Ronan Arjun Maher (born 30 December 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Tamworth on loan from EFL League Two club Walsall. Born in England, he represents the Republic of Ireland at youth level.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ronan Arjun Maher[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 30 December 2004[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Walsall | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2015 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| 2015–2022 | Walsall | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | Walsall | 15 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Rushall Olympic (loan) | 25 | (4) |
| 2024– | → Tamworth (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022– | Republic of Ireland U19 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:00, 7 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:00, 24 September 2022 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editMaher played futsal at an early age, and played football at West Bromwich Albion for four years before being released at under-11 level.[3] He then joined Walsall at the age of eleven and was the under-18 team's top-scorer during the 2021–22 campaign.[4] He made his first-team debut on the opening day of the 2022–23 season on 30 July 2022, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute in a 4–0 win over Hartlepool United at the Bescot Stadium.[5] He signed a three-year professional contract the following month.[6]
He scored his first professional goal for Walsall on 8 August 2023 in a 3–4 EFL Cup first round defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.[7]
On 25 August 2023, Maher signed for National League North side Rushall Olympic on a youth loan until 6 January 2024.[8] Maher made his debut for The Pics on the following day in a 1–1 draw with Banbury United.[9]
On 22 November 2024, Maher joined National League side Tamworth on an initial one-month loan deal.[10] He scored Tamworth's 94th-minute equaliser in their second-round F.A. Cup encounter at Burton Albion, sending the game to penalties which Tamworth went on to win, 4–3.[11]
International career
editMaher made his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-19 team in a 6–0 win over Gibraltar on 21 September 2022.[12] He started in the following game, a 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification match with Wales, which ended in a 2–0 victory for the Irish.[13] Walsall manager Michael Flynn said that he was "very proud of Ronan".[14]
Personal life
editBorn in England, Maher is of Irish and Indian descent.[15]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 1 December 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Walsall | 2022–23[16] | League Two | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023–24[17] | League Two | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2024–25[18] | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Walsall total | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 29 | 1 | ||
| Rushall Olympic | 2023–24[2] | National League North | 25 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 7[b] | 4 | 34 | 8 | |
| Tamworth (loan) | 2024–25[19] | National League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Career total | 41 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 65 | 10 | ||
- ^ a b c Includes appearance/s in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Includes appearance/s in the Staffordshire Senior Cup and Walsall Senior Cup
Honours
editRushall Olympic
- Staffordshire Senior Cup: 2023–24[20]
- Walsall Senior Cup: 2023–24[21]
References
edit- ^ "EFL – Squad List 2023/24: Walsall – Under 21 Contract players" (PDF). English Football League. p. 143. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ a b Ronan Maher at Soccerway
- ^ "Ronan Maher speaks to Saddlers Shout". www.saddlers.co.uk. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Edwards, Joe (19 August 2022). "Walsall hand Ronan Maher first professional contract". Express and Star. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Walsall 4-0 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Ronan Maher signs first professional contract". www.saddlers.co.uk. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Blackburn Rovers 4-3 Walsall". BBC Sport. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "Ronan Maher joins Rushall Olympic on loan". www.saddlers.co.uk. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "FIRST-TEAM 1-1 BANBURY UNITED". www.rofc.co.uk. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ @tamworthfc (22 November 2024). "✍️ 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✍️ 🐑 Tamworth Football Club are pleased to announce the signing of Ronan Maher from @WFCOfficial on a 1-month loan deal 👋 Welcome, Ronan! #bristolstreetmotors | #COYL 🐑⚽️" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 November 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "FA Cup: Burton Albion 1-1: Lambs reach third round after beating Brewers on penalties". BBC Sport. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^ "Watch as Walsall's Ronan Maher Starts for Ireland Under-19s". www.bescotbanter.net. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Maher enjoys fruitful week on international duty". www.saddlers.co.uk. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Edwards, Joe (29 September 2022). "Michael Flynn proud of Walsall youngster Ronan Maher's international call-up". Express and Star. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "British South Asians in football: Who makes it into the 2022/23 Team of the Season?". Sky Sports. 14 June 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Ronan Maher in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Ronan Maher in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Ronan Maher in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Ronan Maher in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- ^ "Pics boss full of pride following cup final triumph". Express & Star. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Chasetown beaten by Rushall Olympic in Walsall Senior Cup final". Lichfield Live. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.