Gary Mulligan

Football player infobox| playername= Gary Mulligan
| fullname = Gary Mulligan
nickname = Mullers
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|4|23
cityofbirth = Dublin
countryofbirth = Republic of Ireland
height = height|ft=6|in=1
currentclub = Gillingham
clubnumber = 9
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2004–2005
2004
2005–2006
2005
2005
2006–
clubs = Wolves
Rushden & Diamonds
Sheff Utd
→ Port Vale (loan)
→ Gillingham (loan)
Gillingham
caps(goals) = 01 0(0)
13 0(3)
00 0(0)
10 0(1)
13 0(1)
74 (13)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 11/10/2008
ntupdate = 24 April 2006

Gary Mulligan (born 23 April 1985 in Dublin) is an Irish U21 international footballer currently playing for Gillingham. He plays predominantly as a striker.

Mulligan started his career at Wolves for whom he made only one appearance as an 82nd minute substitute in the 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor. Whilst at Wolves, Mulligan was loaned out to Rushden & Diamonds.

Mulligan made his debut for Diamonds, again as a substitute, in the 1-0 home defeat to Chester City. He was thrown in with half an hour to go with Diamonds already losing. Although he was not able to affect the score, he did show some neat touches, although he squandered a late chance to equalise when his low drive flashed wide.

Mulligan had clearly impressed the management and was rewarded with his first ever start in the away game with Wycombe. Diamonds went 1-0 down after 14 minutes, but just 4 minutes later Mulligan celebrated his first ever professional goal to equalise. As the Wycombe defence failed to clear a cross from the left Mulligan, with his back to goal, scored with a spectacular overhead kick from about 12 yards out that crashed in off the post. The game finished 1-1.

His next goal was a consolation goal in the 2-1 home defeat to Darlington as he lashed the ball home following a corner kick. Although Mulligan opened the scoring with a close-range strike in the match at home to Scunthorpe, Diamonds ended up losing 3-1. With a record of 3 goals in 12 games for a struggling Rushden & Diamonds side, Mulligan's record was respectable.

He was snapped up on a free transfer by Sheffield United in 2005 although he only made 2 appearances for them in the League Cup as chances at Bramall Lane were limited. In the 2005/06 season he was farmed out on loan to both Port Vale and Gillingham. Although neither spell was especially prolific in terms of goals, he made an impact at Gillingham, where his hard-working style impressed manager Ronnie Jepson. On 12 May 2006 he signed for Gillingham on a permanent basis, on a free transfer.

He was third in the club's 2006–07 player of the year voting behind Andrew Crofts and Mark Bentley.

It was announced on 17 September 2007 that Mulligan had signed a new contract, keeping him at the Kent club for another 2 years.

ources

* [http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10416~30623,00.html Gary Mulligan player profile] at gillinghamfootballclub.com
* [http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10307~30623,00.html Gary Mulligan player profile] at wolves.co.uk
*soccerbase|id=39155|name=Gary Mulligan