Greg Cunningham

Not to be confused with Gregg Cunningham.
Greg Cunningham

Cunningham with Preston North End in 2016
Personal information
Full name Gregory Richard Cunningham[1]
Date of birth (1991-01-31) 31 January 1991[1]
Place of birth Galway, Ireland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position Left back / Centre-Back
Club information
Current team
 Preston North End
Number 3
Youth career
2004–2007 Mervue United
2007–2010 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Manchester City 2 (0)
2010–2011 → Leicester City (loan) 13 (0)
2011–2012 → Nottingham Forest (loan) 27 (0)
2012–2015 Bristol City 91 (4)
2015– Preston North End 59 (2)
National team‡
2007–2008 Republic of Ireland U17 13 (3)
2009 Republic of Ireland U19 9 (0)
2011–2012 Republic of Ireland U21 6 (1)
2010–2013 Republic of Ireland 4 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:52, 24 November 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12:54, 18 May 2015 (UTC)

Gregory Richard "Greg" Cunningham (born 31 January 1991) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left back for Preston North End and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Career

Manchester City

Cunningham playing for Manchester City Reserves in 2010

Born in Galway, County Galway,[1] Cunningham began his career with Cregmore FC. In 2004, he joined Mervue United before earning a contract in the Manchester City Academy. Cunningham made his first team debut for Manchester City as a 46th minute substitute in a 4–2 victory over Scunthorpe United in the FA Cup on 24 January 2010 where he played on the left side of the City defence.[3] Cunningham made his first Premier League appearance on 11 April 2010 against Birmingham City as a substitute for Adam Johnson in the final minutes of the game.[4] Cunningham made his second Premier League appearance on 9 May 2010 against West Ham United as a substitute for Johnson, just 2 minutes of the final minutes of the game.[5] On 26 August 2010, Cunningham made his European debut in Europa League Qualifiers Second Leg against Politehnica Timișoara, coming on as a 54th-minute substitute for Nigel de Jong in a 2–0 win. On 22 September 2010, Cunningham made his first start for the club and played 90 minutes in a 2-loss against West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup.

Leicester City (loan)

On 21 October 2010, Cunningham joined Championship side Leicester City on loan until January 2011.[6] On 23 October 2010, Cunningham made his debut for the club in a 2–0 loss against Swansea City where he played the full 90 minutes. Cunningham became a regular left-back in the starting eleven and made 12 starts. On 1 January 2011, Cunningham fractured his tibia in a challenge with Hull City's Liam Rosenior. Rosenior was sent off and Cunningham had to be substituted in a 1–0 win for Leicester and he was ruled out of action for up to four months, which ended his loan spell at Leicester City.[7] After the match, Sven-Göran Eriksson say his injury was 'a complete accident' and said:

“ "To be fair, there was absolutely no intention from Liam Rosenior and it was just a very unfortunate incident. Our physio team worked immediately on the injury, comforted Greg and they were superb. However, the good start to the New Year is also a bad start for us as we have lost Greg Cunningham to a broken leg."[8] ”

Nottingham Forest (loan)

On 25 October 2011, Cunningham joined Championship side Nottingham Forest on loan until 31 December after an injury crisis at the club left them desperately on short defensive options.[9][10] After his move to Nottingham Forest, Cunningham says he expected to make an impact for the club and was looking forward to playing regularly for the club[11] Nottingham Forest duo Lee Camp and Ishmael Miller agreed with Cunningham's expectations.[12] On 29 October 2011, Cunningham made his debut for the club in a 1–0 loss against Hull City before being substituted early in the second-half. On 1 November 2011, Cunningham played 90 minutes in a 1–0 win over Reading. Since making his debut, Cunningham became a regular in the starting eleven, playing at left back.

On 29 December, Cunningham's loan was extended until the end of the season.[13][14] After his loan was extended, manager Steve Cotterill says he would want to sign Cunningham on a permanent basis, only if the money can be found in the near future.[15] After his loan spell ended, Cotterill praised Cunningham (among the loan signing) for helping the club pull away from the relegation zone and stay in the Championship next season.[16]

Bristol City

The following season, Cunningham told BBC Sport he intended to leave Manchester City to further his career.[17] On 5 July 2012, Cunningham signed a four-year contract at Bristol City, for an undisclosed fee.[18]

Cunningham made his debut on the opening game of the season, in a 1–0 loss against Nottingham Forest. Then, in a 2–1 win over Peterborough United, on 18 September 2012, Cunningham received a heavy tackle from Tyrone Barnett after Barnett made a reckless challenge on him, which resulted in Cunningham being stretched off and Barnett being booked. After the match, Derek McInnes believes that Barnett should have been sent-off for the challenge[19] Cunningham was ruled out for two months after rupturing his tendon.[20] In mid-December, Cunningham recovered from the injury and made his return in a 2–0 loss against Derby County on 15 December 2012.[21] On 29 January 2013, Cunningham scored his first goal for Bristol City against Watford, a cross that had looped over Manuel Alumunia and found its way into the back of the net.[22] Since his recovery from injury, Cunningham continued to retain his first team place in the left-back position, though sometimes plays in the left-midfield, but unfortunately, the club was relegated to League One.

Preston North End

Bristol City gave Cunningham permission to speak to Preston North End after accepting an undisclosed bid, he spent the weekend with Preston in Scotland at a training camp before the deal was completed on Monday the 27th of July.[23]

International career

Cunningham with the Republic of Ireland in 2013

Cunningham had been capped by the Republic of Ireland at youth level before being called up to the senior international squad by manager Giovanni Trapattoni on 22 February 2010 for a friendly against Brazil.[1][24] On 28 May 2010, Cunningham made his debut for Ireland in a 3–0 win against Algeria at the RDS.[25][26]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 30 April 2016.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City 2009–10[27] Premier League 201000—30
2010–11[28] Premier League 0000101[lower-alpha 1]020
Total 2010101050
Leicester City (loan) 2010–11[28] Championship 130———130
Nottingham Forest (loan) 2011–12[29] Championship 27010——280
Bristol City 2012–13[30] Championship 3011000—311
2013–14[31] League One 37140201[lower-alpha 2]0441
2014–15[32] League One 24231005[lower-alpha 2]0323
Total 9148120601075
Preston North End 2015–16[33] Championship 4321020—462
Career total 176611150701997
  1. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Europa League
  2. 1 2 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

International

As of match played 6 February 2013.[34]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2010 3 0
2013 1 0
Total 4 0

Honours

Bristol City

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 103. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ "Gregory Cunningham". ESPN FC. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Lyon, Sam (24 January 2010). "Scunthorpe 2 – 4 Man City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  4. ↑ Bevan, Chris (11 April 2010). "Man City 5 – 1 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  5. ↑ "West Ham 1 – 1 Man City". BBC Sport. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Foxes Sign Man City's Cunningham". lcfc.com. Leicester City F.C. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  7. ↑ "Greg Cunningham out for four months with broken leg". This is Leicestershire. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "Foxes in Cunningham blow". Sky Sports. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  9. ↑ Oscroft, Tim (25 October 2011). "Manchester City's Greg Cunningham loaned to Nottingham Forest". mcfc.co.uk. Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Cunningham Checks In". nottinghamforest.co.uk. Nottingham Forest F.C. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Cunningham raring to go". Sky Sports. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Forest boosted by signing". Sky Sports. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  13. ↑ "Reds Strike Deal For Greg". nottinghamforest.co.uk. Nottingham Forest F.C. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "Reds extend Cunningham loan". Sky Sports. British Sky Broadcasting. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  15. ↑ "Cunningham continues to impress". Sky Sports. 30 December 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  16. ↑ "Cotterill praises loan impact". Sky Sports. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  17. ↑ "Greg Cunningham ready for Manchester City exit". BBC Sport. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  18. ↑ "Manchester City defender Greg Cunningham joins Bristol City". BBC Sport. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  19. ↑ "Bristol City manager Derek McInnes bemoans 'reckless' tackles". BBC Sport. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  20. ↑ "Greg Cunningham: Bristol City defender out for two months". BBC Sport. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Greg Cunningham could make Bristol City return this weekend". Bristol Post. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  22. ↑ "Bristol City 2–0 Watford". BBC Sport. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  23. ↑ "Preston Close to Cunningham Signing". BBC Sport. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "Trapattoni names 23-man squad for Brazil". RTÉ Sport. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  25. ↑ "Greg Cunningham set to make Ireland debut". RTÉ Sport. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  26. ↑ "Rep of Ireland 3–0 Algeria". BBC Sport. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  27. ↑ "Games played by Greg Cunningham in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  28. 1 2 "Games played by Greg Cunningham in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Greg Cunningham in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Games played by Greg Cunningham in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Games played by Greg Cunningham in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  32. 1 2 "Games played by Greg Cunningham in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Greg Cunningham in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  34. ↑ "Greg Cunningham". National Football Teams. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greg Cunningham.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.