Nicky Maynard

Nicholas David Maynard (born 11 December 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Macclesfield.

As a reward for his form in the youth team, Maynard was given his first professional contract in the summer of 2005.

Maynard was loaned out to Northern Premier League Premier Division club Witton Albion in November 2005, scoring two goals in nine games, before returning to Crewe in January.

He began his career at Crewe Alexandra, following over a decade in the club's Academy, and scored on his senior debut in April 2006 following a successful loan spell at Witton Albion He was named as League One Player of the Month for September 2006 and would score 31 goals in 58 League One games for the club.

He made his Crewe debut in the last game of the 2005–06 Championship season, coming on as a substitute for Michael Higdon in a 4–2 win over Millwall at the Alexandra Stadium on 30 April 2006.

He scored with his first touch in professional football, in front of scouts representing 20 different clubs, after Michael O'Connor's shot hit the post.

Maynard performed well in his second year of professional football, forming a productive goal-scoring partnership with Luke Varney, with the pair claiming a total of 33 League One goals between them.

During his first full season, Maynard also picked up the "Player of the Month" award for September, scoring four goals in seven games, including one in the 2–0 win over Premier League side Wigan Athletic in the League Cup.

However his second full season was brought to a standstill for four months after he suffered a bone fracture of his fibula and also damaged his ankle ligaments during the season opener against Brighton & Hove Albion.

In an interview with FourFourTwo magazine, Maynard admitted that he had "broke down a few times" during his four months of rehabilitation, although he would later recover and return to fitness.

Maynard initially struggled to score upon his return to the first team, with only two goals scored in his first two months back from injury.

But in February and March, the young striker showed his potential by scoring in seven consecutive games, including a first senior level hat-trick, against relegation rivals Cheltenham Town.

He was sold to Bristol City for a fee of £2.25m in July 2008.

"I've scored a couple of doubles before" he said in an interview in 2008, "so I thought it was a long time coming. I got all the lads to sign the match ball for me."

Crewe managed to avoid relegation for the second time in three seasons at the expense of AFC Bournemouth, despite losing 4–1 to Oldham Athletic on the last day of the season.

He was the subject of a £1 million transfer bid from Ipswich Town, whilst numerous other clubs were also linked with a move for the 21-year old.

The bid was rejected as Crewe manager Steve Holland stated that it was half what the "Railwaymen" believed his current valuation to be.

On 31 July 2008, Maynard signed a four-year contract with Bristol City for a fee of £2.25m (plus a 20% sell on clause), becoming their record signing.

The first half of his season at City was difficult and despite scoring three games into his Bristol City career he failed to hold down a regular first-team place, often appearing as a substitute.

However, just before Christmas he started scoring, with goals against Watford (twice) and Wolverhampton Wanderers, starting a Bristol City unbeaten run of eight games, which was ended by a 1–0 defeat by Doncaster Rovers.

Maynard made an explosive start to his second season with City, scoring six times in his first seven games.

He helped his side to three consecutive 1–0 victories, against Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers and away at Brentford in the League Cup.

He also scored twice in a 2–1 defeat of Middlesbrough.

Maynard's sixth goal of the season came on 12 September away at Coventry City; after the ball was chested down by new signing and strike partner Álvaro Saborío, Maynard struck a 25-yard half-volley in off the crossbar past Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood.

"Robins" manager Gary Johnson said that "he's got some good ones this season but that might just be his best one."

However, Maynard bettered this goal on Boxing day against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road; facing away from goal just outside the box, he collected a bouncing ball in the air, controlled it with one touch, turned two defenders with a second touch, and then smashed a volley into the top corner past an unmoved Radek Černý, all without the ball hitting the ground.

He won the Football League Goal of the Year award for 2009 and would score 45 goals in 124 Championship matches across just under four seasons, becoming the division's joint-top-scorer in 2010.

The goal was voted the 'Football League goal of 2009', out of five selected goals from 2009.

Following a pre-season knee injury, his first appearance in the 2010–11 season was as a substitute against Leeds United on 12 February.

He scored six goals in eight games and entered negotiations with the club on a new contract, with manager Keith Millen saying that the player was "happy to be back playing again, fit and scoring goals and we're delighted to have him".

On 23 April, Maynard received the first red card of his career for a two-footed tackle in a 3–2 defeat at Sheffield United.

He was sold to West Ham United for an undisclosed fee in January 2012 and was an unused substitute in the club's play-off final, though did not feature in a Premier League match.

He joined Cardiff City for a reported £2.75m fee in August 2012.

He picked up a serious injury early in the 2012–13 promotion season and was limited to eight Premier League appearances in the following campaign.

He spent the second half of the 2013–14 season on loan at Wigan Athletic.

He signed with Milton Keynes Dons in September 2015 and would go on to spend two seasons at the club.

He spent the 2017–18 campaign at Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen and the 2018–19 season with Bury.

He joined Mansfield Town in July 2019.

Born in Winsford, Cheshire, Maynard spent a year as a schoolboy with Arsenal, before he joined Crewe Alexandra's academy at the age of seven.

He then represented Crewe at every age group level and scored 27 goals in one season at under–18s level.