Niall Maher

Niall Maher
Personal information
Full name Niall Callum James Peter Maher[1]
Date of birth (1995-07-31) 31 July 1995
Place of birth Gorton, Manchester , England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Eastleigh
Number 31
Youth career
2003–2014 Bolton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Bolton Wanderers 5 (0)
2015 → Blackpool (loan) 10 (0)
2016–2017 Bury 22 (1)
2017 Galway United 5 (0)
2018 AFC Telford United 1 (0)
2018–2022 FC Halifax Town 148 (6)
2022–2024 Grimsby Town 61 (4)
2024– Eastleigh 36 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 September 2025 (UTC)

Niall Callum James Peter Maher (born 31 July 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League side Eastleigh.

He has previously played in the Football League for Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool, Bury and Grimsby Town as well as in the League of Ireland with Galway United and in non-League football with AFC Telford United and FC Halifax Town. He was voted as part of the National League Team of the Year for 2021–22.

Club career

Bolton Wanderers

Maher has been with Bolton Wanderers since the age of ten[2] He made his first team debut on 2 April 2016 at home against Reading.[3]

On 22 January 2015, Maher joined Blackpool in a one-month loan[4] and he made his Football League debut as a 57th-minute substitute for Peter Clarke on 24 January 2015 in a 7–2 loss against Watford at Vicarage Road.[5]

Bury

At the end of the 2015–16 season, Bolton confirmed that he would be leaving when his contract expired at the end of June.[6] On 24 July 2016 it was confirmed that he had joined Bolton's close neighbours Bury on a twelve-month contract.[7] He scored his first goal for Bury against Burton Albion in an EFL Cup tie on 10 August 2016.[8]

Galway United

On 29 August 2017, Maher joined League of Ireland Premier Division side Galway United.[9]

AFC Telford United

Maher briefly joined AFC Telford United in February 2018, making one appearance for the club, a 1–0 win over FC United of Manchester in the National League North.[10]

FC Halifax Town

On 8 March 2018, Maher signed for National League side FC Halifax Town on a deal until the end of the 2017–18 season.[11] On 18 August 2018, Maher extended his stay by agreeing a new two-year deal.[12]

Halifax announced on 17 August 2020 that Maher extended his deal for a further two years.[13]

Ahead of the 2021–22 season Maher was installed as the new club captain, replacing the departing Nathan Clarke.[14] After advancing to the play-offs following a 4th place finish, Halifax were defeated by Chesterfield in the eliminator round, thus ending their bid to reach the Football League.[15] Maher was voted into the National League Team of the Season.[16]

On 6 June 2022, Maher announced he would be leaving Halifax following the conclusion of the 2021–22 season, he stated upon his departure "To be your captain over the last 18 months has been a massive honour. To the players – it's been one hell of a season with a great dressing room to manage and there is no doubt that you all deserve to be achieving the best in your careers whatever they may be."[17]

Grimsby Town

On 15 June 2022, following their promotion to the Football League, Maher signed for Grimsby Town ahead of the 2022–23 season,[18] reportedly rejecting an offer from Oldham Athletic who were hopeful of signing him.[19]

Maher was part of the Grimsby team that reached the FA Cup quarter final for the first time since 1939, he played the full 90 minutes of the 2–1 win away at Premier League side Southampton that secured that achievement.[20][21]

Maher was released following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season.[22]

Eastleigh

Maher signed for National League side Eastleigh on a free transfer in August 2024.[23]

Career statistics

As of end of 2023–24 season
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bolton Wanderers 2014–15[24] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16[25] Championship 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Blackpool (loan) 2014–15[24] Championship 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Bury 2016–17[26] League One 17 0 1 0 1 1 3[a] 0 22 1
Galway United 2017[27] Premier Division 5 0 — — 0 0 5 0
AFC Telford United 2017–18[28] National League North 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 1 0
FC Halifax Town 2017–18[28] National League 9 0 0 0 — 0 0 9 0
2018–19[28] National League 39 1 3 0 — 3[b] 0 45 1
2019–20[28] National League 23 2 1 1 — 3[b] 1 27 4
2020–21[28] National League 37 1 1 0 — 2[b] 0 40 1
2021–22[28] National League 40 2 4 0 — 3[c] 0 47 2
Total 148 6 9 1 0 0 11 1 168 8
Grimsby Town 2022–23[29] League Two 35 3 6 0 0 0 3[d] 0 44 3
2023–24[30] League Two 26 1 3 0 0 0 3[d] 0 32 1
Total 61 4 9 0 0 0 6 0 76 4
Career total 247 10 19 1 1 1 20 1 287 13
  1. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in FA Trophy
  3. ^ Two appearances in FA Trophy and one in National League Play-offs
  4. ^ a b Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "The Football League Retained List" (PDF). The Football League. 12 June 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  2. ^ Pye, David (4 April 2013). "Youth coach Lee hails Whites academy after trio get deals". The Bolton News. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Bolton v Reading". BBC Sport. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Niall Maher: Blackpool sign Bolton Wanderers full-back on loan". BBC Sport. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Watford 7-2 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Bolton Wanderers confirm player departures". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 13 May 2016. Archived from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Confirmed: Maher arrives in Bury". Bury F.C. 25 May 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Burton Albion 3-2 Bury (AET)". BBC Sport. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Niall Maher signs for Galway United". Galway United F.C. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  10. ^ Edwards, Joe (27 February 2018). "New-boy Niall Maher chasing another AFC Telford triumph". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Niall Maher: An Opportunity I Couldn't Turn Down". FC Halifax Town. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Niall Maher: Halifax defender signs new contract with National League club". BBC Sport. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  13. ^ Scargill, Tom (17 August 2020). "FC Halifax Town: Defender Maher agrees new deal with Shaymen". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  14. ^ Scargill, Tom (16 August 2021). "FC Halifax Town: Maher named as new Shaymen skipper". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  15. ^ Scargill, Tom (12 May 2022). ""We've achieved what we wanted to at the start of the season" – Niall Maher's captain's column". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  16. ^ Allen, Sam (15 June 2022). "'Great from Hurst' – Grimsby Town supporters react to Niall Maher signing". Grimsbylive. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  17. ^ Berry, Mark (9 June 2022). "Skipper Maher announces departure from FC Halifax Town". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Maher Becomes First Summer Signing". Grimsby Town F.C. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  19. ^ Geldard, Suzanne (14 June 2022). "Oldham Athletic miss out on ex-Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool defender Niall Maher". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Southampton 1-2 Grimsby Town: Mariners reach FA Cup quarter-finals for first time in 84 years". BBC Sport. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  21. ^ Drury, Sam (19 March 2023). "Brighton 5-0 Grimsby Town: Seagulls safely through to FA Cup semi-final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Retained and Released List 2023/24". Grimsby Town F.C. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Official: Niall Maher joins the Spitfires". Eastleigh F.C. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Games played by Niall Maher in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  25. ^ "Games played by Niall Maher in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  26. ^ "Games played by Niall Maher in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Games played by Niall Maher in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  28. ^ a b c d e f "Niall Callum James Peter Maher". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  29. ^ "Games played by Niall Maher in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  30. ^ "Games played by Niall Maher in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
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