Gavin Melaugh Player Profile

Biography

Combative central midfielder from Londonderry who starred under Tommy Wright before fading out of football just as quickly.

Gavin began his football career at then English Premier League side Aston Villa as an apprentice in 1998, Melaugh worked his way through the ranks of the youth team and eventually into the reserves in 2000. Aged only 17, Villa boss John Gregory selected Melaugh in the squad for a FA Cup tie at Newcastle United. Despite being an unused substitute, he was certainly making waves at Villa Park. However, he failed to make a first-team appearance in his four years at the Midlands club.

February 2002, saw Melaugh make his Northern Ireland Under-21 debut in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Germany. Gavin made a big impression in the Windsor Park fixture and his performance was hailed in the press by manager, Roy Millar. Only two months later senior manager Sammy McIlroy was on the phone, as the Aston Villa midfielder had been called up to the full international squad. A number of withdrawals had hampered McIlroy's preparations for a friendly against Spain in April. The 19-year-old was an unused substitute but it made for a great experience despite the Spaniards running out 5-0 winners at Windsor Park.

That November, Rochdale manager Paul Simpson came calling, and offered Gavin a chance of first team football at a month long spell at the Third Division side. He made his league debut in a 2-0 away defeat to Oxford United. Gavin took a few games to settle, but began to shine in the middle of the Rochdale midfield. The move was made permanent after a fantastic 2-0 FA Cup fourth Round win over Coventry City - in which Gavin starred in; the revenue from the cup upset allowed Simpson funds to sign Melaugh on a permanent deal until the end of the season. He rewarded Simpson's faith by scoring the winner in against Oxford United the following week - his first professional goal in football.

Despite winning a player-of-the-month award and scoring against Wolves in the FA Cup, he was surprisingly released by Rochdale, much to the disappointment and of the club's supporters. In the summer of 2003, following trials with Scottish sides Partick Thistle and Ross County - Melaugh couldn't agree terms with either so returned home to Ireland in search of a fresh start. The main interest in the Northern Ireland Under-21 captain was from Cork City and Glentoran, yet despite spending a trial period at Turner's Cross - he chose a move closer to home with reigning Irish League champions Glentoran, signing a three year contract at the Oval in August 2003.

He made his Glens debut in a 3-1 League Cup win over Omagh Town that same month but spent periods of the season playing at full-back and struggled to fully settle at the Oval despite making 30 appearances. Gavin did win his first senior medal in May 2004 as Glentoran lifted the Irish Cup after defeating Coleraine in the final. Melaugh made his European debut in the UEFA Cup in July 2004, as he was part of the first Glentoran team to win away in Europe, as they qualified for the second round. He had a fine second season at the Oval as he firstly won the League Cup and then lifted his first League Championship - whilst personally also being main contender for player of the year honours at the East Belfast side in 2004/05.

The following 2005/2006 season was a major disappointment as firstly the Glens lost heavily to Shelbourne in the Champions' League and Linfield ran away with every available domestic trophy. Manager Roy Coyle was subsequently sacked with Paul Millar replacing him as Melaugh tasted defeat in his second Irish Cup final, as Linfield won 2-1 in what turned out to be the midfielder's last game in the famous green shirt, as surprisingly Gavin's contract was not renewed at the end of the season.

Despite the offer of full-time football from Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland - Melaugh joined ambitious Irish League newcomers Donegal Celtic in July 2006 on a two-year contract as he wanted to stay near Belfast, having recently started a degree at Queens University. Despite the optimism at Suffolk Road the season started poorly for Celtic but the Derry native made history by scoring the winning goal against Limavady United in the club's first senior victory.

After just five months at the Hoops, Gavin made a surprise move to Ballymena United in January, 2007 - and made his debut against Comber Rec. in the Irish Cup a few weeks later. He quickly settled into Tommy Wright's team but his first season at the Warden Street Showgrounds was cut prematurely short following an ankle injury sustained against Linfield in the Irish Cup quarter-final.

Having returned to fitness, Gavin became a vital cog in Wright's impressive United outfit that recovered from some poor early season form to go 14 games undefeated towards the end of 2007 into the New Year. The Sky Blues' European challenge faltered at the business end of the campaign but the midfielder was deservedly voted the club's Players' Player of the Year by his peers.

As good as his previous season was, the 2008/2009 season was conversely as poor for Melaugh and his team-mates under new boss Roy Walker. United were forced to fight their way out of an early season relegation scrap, but having completely fell out of form, Walker initially dropped Gavin from the team and subsequently failed to offer the midfielder renewed terms come the end of the season after 73 appearances and 4 goals for the Braidmen.

Following his released he moved quickly to join Lisburn Distillery in June 2009 as they embarked on their disappointing Europa League tie against Georgian side Zestafoni. His new boss Jimmy Brown only lasted until September, with the club alarmingly rooted to the bottom of the league table, their Premiership status was saved by a familiar face as Melaugh's former boss Tommy Wright stepped in to guide the club to safety during the 2009/2010 campaign.

At the age of 26, the season at Distillery would be Gavin's last contribution to senior football as he eventually moved to England to further his academic studies and is currently working with the School of Physics and Astronomy at Edinburgh University.

Honours
(with Glentoran)
Irish League: (winner) 2004/2005
Irish Cup: (winner) 2003/2004; (finalist) 2005/2006
League Cup: (winner) 2004/2005

International Honours
Northern Ireland Under-21

Last updated: 21 August 2017

Last updated: 21 August 2017