Gary McSheffrey
Encyclopedia
Gary McSheffrey is an English footballer who plays as a left winger. He is currently in his second spell with hometown team Coventry City
in the Football League Championship
.
McSheffrey began his professional career with Coventry, and also played in the Football League
and Premier League for Stockport County
, Luton Town
, Birmingham City
, Nottingham Forest
and Leeds United
before returning to Coventry in 2010.
, and began his football career at home town club Coventry City
. When he made his first-team debut against local rivals Aston Villa
at the age of 16 years and 198 days on 27 February 1999, a game that Coventry won 4–1, he became the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League. He held the record for over four years until Aaron Lennon
made his Leeds United
debut at a younger age in August 2003.
During his time at Coventry he spent loan spells at Luton Town
, Stockport County
(scoring once against Burnley) and Swedish side IK Brage
. He also won England U-20
honours.
Playing primarily on the left wing in the 2005–06 season, McSheffrey ended up amongst the top scorers in the Football League Championship
with 15 league goals. It was form like this that brought him to the attention of local rivals Birmingham City
during the summer of 2006. After weeks of bidding, Coventry accepted an offer valued at £4 million. This has since been estimated at £2.3m cash with a further £1.3m depending on promotion and appearances. The deal was completed on 16 August 2006, and McSheffrey became a Birmingham City player three days after his 24th birthday.
for his new club in a league match against Preston North End
on 9 December 2006.
On 2 December 2007 he converted a penalty in Birmingham's 3–2 win against Tottenham Hotspur
at White Hart Lane
to score his first goal in the Premier League. In March 2009, he joined Nottingham Forest
on loan for an initial period of 29 days. Because of his need for surgery on a persistent knee injury, he was reported to have returned to Birmingham, but manager Alex McLeish
confirmed he was still on loan at Forest. Told in August 2009 that he was free to find another club, and frustrated by lack of opportunity, McSheffrey made one start and four substitute appearances in the 2009–10 Premier League before joining Leeds United on loan. In May 2010, Birmingham City announced that McSheffrey would be released when his contract expired at the end of June.
of Football League One
on loan for the remainder of the season. He made his debut the following day, producing a man-of-the-match performance on the left wing in Leeds' 2–0 League home win against Colchester United. In an interview after the game McSheffrey said "there'd be no better club to be with at Championship level" should Leeds succeed in gaining promotion. Ineligible for an FA Cup replay against Tottenham Hotspur, McSheffrey returned to the starting lineup for the 2–2 draw with Hartlepool United.
McSheffrey started on the left wing for Leeds against Carlisle United in the JPT Northern Final second leg. Leeds who won the game 3–2, but ended up losing the tie after losing the penalty shootout 6–5, with McSheffrey converting one of the penalties for Leeds.
McSheffrey scored his first goal for Leeds against Walsall after his mis-hit cross eluded Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince
and sailed into the back of the net. However Leeds still lost the match 2–1 to Walsall which was their 1st defeat at home in over a year. McSheffrey was dropped to the bench against Oldham Athletic and replaced in the starting lineup by Aidan White
, but after White suffered an injury McSheffrey returned to Leeds' starting lineup against Huddersfield Town. McSheffrey earned promotion with Leeds to the Championship, after finishing as runners up in League 1.
of the Football League Championship
. He agreed a one-year deal, with the option of a further year, to begin on 1 July 2010 after the expiry of his Birmingham contract. In November 2010, McSheffrey entered a war of words with his former club Leeds after claiming his surprise that Leeds did not take up their first option in the summer to sign him and fellow teammate Michael Doyle permanently.
His brother Danny McSheffrey is manager of non-league side Coventry Sphinx
, who recently forged an official tie with Coventry City.
Fans of his clubs have been known to call him "Sheffchenko", after popular Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko
.
Leeds United
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
McSheffrey began his professional career with Coventry, and also played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and Premier League for Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
and Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
before returning to Coventry in 2010.
Coventry City
McSheffrey was born in CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, and began his football career at home town club Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. When he made his first-team debut against local rivals Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
at the age of 16 years and 198 days on 27 February 1999, a game that Coventry won 4–1, he became the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League. He held the record for over four years until Aaron Lennon
Aaron Lennon
Aaron Justin Lennon is an English footballer who plays as a right winger for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and the England national team.-Early life:...
made his Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
debut at a younger age in August 2003.
During his time at Coventry he spent loan spells at Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
(scoring once against Burnley) and Swedish side IK Brage
IK Brage
IK Brage is a Swedish football club located in Borlänge. The club, formed 1925, has played 18 seasons in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. The 2010 season will be played in the second highest Swedish league, Superettan...
. He also won England U-20
England national under-20 football team
- Round of 16 :-Friendlies:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup running from 29 July to the 20 August 2011.-Recent call-ups:...
honours.
Playing primarily on the left wing in the 2005–06 season, McSheffrey ended up amongst the top scorers in the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
with 15 league goals. It was form like this that brought him to the attention of local rivals Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
during the summer of 2006. After weeks of bidding, Coventry accepted an offer valued at £4 million. This has since been estimated at £2.3m cash with a further £1.3m depending on promotion and appearances. The deal was completed on 16 August 2006, and McSheffrey became a Birmingham City player three days after his 24th birthday.
Birmingham City
McSheffrey scored his first hat-trickHat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
for his new club in a league match against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
on 9 December 2006.
On 2 December 2007 he converted a penalty in Birmingham's 3–2 win against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
at White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
to score his first goal in the Premier League. In March 2009, he joined Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on loan for an initial period of 29 days. Because of his need for surgery on a persistent knee injury, he was reported to have returned to Birmingham, but manager Alex McLeish
Alex McLeish
Alexander "Alex" McLeish , is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager, who is currently managing English Premier League club Aston Villa...
confirmed he was still on loan at Forest. Told in August 2009 that he was free to find another club, and frustrated by lack of opportunity, McSheffrey made one start and four substitute appearances in the 2009–10 Premier League before joining Leeds United on loan. In May 2010, Birmingham City announced that McSheffrey would be released when his contract expired at the end of June.
Leeds United (loan)
On 29 January 2010, McSheffrey joined Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
of Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
on loan for the remainder of the season. He made his debut the following day, producing a man-of-the-match performance on the left wing in Leeds' 2–0 League home win against Colchester United. In an interview after the game McSheffrey said "there'd be no better club to be with at Championship level" should Leeds succeed in gaining promotion. Ineligible for an FA Cup replay against Tottenham Hotspur, McSheffrey returned to the starting lineup for the 2–2 draw with Hartlepool United.
McSheffrey started on the left wing for Leeds against Carlisle United in the JPT Northern Final second leg. Leeds who won the game 3–2, but ended up losing the tie after losing the penalty shootout 6–5, with McSheffrey converting one of the penalties for Leeds.
McSheffrey scored his first goal for Leeds against Walsall after his mis-hit cross eluded Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince
Clayton Ince
Clayton Ince is a Trinidadian football goalkeeper who had lengthy spells in the English Football League at Crewe Alexandra and Walsall...
and sailed into the back of the net. However Leeds still lost the match 2–1 to Walsall which was their 1st defeat at home in over a year. McSheffrey was dropped to the bench against Oldham Athletic and replaced in the starting lineup by Aidan White
Aidan White (footballer)
Aidan 'Aidy' Peter White is an English-born Irish footballer who plays for Leeds United. He made his debut for the club aged 16...
, but after White suffered an injury McSheffrey returned to Leeds' starting lineup against Huddersfield Town. McSheffrey earned promotion with Leeds to the Championship, after finishing as runners up in League 1.
Return to Coventry City
After his release by Birmingham, McSheffrey rejoined home-town club Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
of the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. He agreed a one-year deal, with the option of a further year, to begin on 1 July 2010 after the expiry of his Birmingham contract. In November 2010, McSheffrey entered a war of words with his former club Leeds after claiming his surprise that Leeds did not take up their first option in the summer to sign him and fellow teammate Michael Doyle permanently.
Personal life
McSheffrey has coached children at a soccer school in the Coventry and Warwickshire area.His brother Danny McSheffrey is manager of non-league side Coventry Sphinx
Coventry Sphinx F.C.
Coventry Sphinx Football Club is a football club based in Coventry, West Midlands, England. They were established in 1946. In the 2006–07 season they were champions of the Midland Combination Premier Division, earning promotion to the Midland Football Alliance.-History:Coventry Sphinx FC were...
, who recently forged an official tie with Coventry City.
Fans of his clubs have been known to call him "Sheffchenko", after popular Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko
Andriy Shevchenko
Andriy Mykolayovych Shevchenko is a Ukrainian footballer who plays for Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukraine national team as a striker. He is the third-highest scorer in the history of European club competition with 67 goals as of 2011-03-10, behind Filippo Inzaghi and Raúl. With 175 goals scored with A.C...
.
Honours
Birmingham City- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
(level 2) runners-up: 2006–07, 2008–09
Leeds United
- Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
(level 3) runners-up: 2009–102009–10 Football LeagueThe Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...