Gavin Taggart Player Profile

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Player Details

  • Full Name: Gavin Taggart
  • Born: November 15th, 1984 (Belfast)
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Signed: May 29th, 2009
  • First Manager: Roy Walker
  • Left Club: May 16th, 2017
  • Career Totals: 185 appearances, 6 goals
  • Also Played For: Carrick Rangers, Newington, Peterborough United


Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
2016-2017 6 (4) 0 1 0 50.0% 10.0% 40.0%
2015-2016 12 (5) 0 8 1 41.2% 17.6% 41.2%
2014-2015 11 (4) 1 5 0 33.3% 33.3% 33.3%
2013-2014 17 (7) 0 6 0 37.5% 20.8% 41.7%
2012-2013 27 (5) 2 5 1 40.6% 25.0% 34.4%
2011-2012 23 (6) 0 9 0 37.9% 20.7% 41.4%
2010-2011 23 (5) 0 5 0 28.6% 39.3% 32.1%
2009-2010 24 (6) 3 0 1 40.0% 16.7% 43.3%
Totals: 143 (42) 6


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 GtGR = Goals to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 21/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A) 0 - 2
 14/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H) 3 - 2
 07/01/17 Round 5 vs. Cliftonville (H) 1 - 1
 03/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H) 3 - 4
 10/12/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A) 3 - 2

 Recent First Team Goals
 13/08/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A) 2 - 2
 09/02/13 Round 6 vs. Coleraine (H) 2 - 3
 29/12/12 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (H) 3 - 3
 25/03/10 IFA Premiership vs. Crusaders (A) 2 - 2
 29/09/09 Quarter final vs. Donegal Celtic (A) 4 - 1

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 13/08/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  2 - 2
 09/02/13 Round 6 vs. Coleraine (H)  2 - 3
 29/12/12 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (H)  3 - 3
 25/03/10 IFA Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  2 - 2
 29/09/09 Quarter final vs. Donegal Celtic (A)  4 - 1
 11/08/09 Round 1 vs. HW Welders (H)  4 - 0

 List of Games Played (click to expand)
 21/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  0 - 2
 14/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  3 - 2
 07/01/17 Round 5 vs. Cliftonville (H)  1 - 1
 03/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  3 - 4
 31/12/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (A)  2 - 4
 26/12/16 Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  2 - 0
 17/12/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  1 - 2
 13/12/16 Semi final vs. Coleraine (H)  3 - 0
 10/12/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  3 - 2
 03/12/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Portadown (H)  2 - 0
 02/04/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  2 - 2
 19/03/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  3 - 1
 12/03/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  0 - 0
 27/02/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  2 - 4
 20/02/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  0 - 2
 12/02/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  0 - 2
 19/01/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (H)  1 - 0
 12/01/16 Final vs. Linfield (A)  3 - 2
 09/01/16 Round 5 vs. Linfield (A)  1 - 2
 26/12/15 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  1 - 2
 07/11/15 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  0 - 1
 31/10/15 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (A)  2 - 2
 27/10/15 Quarter final vs. Crusaders (A)  2 - 0
 24/10/15 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  1 - 0
 14/10/15 Round 3 vs. Limavady Utd (A)  1 - 0
 22/09/15 Round 1 vs. Glebe Rangers (H)  5 - 0
 08/08/15 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  0 - 4
 01/11/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  0 - 4
 28/10/14 Quarter final vs. Cliftonville (A)  3 - 4
 25/10/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  1 - 4
 11/10/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  2 - 2
 27/09/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  2 - 2
 20/09/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  2 - 1
 13/09/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  2 - 2
 06/09/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (A)  0 - 3
 02/09/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Institute (H)  2 - 1
 29/08/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  1 - 2
 23/08/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  3 - 0
 16/08/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Portadown (H)  3 - 2
 13/08/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  2 - 2
 09/08/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  2 - 0
 02/08/14 Final vs. Cliftonville (A)  0 - 0
 03/05/14 Final vs. Glenavon (N)  1 - 2
 22/04/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  0 - 1
 19/04/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (A)  0 - 0
 12/04/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  1 - 1
 29/03/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  1 - 2
 22/03/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  2 - 1
 15/03/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  0 - 1
 01/03/14 Quarter final vs. Dungannon (H)  4 - 1
 22/02/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  3 - 2
 11/01/14 Round 5 vs. HW Welders (A)  2 - 2
 04/01/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (H)  1 - 0
 01/01/14 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (A)  0 - 0
 26/12/13 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  3 - 2
 21/12/13 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  1 - 0
 17/12/13 Semi final vs. Crusaders (A)  3 - 4
 07/12/13 NIFL Premiership vs. Portadown (A)  0 - 1
 23/11/13 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  2 - 0
 09/11/13 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  1 - 2
 02/11/13 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  3 - 4
 30/10/13 Semi final vs. Crusaders (A)  0 - 1
 08/10/13 Round 3 vs. Ballinamallard Utd (H)  3 - 0
 24/09/13 Quarter final vs. Donegal Celtic (H)  1 - 0
 14/09/13 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  1 - 4
 26/08/13 Round 2 vs. Ballymoney Utd (H)  2 - 2
 27/04/13 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Dungannon (H)  1 - 2
 20/04/13 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Glenavon (H)  0 - 2
 16/04/13 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Distillery (A)  2 - 0
 13/04/13 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Donegal Celtic (A)  4 - 1
 02/04/13 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Portadown (H)  6 - 1
 30/03/13 IFA Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  0 - 5
 02/03/13 IFA Premiership vs. Donegal Celtic (H)  2 - 2
 23/02/13 IFA Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  0 - 7
 16/02/13 IFA Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  0 - 1
 09/02/13 Round 6 vs. Coleraine (H)  2 - 3
 02/02/13 IFA Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  2 - 2
 29/01/13 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  0 - 0
 12/01/13 Round 5 vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  2 - 1
 29/12/12 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (H)  3 - 3
 26/12/12 IFA Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  0 - 2
 24/11/12 IFA Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  1 - 2
 10/11/12 IFA Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  2 - 1
 05/11/12 Quarter final vs. Linfield (H)  0 - 6
 02/11/12 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  3 - 1
 30/10/12 Semi final vs. Donegal Celtic (H)  2 - 0
 27/10/12 IFA Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (H)  1 - 1
 20/10/12 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (A)  4 - 0
 13/10/12 IFA Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  2 - 1
 09/10/12 Round 3 vs. HW Welders (H)  3 - 1
 06/10/12 IFA Premiership vs. Portadown (A)  2 - 2
 25/09/12 Quarter final vs. Cliftonville (H)  1 - 0
 22/09/12 IFA Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  1 - 4
 15/09/12 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  1 - 1
 08/09/12 IFA Premiership vs. Donegal Celtic (H)  3 - 3
 04/09/12 IFA Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  1 - 2
 31/08/12 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (H)  2 - 0
 27/08/12 Round 2 vs. Lurgan Celtic (H)  4 - 1
 28/04/12 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Distillery (A)  3 - 2
 21/04/12 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Glenavon (H)  2 - 2
 14/04/12 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Carrick Rangers (H)  3 - 0
 10/04/12 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Dungannon (A)  4 - 2
 07/04/12 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Donegal Celtic (A)  3 - 0
 24/03/12 IFA Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  2 - 1
 17/03/12 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  1 - 1
 10/03/12 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (H)  2 - 2
 25/02/12 IFA Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  2 - 0
 17/02/12 IFA Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (A)  3 - 1
 04/02/12 IFA Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  0 - 1
 31/01/12 IFA Premiership vs. Portadown (H)  1 - 2
 20/01/12 IFA Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  2 - 2
 17/01/12 IFA Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  0 - 3
 14/01/12 Round 5 vs. Distillery (A)  2 - 1
 07/01/12 IFA Premiership vs. Linfield (H)  1 - 2
 31/12/11 IFA Premiership vs. Donegal Celtic (H)  2 - 2
 26/12/11 IFA Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  0 - 2
 20/12/11 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  1 - 1
 10/12/11 IFA Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  0 - 3
 12/11/11 IFA Premiership vs. Portadown (A)  1 - 2
 05/11/11 IFA Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  0 - 1
 29/10/11 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (H)  1 - 0
 17/09/11 IFA Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  1 - 5
 10/09/11 IFA Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  4 - 3
 07/09/11 Quarter final vs. Linfield (H)  0 - 1
 03/09/11 IFA Premiership vs. Linfield (H)  1 - 2
 30/08/11 IFA Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (H)  0 - 2
 26/08/11 IFA Premiership vs. Donegal Celtic (A)  3 - 2
 16/04/11 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Donegal Celtic (A)  3 - 3
 01/04/11 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Coleraine (A)  1 - 1
 26/03/11 IFA Premiership vs. Newry (A)  1 - 1
 22/03/11 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  0 - 1
 05/03/11 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (A)  1 - 0
 01/03/11 IFA Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  0 - 3
 19/02/11 IFA Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  1 - 1
 14/02/11 IFA Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  0 - 2
 04/01/11 IFA Premiership vs. Portadown (H)  3 - 1
 01/01/11 IFA Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  1 - 3
 11/12/10 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  2 - 1
 27/11/10 IFA Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  1 - 1
 19/11/10 IFA Premiership vs. Newry (A)  4 - 0
 13/11/10 IFA Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  0 - 5
 09/11/10 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (A)  1 - 1
 06/11/10 IFA Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  3 - 3
 30/10/10 IFA Premiership vs. Linfield (H)  3 - 3
 02/10/10 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  1 - 1
 25/09/10 IFA Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  0 - 1
 21/09/10 IFA Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  2 - 1
 11/09/10 IFA Premiership vs. Newry (H)  1 - 0
 07/09/10 Quarter final vs. Crusaders (H)  0 - 1
 04/09/10 IFA Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  1 - 1
 31/08/10 IFA Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  1 - 2
 27/08/10 IFA Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  2 - 0
 21/08/10 IFA Premiership vs. Portadown (A)  3 - 1
 14/08/10 IFA Premiership vs. Donegal Celtic (H)  0 - 4
 07/08/10 IFA Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  0 - 0
 01/05/10 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Glenavon (A)  1 - 1
 24/04/10 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Distillery (H)  1 - 2
 20/04/10 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Newry (A)  0 - 1
 17/04/10 IFA Premiership - Section B vs. Institute (H)  3 - 0
 10/04/10 Semi final vs. Portadown (N)  1 - 1
 03/04/10 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (A)  2 - 2
 25/03/10 IFA Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  2 - 2
 20/03/10 IFA Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  0 - 1
 09/03/10 Quarter final replay vs. Glenavon (H)  2 - 0
 06/03/10 Quarter final vs. Glenavon (A)  3 - 3
 23/02/10 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  1 - 2
 16/02/10 IFA Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  1 - 0
 13/02/10 Round 6 vs. Ballinamallard Utd (H)  5 - 2
 03/12/09 IFA Premiership vs. Newry (A)  2 - 3
 10/11/09 Round 3 - Leg 2 vs. Institute (H)  1 - 2
 27/10/09 IFA Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  2 - 3
 24/10/09 IFA Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  2 - 0
 20/10/09 Semi final vs. Crusaders (N)  0 - 1
 17/10/09 IFA Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  3 - 2
 10/10/09 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  0 - 1
 06/10/09 IFA Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  2 - 0
 29/09/09 Quarter final vs. Donegal Celtic (A)  4 - 1
 15/09/09 IFA Premiership vs. Distillery (A)  2 - 0
 12/09/09 IFA Premiership vs. Newry (H)  1 - 2
 05/09/09 IFA Premiership vs. Institute (A)  1 - 0
 26/08/09 IFA Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  2 - 1
 18/08/09 IFA Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  2 - 3
 15/08/09 IFA Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  1 - 2
 11/08/09 Round 1 vs. HW Welders (H)  4 - 0
 08/08/09 IFA Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  0 - 1


Biography

Central midfielder plucked from the lower leagues by Roy Walker and went onto have eight seasons at the Showgrounds!

Born in West Belfast, Gavin took an opportunity to move to England in 2000 as a 16-year-old with Peterborough United signing a two year apprenticeship with the London Road club. However, the dream of professional football didn't come true for the young midfielder who returned home in 2002 disillusioned with football after failing to make the grade like so many young players at his age.

So disillusioned in fact, Taggart turned his back on football during his late teens and early twenties before returning to the pitch with Newington YC (then of the Amateur League). Within a couple of years, Taggart was quickly pulling the strings in midfield as Newington went on to win the Northern Amateur League in 2008/09. His performances also merited International recognition via Harry McConkey's Regions Cup competition team, with Gavin starring for the Junior International team in March 2009 in Germany.

Suddenly by the summer of 2009, the 24 year old was hot property ' attracting interest from his boyhood team Cliftonville and Crusaders amongst others. But it was Ballymena United manager Roy Walker who convinced him to join his Sky Blue revolution in May 2009 and made his debut against the Reds on the opening day of the 2009/2010 campaign. After a period of adjustment in the first half of the season, Gavin was quickly established as a regular in Walker's team that reached the Irish Cup semi-finals in April 2010, losing on penalties to Portadown.

Despite always promising much more, Walker's Ballymena United continued to struggle at the wrong half of the league table. Personally, Gavin had adapted to the rigours of top division football well despite regular run-ins with the local referees! His 2010/2011 season was cut short by a severe broken wrist suffered at Donegal Celtic's ground. Walker's continued struggles came to a head in December 2011 following his resignation, the appointment of Glenn Ferguson revitalised Gavin ' who had spent the first half of the 2011/2012 on the fringes of the United first-team.

Ferguson found a reliable workhorse in his inherited midfielder and faith was repaid with a stunning County Antrim Shield final victory over Linfield in November 2012 ' United's first trophy in 23 years. However, league form continued to escape the Sky Blues who still were under pressure to break into the top six as Gavin marked a century of appearances for Ballymena United during the season and was rewarded with a new two year contract as apparent interest from both Portadown and Glentoran had forced the club to tie down a key asset.

Taggart came off the bench during the disappointing 2014 Irish Cup final defeat to Glenavon. But his loser's medal paled in comparison to the sudden collapsed lung suffered in November 2014 which ruled the combative midfielder out for the remainder of the 2014/2015 season which included missing out on the League Cup final to Cliftonville in January 2015.

Thankfully there was a full recovery from surgery of the collapsed lung, but niggling injuries continued to hamper Taggart's attempts to maintain a run in the side throughout the 2015/2016 season. A return to fitness at the turn of the year allowed Ferguson to select the 31-year-old for another County Antrim Shield final victory in January 2016 over Linfield.

David Jeffrey replaced Ferguson a few months after the Shield final victory, Gavin began his eighth season out of favour at the Showgrounds but after forcing his way into back into the team unfortunately yet again his season was abruptly ended in January 2017, this time through a badly dislocated shoulder at Windsor Park against Linfield, which ultimately meant missing out on the League Cup final victory over Carrick the following month.

Honours
(with Newington YC)
Northern Amateur League: (winner) 2008/09
(with Ballymena United)
County Antrim Shield: (winner) 2012/13, 2015/16
Irish Cup (finalist): 2013/14
Charity Shield (finalist): 2014/15

International Honours
Northern Ireland Junior

Last updated: 24 May 2017

Last updated: 29 January 2022



Debut

August 8th, 2009
Ballymena United 0 - 1 Cliftonville

League (IFA Premiership)


Timeline