Adam McGurk

Adam Michael McGurk (born 24 January 1989) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who currently plays for Stratford Town as a forward.

Adam McGurk
McGurk playing for Tranmere Rovers in 2013
Personal information
Full name Adam Michael McGurk[1]
Date of birth (1989-01-24) 24 January 1989
Place of birth Larne, Northern Ireland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Stratford Town
Youth career
2004–2010 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Hednesford Town 12 (3)
2010–2013 Tranmere Rovers 79 (10)
2013–2015 Burton Albion 71 (15)
2015–2016 Portsmouth 27 (2)
2016–2017 Cambridge United 15 (0)
2017–2018 Morecambe 34 (5)
2018 Nuneaton Borough 13 (2)
2019 Chorley 11 (0)
2019–2020 Coalville Town
2021– Stratford Town
International career
2009 Northern Ireland U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:55, 2 May 2019 (UTC)

McGurk started his career in the Aston Villa youth academy in 2004, but failed to break into the first team, and joined Hednesford Town on a free transfer in March 2010. Having made twelve appearances for Hednesford, he signed for Tranmere Rovers in August 2010, making 79 league appearances in three years, before being released by the club in July 2013. He joined Morecambe on a free transfer on 31 August 2017.

Career

Aston Villa

Born in Moneymore, Northern Ireland, McGurk was signed by Aston Villa in 2004 from Larne Youth. He was impressive for Aston Villa Reserves in the 2006–07 season, making seven appearances (four of which were from the substitutes bench) and scoring four goals. He suffered a serious knee injury and was out injured for a long time period. After making his comeback he struggled to force his way back into the Aston Villa Reserves and become a regular again. He was released by Villa in early 2010, and briefly retired from professional football.[3]

Hednesford Town

After being released by Aston Villa, he went on trial with Cheltenham Town,[4] but was not offered a contract. He joined Hednesford Town on 11 March 2010.[5] His debut for the club came on 23 March when he played against Truro City in a Southern Football League Premier Division match.[6]

Tranmere Rovers

He then made a couple of trial appearances for Tranmere Rovers during the summer and trained with the squad. He was then given a second chance with the club after he was signed on non-contract basis so he would be named on the substitute's bench for a League Cup first round match against Walsall in August.[7] He made his debut for Rovers on 21 August 2010 in the Football League One clash with Bournemouth which ended in a 3–0 home defeat at Prenton Park, coming on as a second-half substitute for Ian Thomas-Moore.[8] Three days later he signed a one-year contract with Tranmere.[9] He went on to score his first goal for Tranmere in the reverse fixture against Bournemouth on 9 April 2011, scoring a 94th-minute winner.[10] At the end of the 2010–11 season he offered a new contract by the club[11] which he signed in late May, keeping him at Tranmere until summer 2012.[12] The club took up a further one year option on him for the 2012–13 season.[13] McGurk suffered a collapsed lung in February 2013, having also injured his hamstring that month.[14] He was released by Tranmere at the end of the season, along with four other players.[15] On 20 July 2013, McGurk scored a goal whilst on trial with Championship side Birmingham City, in a 1–1 draw with Oxford United.[16]

Burton Albion

McGurk signed a two-year contract with Burton Albion on 5 August 2013. He was given the number 20 shirt and made his debut in the league cup tie against Sheffield United. He set up Chris Hussey's first goal in a 2–1 win.[17] McGurk scored the winning goal in Burton's 1–0 win over Premier League team QPR on 28 August 2014.

Portsmouth

McGurk signed a two-year deal with Portsmouth on 24 June 2015, and went on to score on his debut against Derby County in the League Cup First Round on 12 August. He also netted once during the 3–1 victory at Fratton Park against Barnet.

Cambridge United

On 22 July 2016, McGurk signed a two-year deal with League Two side Cambridge United for an undisclosed fee.[18]

Morecambe

On 31 August 2017, McGurk signed with League Two side Morecambe on a free transfer.

He was released by Morecambe at the end of the 2017–18 season.[19]

Nuneaton Borough

Adam signed with Nuneaton Borough in the Conference North Division. [20]

Chorley FC

After leaving Nuneaton, Adam signed with Chorley on 12 January 2019.[21]

Coalville Town

On 22 June 2019, Adam joined Coalville Town on a 1-year contract.[22]

Stratford Town

On 12 November 2021 he signed for Southern Football League Premier Division Central side Stratford Town.[23]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 2 September 2017[24]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tranmere Rovers 2010–11 League One 21300102[lower-alpha 1]0243
2011–12 31410102[lower-alpha 1]1355
2012–13 27321001[lower-alpha 1]0304
Total 79103120518912
Burton Albion 2013–14 League Two 34931104[lower-alpha 2]24212
2014–15 376103100417
Total 71154141428319
Portsmouth 2015–16 League Two 27243213[lower-alpha 3]0366
Total 272432130366
Cambridge United 2016–17 League Two 150000000150
Morecambe 2017–18 League Two 2100000021
Career total 194281158212322538
  1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  2. One appearance in the Football League Trophy and three in the League Two play-offs
  3. One appearance in the Football League Trophy and two in the League Two play-offs

International career

McGurk has U16 and U17 caps and has also represented Northern Ireland at U21 level, making his debut on 11 August 2009 against Portugal.[25][26] He was called up to the senior squad in early 2013 for pre-World Cup qualifying friendly matches,[27] but has yet to make his debut.

References
  1. "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 84. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  2. "Adam McGurk - Player Profile - Football". Eurosport UK. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  3. "Adam McGurk set for NI debut three years after quitting football". BBC Sport. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  4. "Former loan star O'Leary on trial with Cheltenham Town". 2 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  5. "McGurk signs for the Pitmen". Hednesford Town F.C. 11 March 2010. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  6. "Statistics: Adam McGurk". Hednesford Town F.C. unofficial website. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  7. "Adam McGurk to be given a chance to shine at Tranmere Rovers FC". Wirral News. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  8. "Tranmere 0–3 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  9. "Tranmere Rovers capture Lucas Akins and Adam McGurk". BBC Sport. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  10. "Bournemouth 1–2 Tranmere". BBC Sport. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  11. "Rovers Offer Six New Contracts". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 9 May 2011. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  12. "Tranmere striker Adam McGurk signs new one-year deal". BBC Sport. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  13. "Moore Rebuilding Squad". Tranmere Rovers FC. 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  14. "Adam McGurk: Tranmere Rovers winger suffers collapsed lung". BBC Sport. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  15. Hilton, Nick (29 April 2013). "Tranmere Rovers FC release five players". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  16. "Trialist Adam McGurk secured a 1–1 draw for Birmingham at Oxford". Sky Sports. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  17. "Adam McGurk: Burton Albion sign former Tranmere forward". BBC Sport. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  18. "Cambridge United sign striker Adam McGurk on two year deal". Cambridge United FC. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  19. "Morecambe release eight players after avoiding relegation from League Two". BBC Sport. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  20. "England - Nuneaton Borough FC - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  21. Adam McGurk signs for The Magpies, chorleyfc.com, 12 January 2019
  22. McGurk Joins The Ravens, 22 June 2019
  23. "ADAM MCGURK SIGNS FOR THE BARDS!". Stratford Town F.C. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  24. Adam McGurk at Soccerbase
  25. Mat Kendrick (11 August 2009). "Villa's Adam McGurk wins praise from Northern Ireland u-21s boss". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  26. jcd (11 July 2010). "NIFG: Adam McGurk". Nifootball.blogspot.com. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  27. "Tranmere forward Adam McGurk handed Northern Ireland call-up". BBC Sport. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
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