Shaun Goater
Feed the goat and he will score.
At least that’s what Manchester City fans would say.
The man best known for accelerating Gary Neville’s retirement from the game, Goater was a Bermudian striker who is fondly remembered by Manchester City fans for his contributions during the club’s journey through the lower divisions and into the English Premier League.
However, his journey in Manchester football had an unexpected twist.
Goater initially joined Manchester United as a youth player in the late 1980s when he was spotted by club scouts when he was playing in his native Bermuda.
Goater spent a short time at Old Trafford but failed to break into the first team.
His career eventually took him to various lower league clubs in England, including the likes of Rotherham United and Bristol City.
However, it was at Manchester City that Goater found his true calling.
In 1998, he signed for Manchester City and quickly became a fan favourite.
His prolific goal-scoring exploits, combined with his infectious personality, endeared him to City supporters.
Ironically, Goater’s 100th Mancheser City goal was scored against Manchester United and he also scored the fastest goal by a substitute in English Premier League history, just 9 seconds after coming onto the pitch against the Red Devils.
After leaving City, Goater had a bit of a nomadic end to his career but his story is a testament to perseverance, as he went from Manchester United’s youth academy to becoming a cult hero at Manchester City.
