Steve McNulty

Steve McNulty

McNulty playing for Fleetwood Town in 2012
Personal information
Full name Stephen Michael McNulty[1]
Date of birth (1983-09-26) 26 September 1983
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Tranmere Rovers
Number 24
Youth career
1990–2003 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2003–2005 Burscough
2005–2007 Vauxhall Motors
2007–2009 Barrow 37 (4)
2009–2013 Fleetwood Town 93 (3)
2013–2016 Luton Town 117 (2)
2015–2016 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 9 (1)
2016– Tranmere Rovers 18 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:07, 9 March 2016 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

Stephen Michael "Steve" McNulty (born 26 September 1983) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League club Tranmere Rovers. He has achieved four promotions with three different clubs: captaining Barrow into the Conference Premier and Fleetwood Town into both the Conference Premier and League Two, and as part of the Luton Town side that won promotion to League Two in the 2013–14 season.

Career

Early career

Born in Liverpool, Merseyside, McNulty started his career at the Liverpool Academy when he was seven years old, eventually captaining the club's under-19 side, and stayed there until his release in 2003.[2][3][4] He trained with Second Division side Blackpool during their pre-season training prior to the 2003–04 season, but failed to win a contract.[5] He then joined Northern Premier League club Burscough for two seasons before moving up a division to the Conference North to play for Vauxhall Motors. He remained with the club for two further years and then joined divisional rivals Barrow at the beginning of the 2007–08 season on a free transfer.[3]

Barrow

McNulty was appointed as captain in his first season at Barrow as he led the club to promotion, via the play-offs, to the Conference Premier.[6] His performances in defence led to him being named as Conference North Player of the Year, and he signed a two-year contract extension towards the end of the 2007–08 season after interest from Football League clubs.[6] Barrow finished the next season in 20th place, just above the relegation zone. With a year left on his contract, McNulty opted against making the transition to a full-time contract as Barrow began to shift away from being a part-time team. Manager David Bayliss stated that the club had "a wage structure that [it] can't break".[7]

Fleetwood Town

On 16 June 2009, McNulty dropped down a league to sign for Conference North club Fleetwood Town for a then-club record fee of £17,000.[4] He was made club captain, leading the team to promotion into the Conference Premier via victory in the Conference North play-off final.[8] Fleetwood were defeated in the play-off semi-finals during the next season, but bounced back in 2011–12 by winning promotion to The Football League for the first time in the club's history. They accumulated 103 points, with McNulty leading the club on a 29-game unbeaten run in the league.

He made his League Cup debut on 13 August 2012 against Nottingham Forest,[9] and played in Fleetwood's first Football League game – a 0–0 draw with Torquay United – four days later.[10] Long standing Fleetwood manager Micky Mellon left the club in December 2012 to be replaced by Graham Alexander. McNulty, injured at the time of the managerial change, remained sidelined as Fleetwood's defence kept five clean sheets in seven games. After discussions about McNulty's limited playing time, Alexander allowed him to leave the club; a move criticised by Fleetwood fans, but described as having the player's "best interests at heart".[11]

Luton Town

On 31 January 2013, McNulty joined Conference Premier side Luton Town on a free transfer, signing a contract until the end of the season with a conditional 12-month extension that was dependent on Luton achieving promotion.[12] He made 20 appearances for the club in the 2012–13 season, scoring once, as they finished seventh and outside of the promotion positions. On 29 April 2013, McNulty agreed a two-year contract extension following performances that made him an "instant cult hero"[13] with Luton fans.[14]

He was named as the club's vice-captain for the 2013–14 season, and was part of a defence that kept a club-record 23 clean sheets in the league, ultimately leading to Luton winning the league and being promoted to League Two. McNulty's influence on Luton's successful season did not go unnoticed, as he won the Player of the Year award, Internet Player of the Year award, as well as the Goal of the Season award for his 30-yard volley against Southport on 26 November 2013.[15][16]

McNulty was named as Luton's captain for the 2014–15 season following the departure of Ronnie Henry.[17] In July 2014, he signed a two-year contract extension.[18] He played in 45 games in all competitions as Luton finished the season in eighth position. McNulty's performances were recognised by his inclusion in the Professional Footballers' Association League Two Team of the Year.[19]

Tranmere Rovers

McNulty joined National League club Tranmere Rovers on loan on 19 October 2015, as he wanted to be closer to his family.[20] On 2 January 2016, he signed for the club permanently on a one-and-a-half-year contract.[21]

McNulty was awarded with Tranmere player of the month for February 2016,[22] after an impressive run. He received numerous man of the match awards as Tranmere climbed from mid-table into the National League play-off positions.

Style of play

McNulty has been described as a "commanding"[23] centre-back who is noted for his aerial ability.[24][25] As a graduate of the Liverpool Academy, which preaches technical development,[26] he primarily passes the ball along the ground, often beginning his team's attacking movements as a result.[27][28] His first-touch, calmness on the ball and flair have also been praised.[25][29][30][31]

McNulty's leadership is also notable; he captained the Liverpool under-19 side, and won promotions while captaining both Barrow and Fleetwood Town. His Luton teammate Alex Lacey has stated that McNulty is "a real leader" with strong communication skills,[32] while John Still credited him for improving the performances of the whole team.[33]

Honours

Barrow

Fleetwood Town

Luton Town

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/04/2013 and 30/04/2013" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Bauress: I kept McNulty 'hostage'". North West Evening Mail. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Steve McNulty". Fleetwood Town Football Club. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Fleetwood break transfer record". BBC Sport. 16 June 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "McMahon may move for McNulty". Liverpool F.C. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "AFC's McNulty is League Player of the Year". North West Evening Mail. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Barrow close in on summer targets". BBC Sport. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Fleetwood Town 2 – 1 Alfreton". BBC Sport. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Watt, William. "Town's debut in the Capital One Cup – Full match report". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Fleetwood 0 – 0 Torquay". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "'Letting McNulty go was for his own good'". Blackpool Gazette. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Hatters sign Fleetwood defender McNulty". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "McNulty enjoys the banter as he becomes instant Town cult hero". Dunstable Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "McNulty signs new Hatters deal". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  15. 1 2 "Gallery: Awards Night 2014". Luton Town F.C. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "Defender Steve McNulty's wonder volley!". Luton Town F.C. (YouTube). 26 November 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  17. ↑ "Football: Luton Town name Steve McNulty as captain". Bedforshire on Sunday. Local World. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Steve McNulty signs new two-year deal". BBC Sport. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  19. 1 2 "League Two Team of the Year: Matt Grimes in after Exeter stint". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  20. ↑ "Steve McNulty: Tranmere Rovers sign Luton Town defender on loan". BBC Sport. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  21. ↑ "Steve McNulty: Tranmere Rovers agree deal for Luton defender". BBC Sport. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  22. ↑ "Steve McNulty Voted Hillyer McKeown Player Of The Month". BBC Sport. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 29 MArch 2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  23. ↑ "Buckle captures McNulty signature". Non-League Paper. Greenways Publishing Ltd. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  24. ↑ "Football: Luton Town player ratings v Gateshead". Luton on Sunday. LD Express Newspaper Ltd. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  25. 1 2 "Conference Team of the Season". The Luke Graham Blog. WordPress. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  26. ↑ "Academy courses – Liverpool F.C.". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  27. ↑ "McNulty Is Helping To Get Luton Town Firing". Non-League Paper. Greenways Publishing Ltd. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  28. ↑ "Still satisfied with Salisbury result". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  29. ↑ "Steve McNulty showboating v Wrexham". Luton Town F.C. (YouTube). 27 February 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  30. ↑ Crowe, Kevin (15 January 2014). "Steve McNulty: (Cult)ured hero". Left Midfield (Blogger). Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  31. ↑ "The Ecstasy and the Agony". Hexham Courant (North West Evening Mail). 5 January 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  32. ↑ "Experience is rubbing off on Lacey". Leighton Buzzard Online. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  33. ↑ "Luton Town's Steve McNulty 'catalyst' for improvement". BBC Sport. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.

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