Where Are They Now?                                   Profiles of ex-Luton players

Geoff Aunger

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Height: 5 ft 11". Weight: 11 st 09 lbs. Born: Red Deer, 04.02.1968. Nationality: Canada. International Honours: Canada 44 full caps.

Born in Canada and a lively and energetic striker, Geoff Aunger was somewhat of an unknown quantity when he joined Luton Town from Vancouver in the 1993-94 season. 

He had started his career with Vancouver in 1987, and he then enjoyed spells with fellow Canadian sides Winnipeg, Victoria, Hamilton and London over the next 5 years before returning for a second spell with Vancouver.

With Geoff deciding to try his luck in England and coming for a trial with the Hatters, and with Luton struggling in the First Division, boss David Pleat signed Geoff in late-October 1992.  Luton were struggling for goals, even though they had beaten Barnsley 5-0 at the beginning of that month.  Pleat had tried Ian Benjamin, Kerry Dixon, John Hartson, Scott Houghton and Jamie Campbell in the striking positions already during the first 3 months of the season without finding a partnership that ‘clicked’.

Geoff had already been capped by Canada at full international level when he joined Luton, having made his debut on April 2^nd 1992 against China and then scoring his first goal for his country on November 15^th 1992 against Bermuda.

Many Hatters supporters didn’t even know that Geoff had signed and were therefore very surprised to say the least when he was announced in the Luton line-up for a match at Crystal Palace on November 2^nd 1993.  However, if they didn’t know anything about him before the game started, they certainly did just 2 minutes into the match when he gave Luton the lead at Selhurst Park.  It was a great start to English football for Geoff, even though the Hatters went on to lose 2-3 in an exciting match, Ceri Hughes bagging Luton’s other goal

Aunger in action v Charlton.

Geoff kept his place in Luton’s attack and once again wore the number 11 shirt for the following match, his home debut, against Charlton Athletic at Kenilworth Road.  Once again giving a good account of himself, Luton won 1-0 with a Paul Telfer goal.

The problem for Geoff was that although he was showing skill and strength in Luton’s attack, the pace of the English game was causing him difficulties, which resulted in him being substituted in the win over Charlton, and this was a fact that was beginning to worry Hatters boss David Pleat.

However, Pleat decided to keep Geoff in the side for the next match, but it was a poor day for both Geoff and Luton, and the Hatters were beaten 1-2 at Roots Hall against Southend United, Kerry Dixon scoring Luton’s goal.

Pleat decided that it was now the time to drop Geoff to the reserves in order for him to gain some proper match fitness and try to come to terms with the speed and physical nature of the English game.

Aunger runs with the ball at Southend United.

And so it was some 5 months before Geoff returned to action for the first-team, although during that period of absence he was a member of a Luton squad that amazingly reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, knocking out Premiership sides Newcastle United and West Ham United before losing to Chelsea at Wembley.  Although Geoff never featured in the squads for these matches, it was nonetheless a great experience for him and he could gain a real sense of satisfaction in the knowledge that there aren’t many Canadians who are involved in clubs that reach the FA Cup semi-final! 

Geoff returned to the side in early April 1994 as the Hatters travelled to Grimsby Town, but a 0-2 loss saw him drop back out of the picture for a further 2 matches.  He returned to the side for a difficult trip to Bristol City, but a 0-1 defeat marked Geoff’s final appearance for the club, as he was once again substituted and suffering from the pace of the game. 

At the end of the season, Pleat decided to release Geoff, deciding that he just hadn’t shown him enough to warrant a new contract, but he wished him well for the future and Geoff had certainly not let himself down during his brief time and 5 appearances at Kenilworth Road. 

He went on to sign for Chester City during the following season, enduring a brief spell with the then Third Division club before a move back to the United States with A-League side Vancouver 86ers.  The move saw his third stint with Vancouver 86ers in three different affiliations: in 1987 in the Canadian Soccer League, 1993 in the APSL, and in '95 in the A-League.  A brief period then followed with MLS side New England Revolution where he made 29 appearances, a side that Hatters’ fans favourite and former goalkeeper Ian Feuer went on to represent. 

However, his time in English football wasn’t over just yet, as he looked to make one last real breakthrough in the English game and signed for First Division Stockport County in December 1997 and then made his debut just a day after signing when coming on as a 68^th minute substitute in a 1-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest.  Unfortunately for Geoff, it was to be his last appearance in English football as the Edgeley Park-based side released him and he returned to the United States and A-League side Seattle Sounders – where he played in an A-League All-Star Game as a forward. 

After a season with Seattle Sounders, Geoff got another chance at playing in the MLS with D.C. United and he did well for arguably the MLS’ best club during a two-year period with the club from 1998-2000.  Geoff signed for D.C. United after his selection in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft, although by this time he had been converted from a striker into a defender and he won the right-back position in pre-season and started the first six matches of the campaign, his first extended time spent at the back as a professional. However, he spent the remainder of the season in and out of the first XI.  He also won 2 honours in his first season with the club – the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup and the Interamerican Cup. 

Aunger in action for Canada.

In 1999, Geoff ended the season with 25 appearances, 24 as a starter, one of 10 D.C. United players with more than 20 appearances. He made his first start in D.C. United's third match, slotting into the holding midfielder role for Richie Williams, who was out with an ankle injury. Geoff grabbed a rare goal from the run of play, sending a diving header home against his former MLS club at New England. He also contributed an assist, his first-ever MLS match when he was involved in multiple goals.  Geoff also made one start during the D.C. United’s run to becoming MLS Cup Champions, deputizing for the suspended Richie Williams in the first match of the conference finals against Columbus. He also came on as a substitute in two matches.

Geoff was also a regular in the Canadian national team through qualifying for World Cup '98 and he played more in an attacking role in midfield for country.  In 1997, he played in nine of Canada's 10 World Cup qualifiers, starting eight. 

In 2000, Geoff made 26 appearances for D.C. United, but although he can still be found playing his football in the United States, Geoff is with a new club having been traded in 2001 for a second-round pick in the MLS SuperDraft with Colorado Rapids. 

Profile By:  James Garley