Gerry McMahon
Encyclopedia
Gerard "Gerry" McMahon is a Northern Irish
football
midfielder
. He currently plays for Glenavon
in the Irish Premier League
.
that saw scouts from some of England’s biggest clubs enquiring about him, and by the middle of March a transfer had been agreed with Tottenham Hotspur
. Glenavon comfortably cruised to the final of the Irish Cup, and, in his last game before his £100,000 move to White Hart Lane
, McMahon scored the free-kick which defeated Linfield
2–1.
After his move to London
, it took him quite a while to settle, with the departure of Terry Venables
and the arrival of Ossie Ardiles. McMahon, however, persevered and was eventually rewarded when his long-awaited first-team chance came at the end of the 1994–95 season. McMahon’s Spurs debut came in May 1995, and he was a regular in the first-team squad throughout the following season, without really establishing himself in the starting eleven. He scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for Spurs against Östers IF
in their ill-fated 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup campaign.
In May 1995 he won the first of his seventeen caps when he played for Northern Ireland
against Canada
in Edmonton
.
McMahon found his first-team opportunities at White Hart Lane limited, so in September 1996 he stepped down a division in order to further his career. Stoke City
manager, Lou Macari
, paid £450,000 for his signature, and made McMahon a regular in the starting eleven, but with Brian Little
replacing Macari in the summer of 1997 it seemed that McMahon did not belong in Stoke’s first-team plans either.
In February 1998, St. Johnstone signed McMahon from Stoke for £85,000. Again, however, McMahon found himself out of the first team following a change of manager, with Paul Sturrock
leaving McDiarmid Park
the following year, and in the summer of 2000, when his contract expired, McMahon was allowed to leave.
After trials with Notts County
and Macclesfield, McMahon returned to Glenavon in August 2000, initially on a short-term contract, but after a month Colin Malone convinced him to sign a permanent deal. It proved a productive move as the Lurgan Blues finished as IFA Premier League runners-up.
McMahon was appointed club captain for the 2001–02 season, and nearly earned a surprise international recall when Sammy McIlroy
came to watch him in a UEFA Cup
tie against Kilmarnock
. In December 2002, in a home game against Glentoran, a tackle on McMahon led to both the bones in his leg being broken. He required three operations, and he was ruled him out of football for two seasons.
McMahon has since returned to fitness, helping Glenavon, who were relegated at the end of the 2002–03 campaign, regain their Premier League
position as play-off winners in 2005, and subsequently consolidate their top-flight position the following season.
On 25 July 2009, Glenavon hosted St. Johnstone for McMahon's testimonial match
, nine years after he left the Saints.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He currently plays for Glenavon
Glenavon F.C.
Glenavon F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Lurgan and plays its home matches at Mourneview Park...
in the Irish Premier League
Irish Premier League
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
.
Career
McMahon started with Glenavon as a 14-year-old, and had only broken into the first team in the second half of the 1991–92 season, making his Irish League debut against Newry in February 1992. He established himself in the side for the rest of the season, and it was his performance in the 4–0 Irish Cup sixth-round replay win against GlentoranGlentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
that saw scouts from some of England’s biggest clubs enquiring about him, and by the middle of March a transfer had been agreed with 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....
. Glenavon comfortably cruised to the final of the Irish Cup, and, in his last game before his £100,000 move to 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....
, McMahon scored the free-kick which defeated Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
2–1.
After his move to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, it took him quite a while to settle, with the departure of Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
and the arrival of Ossie Ardiles. McMahon, however, persevered and was eventually rewarded when his long-awaited first-team chance came at the end of the 1994–95 season. McMahon’s Spurs debut came in May 1995, and he was a regular in the first-team squad throughout the following season, without really establishing himself in the starting eleven. He scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for Spurs against Östers IF
Östers IF
Östers IF is a Swedish football club located in Växjö. The club, formed 20 April 1930 , is currently playing in the second Swedish league called Superettan. In 1968, Öster won Allsvenskan as newcomers. The club is affiliated to the Smålands Fotbollförbund...
in their ill-fated 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup campaign.
In May 1995 he won the first of his seventeen caps when he played for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
against Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
.
McMahon found his first-team opportunities at White Hart Lane limited, so in September 1996 he stepped down a division in order to further his career. Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
manager, Lou Macari
Lou Macari
Luigi "Lou" Macari is a Scottish former footballer and football manager of Italian descent.-Playing career:...
, paid £450,000 for his signature, and made McMahon a regular in the starting eleven, but with Brian Little
Brian Little (footballer)
Brian Little is an English former football player and manager who is currently without a job after being relieved of his duties as manager of Gainsborough Trinity on 22 August 2011. Little has previously managed Darlington, Leicester City, Aston Villa, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Hull City,...
replacing Macari in the summer of 1997 it seemed that McMahon did not belong in Stoke’s first-team plans either.
In February 1998, St. Johnstone signed McMahon from Stoke for £85,000. Again, however, McMahon found himself out of the first team following a change of manager, with Paul Sturrock
Paul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
leaving McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park is a football stadium in Perth, Scotland, the home ground of St. Johnstone FC. It has an all-seated capacity of 10,673.-History:...
the following year, and in the summer of 2000, when his contract expired, McMahon was allowed to leave.
After trials with Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
and Macclesfield, McMahon returned to Glenavon in August 2000, initially on a short-term contract, but after a month Colin Malone convinced him to sign a permanent deal. It proved a productive move as the Lurgan Blues finished as IFA Premier League runners-up.
McMahon was appointed club captain for the 2001–02 season, and nearly earned a surprise international recall when Sammy McIlroy
Sammy McIlroy
Samuel Baxter "Sammy" McIlroy is a former Northern Ireland international footballer whose clubs included Manchester United....
came to watch him in a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
tie against Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
. In December 2002, in a home game against Glentoran, a tackle on McMahon led to both the bones in his leg being broken. He required three operations, and he was ruled him out of football for two seasons.
McMahon has since returned to fitness, helping Glenavon, who were relegated at the end of the 2002–03 campaign, regain their Premier League
Irish Premier League
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
position as play-off winners in 2005, and subsequently consolidate their top-flight position the following season.
On 25 July 2009, Glenavon hosted St. Johnstone for McMahon's testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
, nine years after he left the Saints.