November 9th 2003. For a lot of people, it was an ordinary Sunday. But for Manchester City fans, it will forever be remembered as the day Gary Neville fed the Goat, Shaun Goater. It was then, in the last Manchester derby to be played at Maine Road, that Goater sealed his status as a City legend.
Manchester United and fierce rivals City were level 1-1. Gary Neville had the ball, passed to him by goalkeeper Fabian Barthez. In came Goater, who dispossessed Neville to score a beautifully chipped goal to take the lead for City. Goater would also win a duel against Laurent Blanc that day, to score a brace and grab a decisive 3-1 win for the blue side of Manchester.
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Shaun Goater played the role of striker for the likes of Rotheram United, Bristol City, Manchester City, Reading, and Southend United, among others. Among his personal accolades are a Football League Trophy win with Rotherdam, a First Division title with Manchester City and a Football League One title with Southend.
Goater is currently the assistant manager New Mills AFC, a Derbyshire-based club who play in the North West Counties League Premier Division, the ninth tier of English football.
Shaun Goater
Nationality: Bermudan
Position: Striker
Goals Scored: 221
Total Appearances: 567
Premier League Clubs Played For: Manchester City