Paul Maguire (footballer)

Originally at Scottish Junior club Kilbirnie Ladeside, Maguire joined Shrewsbury Town in 1976. The "Shrews" finished tenth and eleventh in the Third Division in 1976–77 and 1977–78 under Alan Durban's stewardship. Graham Turner then led the club to the top of the table in 1978–79, though they had finished just two points above fourth place Gillingham. A 13th-place finish in the Second Division followed in 1979–80. Maguire featured in the 1980 Welsh Cup Final, which ended in a 5–1 aggregate defeat to Newport County.[3] By then he already had two Welsh Cup winner's medals to his name, after playing in a 5–1 aggregate win over Cardiff City in 1977, and a 2–1 aggregate win over Wrexham in 1979.[4][5] He scored 35 goals in 151 league games in his four years at Gay Meadow.

He joined Stoke City in 1980 for a £262,000 fee, who were managed by his former boss Alan Durban. After injuries plagued his first season at the Victoria Ground, Maguire established himself down the left wing, scoring vital goals and being known as something of a dead-ball specialist.[6] He scored seven goals in 37 appearances for the "Potters" in 1981–82, helping to keep Richie Barker's side two places and two points above the First Division relegation zone. He hit five goals in 25 games in 1982–83, as Stoke finished a comfortable 13th. He was the club's top scorer in 1983–84 with ten goals in 38 games. He bagged four of these goals, including two penalties, on the final day of the season in a 4–0 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers to overtake Mark Chamberlain, Ian Painter and Robbie James in the scoring charts and ensure Stoke remained in the top flight. Maguire left Stoke in the summer to spend a year in the United States, playing with the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He scored twelve goals and got eight assists in 29 games for the Stars.[7]

Maguire returned to England and signed for Port Vale, Stoke's Potteries derby rivals in June 1985.[1] He was a regular in the side and hit 13 goals (including five penalties) in 57 appearances to help the "Valiants" to win promotion from the Fourth Division in 1985–86.[1] Manager John Rudge gave Andy Jones penalty taking duties in 1986–87, but Maguire still bagged nine goals in 52 games to help Vale to a comfortable mid-table finish in the Third Division.[1] He lost his place in December 1987, and after five goals in 34 games in 1987–88, he was given a free transfer away from Vale Park in May 1988.[1] He joined nearby Conference side Northwich Victoria as the player-assistant manager, later becoming the player-caretaker manager, before retiring from the game.[1] He later found work as a sales rep.[8]

Maguire was an excellent set-piece taker who specialised in taking short corners.[9][10]

Source:[11][12]

Shrewsbury Town

• Football League Third Division champion: 1978–79
• Welsh Cup winner: 1977 & 1979
• Welsh Cup runner-up: 1980

Port Vale

• Football League Fourth Division promotion (4th): 1985–86[13]