the time to add to their 2–0 lead from the first leg, putting them through to the final at Wembley.[17] Maynard's final game for West Ham came on 28 August 2012 in the League Cup against former club Crewe Alexandra, when he scored the first goal in a 2–0 win.[18] He played 17 games in all competitions, scoring four goals.[19]

Cardiff City

On 31 August 2012, Maynard signed a three-year contract with Cardiff City for an undisclosed transfer fee, reported to be £2.75m.[20] His debut came on 2 September, against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 3–1 win. Just two games later, Maynard was ruled out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.[21] Malky Mackay confirmed on 15 January 2013 that Maynard would not play for Cardiff again in the 2012–13 season.[22]

Maynard completed a faster-than-expected recovery on 4 May 2013, coming on as a late substitution for the Bluebirds against Hull City on the final day of the regular Championship season. Maynard scored his first Cardiff City goal from the penalty spot amid a frantic finish which saw both sides promoted to the Premier League.[23] The following season Maynard scored his second goal for the club in a 2–0 League Cup win at Accrington Stanley.[24]

On 16 January 2014, Maynard joined Wigan Athletic on loan until the end of season.[25][26] He scored his first goals for Wigan when he struck twice in a 3–0 win against Sheffield Wednesday on 11 February 2014.[27] He left Cardiff City upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2014–15 season.[28]

Milton Keynes Dons

On 22 September 2015, Maynard signed for newly promoted Championship side Milton Keynes Dons on a one-year deal.[29]

On 12 May 2016, Maynard was released from Milton Keynes Dons after declining a new contract offered by the club. Maynard had scored 6 goals in 35 league appearances for the club, leaving as top scorer for the season.[30]

On 2 July 2016, Maynard re-signed for the club on a new one-year deal. Upon re-signing, Maynard said "I’m pleased to be back. I enjoyed my time here last season and I got to know the players and staff well. I wanted to be somewhere where I felt wanted and having spoken to the gaffer quite a bit over the summer, he let me know how much he wanted me here."[31]

International career

In May 2011, it was reported that Guyana had approached Maynard for a possible call-up to the senior side, whom he qualifies for through his grandparents.[32]

Career statistics

As of 19 October 2016[33]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crewe Alexandra 2005–06 Championship 11000011
2006–07 League One 31160032413819
2007–08 League One 27151000002815
Total 59321032416735
Bristol City 2008–09 Championship 421110204511
2009–10 Championship 422020114521
2010–11 Championship 1360000136
2011–12 Championship 2681000278
Total 12345403113046
West Ham United 2011–12 Championship 142000021163
2012–13 Premier League 00001111
Total 142001121174
Cardiff City 2012–13 Championship 41000041
2013–14 Premier League 80000080
2014–15 Championship 1012000121
Total 2222000242
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2013–14 Championship 164100010184
Total 164100010184
Milton Keynes Dons 2015–16 Championship 3562110387
2016–17 League One 130000010140
Total 486211010527
Career total 28291101848230898

Honours

Club

Cardiff City

West Ham United

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. "Nicky Maynard". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  3. 1 2 FourFourTwo, 167: "I've been playing for the academy since I was seven; I've been top scorer at every age group. I scored 27 goals in one season at U18 level."
  4. Crewe Alexandra profile, Paragraph 4.
  5. They're watching us.... Crewealex.PremiumTV.co.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2006
  6. Burnley land Crewe striker Jones news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2006
  7. Maynard receives League One award news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2006
  8. "Crewe vs Brighton". Official Crewe Alexandra Website. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
  9. FourFourTwo, 167: "I broke down a few times during my rehap, but managed to get back"
  10. FourFourTwo, 167: "I've scored a couple of doubles before, so I thought it was a long time coming. I got all the lads to sign the match ball for me."
  11. "Football League goal of 2009". BBC News. 15 March 2010.
  12. "Bristol City look to sell striker Nicky Maynard". BBC Sport. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  13. "Hammers nick Maynard". West Ham United F.C. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  14. "West Ham 1 -1 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  15. "Blackpool 1–4 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  16. "Barnsley 0–4 West Ham" BBC Sport. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  17. "West Ham 3–0 Cardiff (5–0 agg)" BBC Sport. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  18. "Maynard departs". www.whufc.com. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  19. "Welcome to the Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics Nicky Maynard". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  20. "DEAL DONE: MAYNARD JOINS CARDIFF". Cardiff City F.C. 31 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  21. "Maynard out with ACL tear". Cardiff City F.C. 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  22. "Nicky Maynard will not play for Cardiff City this season, says Malky Mackay". WalesOnline. 15 January 2013.
  23. "Hull 2–2 Cardiff". BBC. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  24. "Accrington 0–2 Cardiff". BBC. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  25. NICKY MAYNARD JOINS LATICS
  26. OFFICIAL: Wigan Sign Cardiff Striker Nicky Maynard on Loan
  27. "Sheff Wed 0–3 Wigan". BBC. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  28. "Maynard, McNaughton and Gabbidon to leave Cardiff". Sky Sports. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  29. http://www.mkdons.com/news/article/dons-make-maynard-signing-nicky-maynard-mk-dons-mk-dons-signing-sky-bet-championship-2703875.aspx
  30. http://www.mkdons.com/news/article/dons-make-decisions-on-players-mk-dons-retained-list-2016-mk-dons-contracts-mk-dons-deals-mk-dons-jordan-spence-mk-dons-antony-kay-mk-dons-matt-upson-mk-dons-nicky-maynard-mk-dons-3109345.aspx
  31. http://www.mkdons.com/news/article/2016-17/maynard-back-at-stadium-mk-mk-dons-nicky-maynard-mk-dons-nicky-maynard-mk-dons-transfer-mk-dons-signing-3165394.aspx
  32. "Where have the Golden Jaguars been hiding?". Guyana Times. 19 January 2014.
  33. "Games played by Nicky Maynard". Soccerbase. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
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