Steve Guinan

Football player infobox
playername = Steve Guinan
fullname = Stephen Anthony Guinan


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1975|12|24
cityofbirth = Birmingham
countryofbirth = England
height = height|metres=1.85
nickname = Stevie G
currentclub = Hereford United
clubnumber = 9
position = Centre forward
years = 1993–1999
1995
1997
1998
1998–1999
1999
1999
1999–2000
2000–2002
2002
2002–2004
2004–2007
2007 2007–
clubs = Nottingham Forest
→ Darlington (loan)
→ Burnley (loan)
→ Crewe Alexandra (loan)
→ Halifax Town (loan)
→ Plymouth Argyle (loan)
→ Scunthorpe United (loan)
Cambridge United
Plymouth Argyle
Shrewsbury Town
Hereford United
Cheltenham Town
→ Hereford United (loan)
Hereford United
caps(goals) = 07 0(0)
03 0(1)
06 0(0)
03 0(0)
12 0(2)
11 0(7)
03 0(1)
06 0(0)
30 0(3)
05 0(0)
75 (39)
92 (13)
16 0(7) 34 0(4)
nationalyears = 2004
nationalteam = England C
nationalcaps(goals) = 04 0(3)
pcupdate = 10:30, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Stephen Anthony "Steve" Guinan (born 24 December 1975 in Birmingham) is an English footballer who plays for Hereford United. He is in his third spell with the club having originally played for them between 2002 and 2004, and also enjoying a successful loan spell in the latter half of the 2006-07 season.

Career

Steve started his career as a trainee at Nottingham Forest turning pro in January 1993 and, despite showing great promise, only appeared in seven first team matches in a near seven year spell at the City Ground. He was loaned out to a succession of clubs with varying degrees of success, he became a favourite at Plymouth Argyle in 1999 when he scored seven goals in eleven league matches. [ [http://www.4thegame.com/club/nottingham-forest-fc/news/45527/GUINAN+MAY+STAY+AT+PLYMOUTH.html Guinan may stay at Plymouth] 4TheGame.com, 4 May 1999. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.] He scored on his debut for Scunthorpe United but his loan spell reportedly ended with manager Brian Laws relieving him of his tracksuit in the club car park. [ [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11725_2169648,00.html Striker forced to strip] Sky Sports, 3 November 1999. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.]

He left Forest and signed for Cambridge United three days after his 24th birthday in December 1999. However three months later he was sacked after a food fight at an official club dinner [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2000/mar/26/newsstory Said & Done] The Observer, 26 March 2000. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.] and returned to Plymouth in March 2000. However by August 2001 he had been frozen out at Home Park by manager Paul Sturrock, despite being contracted to the end of the season. [ [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11705_2215011,00.html Guinan slams Argyle] Sky Sports, 6 August 2001. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.] Steve ended up training with Exeter but was unable to sign for them due to a transfer embargo, and he signed for Shrewsbury Town in March 2002. [ [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11705_2233953,00.html Shrews land Guinan] Sky Sports, 28 March 2002. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.]

Guinan joined Hereford United in the summer of 2002 and enjoyed two successful seasons with the Conference side where he was top goalscorer in both seasons. In his first season he became the first Hereford player to score a hat-trick at Edgar Street for six years, in a 4-0 win over Barnet [ [http://archive.herefordtimes.com/2004/1/9/25181.html Steve Guinan] Hereford Times, August 2004. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.] The following season saw him named Player of the Round after hitting a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Harrow Borough in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round. [ [http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/11/72923.htm Guinan gears up for the Cup] TheFA.com, 20 September 2003. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.] Guinan, a Liverpool fan, was also invited to make the draw for the Fourth Round alongside Ian Rush. [ [http://archive.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/2003/12/31/146568.html Bulls ace handed draw honour] Redditch Advertiser, 31 December 2003. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.]

Guinan was an integral part of the side that finished one point behind Chester City in a record-breaking season, scoring 29 goals in 41 appearances. [ [http://archive.herefordtimes.com/2004/5/12/18977.html Hereford hit by Guinan blow] Hereford Times, 12 May 2004. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.] After Hereford's defeat in the play-offs he was one of several players who signed for Football League clubs, joining Cheltenham Town.

Guinan scored 7 goals in 47 appearances in his first season at Whaddon Road as Cheltenham finished 14th in League Two. His most notable Cheltenham moment came in his second season when he scored the winner in the League Two play-off final against Grimsby Town. Picking up the ball on the corner of the penalty area he sent a curling left-footed cross towards Kayode Odejayi. However the cross evaded everyone and went into the bottom corner, sending Cheltenham into League One. Guinan later admitted that his goal was actually a cross and he hadn't meant to score. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/may/29/newsstory.grimsby Guinan's lucky strike gives Cheltenham final lift] The Guardian, 29 May 2006. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.]

Guinan's third season at Cheltenham was less successful, scoring just one goal in the League Cup against Bristol City, and was transfer listed. He subsequently returned to Hereford United, now in League Two, on loan and scored twice in his first match against Notts County. He went on to net a hat-trick in a 4-1 away win at Lincoln City. He was also voted Hereford's Player of the Month for February. [ [http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/article/930490/Guinan-receives-Player-of-the-Month-Award Guinan receives Player of the Month award] Hereford United Official Website, 11 March 2007. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.] Having scored 7 goals in 16 appearances he signed a two year deal on 12 June 2007, following his release from Cheltenham.

Guinan featured regularly in the first half of the 2007-08 season but a calf injury sustained at the turn of the year kept him out for three months. He returned for the run-in as Hereford gained promotion to League One with a match to spare.

He scored his 50th league goal for Hereford on 23 August 2008 against Bristol Rovers.

International career

Guinan played four times for what was then known as the England National Game XI in June 2004. He was England's top scorer with 3 goals as they finished third in the Four Nations Tournament in Scotland. [ [http://www.thefa.com/England/NationalGameXI/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2004/05/Scotland_vEngland_Report.htm England defeat Auld Enemy] TheFA.com, 23 May 2004. Retrieved on 22 June 2008.] He also featured in a friendly against the United States which was his final match for the team.

Career statistics

References

External links

* [http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/Player?playerId=1087115 Official Hereford United Profile]
*soccerbase|3137