It was an odd situation. Gavin Melaugh, stress-free in one of many plush baths at Aston Villa, adjoining to membership legend Paul Merson.
One was one of many greatest names within the recreation — the opposite a thin child from Londonderry, who was simply beginning out on a soccer journey. No prizes for guessing the subject of dialog.
Merson took a eager curiosity within the under-age groups on the membership. He paid Gavin a praise by stating: “You might be good at a number of issues, however you aren't distinctive at anybody factor.”
Puzzled and partially offended, Gavin queried: “Properly, what are you good at?”
Merson replied: “I've the most effective exterior of the precise foot on the earth.”
All of a sudden, Gavin’s thoughts drifted again to the surprise objectives Merson scored with the skin of that well-known boot, and to the fantastic 40-yard passes he sprayed everywhere in the pitch with one easy flick.
“Truthful sufficient,” he replied. He was left virtually speechless, firmly put in his place.
Later in his profession, Gavin realised what Merson was referring to.
Having had trials with quite a few golf equipment, together with Manchester Metropolis, Celtic, Coventry and Arsenal, Villa felt the precise match. It was Derry Metropolis legend Dougie Wooden who was instrumental in his transfer.
“I used to be juggling a couple of golf equipment, however I ended up choosing Villa,” he recollects.
“When that occurs, you suppose that’s the exhausting bit completed, nevertheless it doesn’t work like that.
“It’s solely the beginning of the journey. I joined in 1996. I moved over in 1997, a month shy of my sixteenth birthday. It was a giant step. I used to be over for one month however returned to play within the Milk Cup for the Northern Eire Underneath-16 crew. It was good to get residence for a few weeks.
“I used to be at Villa for six years, firstly enjoying for the youth crew, comprised of 17 and 18-year-olds. The Academy was launched the next 12 months.
“That allowed what was once the YTS gamers to grow to be academy graduates and so they might then attend college on Monday and Thursday. If you happen to had been critical about your training, you possibly can have stayed on to sit down your A Ranges.
“Brian Little was the boss and the membership was suffering from huge names — Gareth Southgate, Ugo Ehiogu, Andy Townsend, Dwight Yorke, Steve Staunton, Stan Collymore, Steve Stone and Gareth Barry, what a participant he was.
“I used to be lucky to have a chance to play with them as I got here by the Underneath-19s and was a reserve participant. These guys would have dropped into the reserves when getting back from harm.”
Gavin, who has lived in Scotland for the previous decade working for the College of Edinburgh, by no means did handle to make the breakthrough.
He provides: “I used to be substitute in an FA Cup recreation in opposition to Newcastle United at St James’ Park. I by no means obtained on. I performed within the reserves the week after, however I feel I put an excessive amount of strain on myself and I had an absolute stinker.
“Graham Taylor took over as boss and he introduced me into the first-team squad. I had this actually good session and I knew there was a League Cup recreation arising in midweek.
“The boss known as me into his workplace. I assumed I used to be in with a shout. As an alternative, he instructed me that he was letting me go and that Rochdale had are available for me. Speak about a shock.
“It was then I remembered my dialog with Merson. You could be exceptionally gifted or exceptionally fortunate — you want slightly break. I’d no exhausting emotions.
“Though I used to be captain, in case you are within the reserves for 2 or three years and fail to take that subsequent step, you’ll be moved on. You have got a short while body to interrupt into the primary crew.”
Gavin agreed to the transfer to Rochdale and recollects: “They had been in League Two. I initially had a three-month mortgage spell earlier than being provided a contract. I performed 30-odd League video games.
“We additionally obtained to the last-16 of the FA Cup, the place we performed Wolves.
“The sport was reside on the BBC. I used to be enjoying in opposition to Paul Ince in midfield. I managed to get Denis Irwin’s shirt after the sport. They beat us 3-1, however I obtained our aim.
“I performed out the season however ended up with no membership. I obtained a phone name from Michael O’Neill, who I nonetheless see in Edinburgh occasionally. He lives close to the place my youngsters attend college.
“He fastened me up for a trial at Ross County. I went there for pre-season in 2003 and it appeared as if I used to be signing, nevertheless it fell by.
“I needed to come residence as a result of I wanted a base. Cork Metropolis obtained in contact and so they tried to signal me, however I assumed it was an opportunity to maneuver to part-time soccer and focus extra on my training.
“Cork had plans to go full-time and it didn’t actually go well with me. I then had a chat with the Northern Eire Underneath-21 worldwide boss Roy Millar and the subsequent factor I knew, Glentoran supervisor Roy Coyle was on the phone.”
It didn’t take a lot persuading for Gavin to say sure.
“I felt it was a very good transfer for me,” he says.
“Tommy McCallion had simply signed, so we travelled collectively. Stephen Parkhouse and Shaun Holmes got here within the following season. We had some laughs on our travels.
“The Glens had simply gained the League. Every little thing went properly at the beginning, I feel I discovered the precise stage. The League Cup was performed previous to the beginning of the Irish League marketing campaign, it was type of pre-season stuff.
“However as soon as the League began, it was frantic. It took me some time to regulate. It was after Christmas earlier than I actually obtained into the crew. I used to be moved to right-back, Colin Nixon went to centre-back.
“We gained the Irish Cup that season, beating Coleraine 1-0 within the Last. That was a very good expertise. The next season we signed Pat McGibbon and Chris Morgan.
“Who will ever neglect that 12 months? I performed that whole season. I feel I could have been the one outfield participant to have featured in each recreation.
“You couldn’t have written the script on how that season completed, with Morgan getting the profitable aim in opposition to his former membership Linfield within the penultimate match.
“Glentoran followers nonetheless rejoice Morgan Day. That was my solely League winners’ medal. From what I can bear in mind, it was a little bit of a scrappy recreation, it ebbed and flowed.
“When (Davy) Larmour scored close to the tip, it appeared as if it was Linfield’s title.
“We wanted to win to maintain it in our fingers. I used to be truly concerned within the aim. Elliott (Morris) threw the ball to me within the inside-left place. I went previous a man, however he fouled me. Homer (Holmes) despatched within the free-kick and massive Michael Halliday obtained as much as meet it.
“The keeper managed to put it aside, however Chris was there to complete it off. It was unbelievable. I’ve by no means seen a much bigger crowd at The Oval.
“However the win didn’t assure us the title, we nonetheless had rather a lot to do as a result of we needed to win at Crusaders the next week.
“I bear in mind Roy (Coyle), he was so calm and commanding. Among the boys had gained titles earlier than, some hadn’t. There have been a couple of jitters about, however the gaffer was very calm. I assumed to myself, ‘This man is aware of what he’s doing’.”
After that, issues went downhill for Gavin — and the membership normally.
“The next 12 months was detached,” he goes on.
“We had been below strain to retain the title. The membership hadn’t completed back-to-back title wins for a very long time.
“We had a stinker all spherical. Jimmy Brown left which meant the dressing room was completely different. I feel there have been a couple of monetary issues surfacing within the background.
“Coyler was getting a little bit of stick from the followers. Once they revolt, it’s troublesome to cease. It wasn’t good to see. He ultimately left.”
When Paul Millar was appointed, Gavin’s days had been numbered.
He recollects: “Windy Millar got here in and I had a very good spell below him, most likely my finest time at The Oval.
“I assumed I’d be saved on, however I wasn’t, which was a disgrace. I had completed my diploma in chemistry and was beginning a PhD in physics at Queen’s College, so I used to be transferring to Belfast to reside. I'd have beloved to have had the prospect to have performed for the Glens on the similar time.
“However I’ve no regrets. I had a good time and represented Northern Eire at Underneath-21 stage 11 occasions, which led to my call-up to the first-team squad in opposition to Spain, which was a giant thrill.”