Nicky Maynard came through the Academy ranks at Crewe Alexandra to become another of the club's most promising strikers and in the Summer of 2008 made a £2.25million move to Bristol City.

In his debut season at Ashton Gate, Maynard scored a commendable 11 goals alongside another of our former greats Dele Adebola. After establishing himself as a firm favourite with the Bristol City supporters, Nicky was named as the club's Young Player-of-the-Season.

After scoring goals for fun at Youth level, Maynard announced his arrival at first-team level by scoring with his first ever touch in senior football against Millwall at the end of the April 2006.

In his first full season Maynard formed a flourishing partnership with Luke Varney, scoring 19 goals in all competitions. It was a superb return from the Winsford-born striker considering he missed a number of matches with a troublesome hamstring injury.

Disaster struck on the opening day of the 2007/2008 season when just 20 minutes into our home match with Brighton, Maynard suffered a fractured fibula and ankle ligament damage. It was an injury that kept him out of action for four months and left new first team coach Steve Holland struggling for goals.

Obviously, missing that amount of football it took Maynard a bit of time to rediscover his form. With Crewe Alexandra struggling at the wrong end of the league table, Maynard rediscovered his goal scoring touch at just the right time to save us from relegation. His tally of 11 goals in the last 9 matches of the season played a significant role in seeing Crewe escape relegation on the final day of the season.

Overall, Maynard's prolific record stands at 35 goals in just 67 appearances for Crewe.

The 2009/10 season was a great one for our former striker. In his second season at Bristol City, he scored 20 league goals in just 38 appearances, finishing the season with the Championship Golden Boot along with Cardiff City's Peter Whittingham. His superb goal against QPR on Boxing Day earned him Goal of the Season from the Football League after collecting a bouncing ball with one keep up, with his back to goal he took on two defenders and smashed the volley into the back of the net without the ball hitting the floor.

Maynard's 2010/11 season was plagued with a knee injury, however he did return in the closing stages to score six times in 13 appearances.