Georgie Poynton

Georgie Poynton
Personal information
Full name George Poynton
Date of birth (1997-09-08) 8 September 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Laytown, County Meath, Ireland
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
 Newry City
Number 38
Youth career
East Meath United
2013–2016 Dundalk
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Dundalk 10 (0)
2017 → Bohemians (loan) 25 (4)
2019 St Patrick's Athletic 0 (0)
2019 Waterford 27 (1)
2020–2021 Shelbourne 38 (7)
2022 Drogheda United 27 (1)
2023 Glebe North
2023– Newry City 31 (0)
International career
2012 Republic of Ireland U16 3 (0)
2013 Republic of Ireland U17 9 (2)
2014 Republic of Ireland U18
2015 Republic of Ireland U19 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2024

Georgie Poynton (born (1997-09-08) 8 September 1997 (age 27))[1] is an Irish footballer who plays for NIFL Premiership side Newry City. He has previously played for Dundalk, Bohemians, Saint Patrick's Athletic, Waterford, Shelbourne and Drogheda United. He competed at underage level for the Republic of Ireland national under-19 football team, and was named 2016 FAI Under-19 Player of the Year.[2]

Club career

Youth career

Poynton started off playing with East Meath United, before moving to Dundalk aged 15 in August 2013. He was "fast-tracked" to the club's under 19s team, despite playing 3 years above his age group. In February 2014, he became the youngest ever player to sign a professional contract with Dundalk, aged just 16 years 5 months old, despite reputeded interest from Middlesbrough and Hibernians.[3][4][5]

Dundalk

2014 season

Poynton made his first team debut for Dundalk on 5 May 2014 in a 3–0 League of Ireland Cup win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.[6] He went on to make 2 more appearances in the competition that season as Dundalk won the 2014 League of Ireland Cup as well as the league title.[7]

2015 season

On 22 May 2015, Poynton made his League of Ireland debut, coming on as a substitute for Ronan Finn in a 2–0 win away to St Patrick's Athletic.[8] He made a total of 8 appearances in all competitions, including 3 in the Leinster Senior Cup, one of which being in the final as his side won the competition by beating Shamrock Rovers 3–1 at Oriel Park.[9] Poynton also picked up a league winners medal as Dundalk retained their League of Ireland Premier Division title as well as winning the 2015 FAI Cup. He signed a new 2-year contract on 5 November 2015.[10]

2016 season

Poynton made 9 appearances in all competitions, 4 in the league, 3 in the FAI Cup and 2 in the Leinster Senior Cup, picking up another league winner's medal. Poynton also appeared on the bench as an unused substitute in Dundalk's UEFA Champions League games at home and away against BATE Borisov, as well as a 1–1 draw away to Legia Warsaw in the Champions League play-off Round Second Leg.[11]

2017 – Bohemians Loan

2017 was the first season Poynton was finished up playing Under 19's football with Dundalk alongside senior football and with Dundalk chasing their fourth league title in a row, they opted to send Poynton out on loan in order to get game time at first team level.[12] He was loaned out to Bohemians until the summer ahead of the season.[13] Bohemians extended the loan deal until the end of the season.[14] He made 27 appearances for Bohemians, scoring 5 goals in his first full season as a senior player.[7]

2018 season

Poynton returned to Dundalk for the 2018 season, signing a new contract with the club on 8 January 2018.[15][16] 2018 proved to be a difficult one for Poynton as he struggled to break into the starting eleven ahead of Robbie Benson, Stephen O'Donnell and Chris Shields. He made 11 appearances in all competitions as Dundalk retained their league title and completed the double by beating Cork City to win the FAI Cup at the Aviva Stadium.[17]

St Patrick's Athletic

On 29 November 2018, it was announced that Poynton had signed for Dublin club St Patrick's Athletic, becoming new manager Harry Kenny's fifth new signing.[18][19] Poynton made his debut on 18 February in a 3–0 Leinster Senior Cup win over Wexford at Richmond Park.[20] It was announced on 23 February 2019 that Poynton had left the club by mutual consent, having not made the bench in the club's first two league games of the season, with Poynton facing an uphill battle for first team action as the club had signed Chris Forrester and Rhys McCabe in his position after he had signed.[21]

Waterford

Waterford announced the signing of Poynton the same day it was announced he had left St Patrick's Athletic, with Poynton seeking more first team action.[22] Poynton was a mainstay in the Waterford team that season, playing 32 of their 36 league matches as they finished 6th. His first and only goal for the club came on the final day of the season when he converted a penalty in a 4-2 home win against UCD.

Shelbourne

2020 season

Shelbourne announced the signing of Poynton ahead of their return to the Premier Division for the 2020 season.[23] He made his debut in a 2-1 loss at home to his former club Dundalk.[24] His first goal for the club was a penalty at Oriel Park against the same opposition on 11 September. Poynton also picked up an assist in this match. He scored a header in a 3-1 Dublin Derby loss to Bohemians on 3 October.[25] Shelbourne were relegated back to the First Division after a play off loss to Longford Town, but Poynton renewed his contract with the club for another season,[26] after ending the campaign with 2 goals and 2 assists in 15 appearances

2021 season

Poynton started the 2021 season scoring two goals to save a 3-3 draw with Bray Wanderers on matchday two.[27] He got the winning goal when Shelbourne travelled to Wexford on 18 June, and assisted the following week when they recorded a win over Cork City.[28] He was on the scoresheet again against Cabinteely, and his penalty against Treaty United on 1 October gave Shelbourne a win that officially confirmed them as First Division champions.[29] Poynton left Shelbourne in December 2021 upon expiry of his contract. In total he made 40 appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals and 6 assists

Drogheda United

After leaving Shelbourne, Poynton signed for his hometown club Drogheda United.[30] He made his debut against his former club Shelbourne on the opening day of the season. He scored his first and only goal for the club away to Sligo Rovers on 23 April.[31] Poynton made 29 appearances as a right back in all competitions as Drogheda avoided relegation by finishing 8th place.

International career

Poynton has played at underage level for Ireland right up from under 16 to under 19 levels as well as competing at Universities International level, captaining his team at all levels. In March 2017, Poynton was named Republic of Ireland U19 Player of the Year.[2]

Career statistics

Professional appearances – correct as of 9 September 2022.[32]

Club Division Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dundalk League of Ireland Premier Division 2014 0 0 0 0 3 0 0[a] 0 0[b] 0 3 0
2015 2 0 0 0 3 0 0[c] 0 3[b] 0 8 0
2016 4 0 3 0 0 0 0[c] 0 2[b] 0 9 0
Bohemians 2017 25 4 0 0 1 0 — 1[b] 1 27 5
Dundalk 2018 4 0 0 0 3 0 0[a] 0 4[d] 0 11 0
Dundalk Total 10 0 3 0 9 0 0 0 9 0 31 0
St Patrick's Athletic League of Ireland Premier Division 2019 0 0 — — — 1[b] 0 1 0
Waterford 2019 27 1 2 0 2 0 — 0 0 31 1
Shelbourne 2020 14 2 1 0 — — 0[e] 0 15 2
League of Ireland First Division 2021 24 5 1 0 — — — 25 5
Shelbourne Total 38 7 2 0 — — 0 0 40 7
Drogheda United League of Ireland Premier Division 2022 27 1 2 0 — — — 29 1
Career Total 127 13 9 0 12 0 0 0 11 1 159 14
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b c d e Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ 3 appearances in Leinster Senior Cup, 1 appearance in President's Cup
  5. ^ Appearances in the League of Ireland play-offs

Honours

Club

Dundalk
Shelbourne

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Georgie Poynton". fai.ie. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Recap: Brady scoops hat-trick of FAI awards". rte.ie. 19 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Poynton caps amazing week with pro contract". Independent.ie.
  4. ^ "Poynton Signs Pro Terms with Dundalk FC". Dundalk Football Club. 15 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Georgie Poynton". Dundalk Football Club.
  6. ^ "Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2014 League Cup Second Round - Bray Wanderers -v- Dundalk". www.extratime.ie.
  7. ^ a b "Republic of Ireland - G. Poynton - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
  8. ^ "Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2015 League of Ireland Premier Division - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Dundalk". www.extratime.ie.
  9. ^ "Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2015 Leinster Senior Cup Final - Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers". www.extratime.ie.
  10. ^ "Dundalk youngster Georgie Poynton signs two-year deal". ExtraTime.ie.
  11. ^ "Legia Warszawa vs. Dundalk - 23 August 2016 - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
  12. ^ "Kenny happy to let O'Connor and Poynton go out on loan". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
  13. ^ "Dundalk announce capture of experienced Lithuanian international midfielder". 8 January 2018.
  14. ^ "DALTON SIGNS - Bohemian FC". bohemianfc.com.
  15. ^ "Poynton Signs New Deal". Dundalk Football Club. 8 January 2018.
  16. ^ McLaughlin, Gavin (8 January 2018). "DFC - Kenny has high hopes for Poynton ahead of the new season". Dundalk Sport.
  17. ^ Wright, Rob (4 November 2018). "FAI Cup final Cork 1-2 Dundalk: recap". rte.ie.
  18. ^ "Club News : Welcome Georgie Poynton". Stpatsfc.com. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  19. ^ "Harry Kenny makes Georgie Poynton latest addition at Pats". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  20. ^ "Leinster Senior Cup Report: St Patrick's Athletic 3 - 0 Wexford".
  21. ^ "Poynton Departs".
  22. ^ "Waterford snap up Georgie Poynton from St Pat's". RTÉ.ie. 23 February 2019.
  23. ^ "Midfielder Georgie Poynton signs for Shels". Shelbourne FC. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  24. ^ "Shelbourne 1-2 Dundalk". extratime.com.
  25. ^ "Grant hat trick helps Bohs to comfortable win and keeps slim title hopes alive". the42.ie. 3 October 2020.
  26. ^ "Shelbourne FC on Twitter: Big One! Georgie Poynton has re-signed for the Reds for 2021". twitter.com.
  27. ^ "Shels and Bray play out 3-3 thriller". shelbournefc.ie. 2 April 2021.
  28. ^ "10-man Cork City lose third game on the trot after Shelbourne comeback". irishexaminer.com. 16 April 2021.
  29. ^ "Shelbourne promoted to Premier Division after Treaty United win". irishmirror.ie. 2 October 2021.
  30. ^ "Brennan and Poynton come home to join Drogheda United". independent.ie.
  31. ^ "Buckley snatches late winner for Sligo against Drogheda". RTE.ie.
  32. ^ "Republic of Ireland – G.Poynton". Ie.soccerway.com. Retrieved 13 December 2018.