{{Short description|English footballer (born 1976)}} {{Use British English|date=March 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = David McGhee | image = | fullname = David Christopher McGhee<ref name="Hugman" /> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1976|6|19}} | birth_place = Worthing, England | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=David McGhee |url=http://www.redweb.co.uk/brentford/Team/mcghee.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980610113704/http://www.redweb.co.uk/brentford/Team/mcghee.htm |archive-date=10 June 1998 |access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref> | position = Utility player | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Plymouth Argyle | youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = St Austell | youthyears3 = 1993–1995 | youthclubs3 = Brentford | years1 = 1995–1999 | clubs1 = Brentford | caps1 = 124 | goals1 = 9 | years2 = 1999 | clubs2 = Stevenage Borough | caps2 = 2 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1999–2004 | clubs3 = Leyton Orient | caps3 = 114 | goals3 = 7 | years4 = 2004–2006 | clubs4 = Canvey Island | caps4 = 42 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2006 | clubs5 = Chelmsford City | caps5 = 7 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2006 | clubs6 = Wivenhoe Town | caps6 = 6 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2006–2007 | clubs7 = Falmouth Town | caps7 = 24 | goals7 = 4 | years8 = 2007–2015 | clubs8 = Lanreath | caps8 = | goals8 = | manageryears1 = 2014–2015 | managerclubs1 = Lanreath (player-manager) }}
'''David Christopher McGhee''' (born 19 June 1976) is an English retired professional footballer, who made over 230 appearances as a utility player in the Football League for Brentford and Leyton Orient.
== Playing career ==
=== Early years === McGhee was born in Worthing. Starting out as a defender, he began his career in the youth system at Plymouth Argyle.<ref name="GazetteHudds">{{Cite book |title=Brentford F.C. Griffin Gazette versus Huddersfield Town |date=21 February 1995 |publisher=Quay Design of Poole |page=28}}</ref> He was not taken on as a scholar by first team manager Peter Shilton and dropped into non-League football to sign for local South Western League club St Austell.<ref name="GazetteHudds" />
=== Brentford === McGhee joined Second Division club Brentford on trial in 1993, after the club responded to a contact request from his father.<ref name="GazetteHudds" /> He signed a professional contract with the Bees in April 1994 and received his maiden call into the first team squad for a Football League Trophy first round match versus Brighton & Hove Albion on 19 October that year.<ref name="BBB90s">{{Cite book |last=Croxford |first=Mark |title=The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties |last2=Lane |first2=David |last3=Waterman |first3=Greville |publisher=Legends Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=9781906796723 |location=Sunbury, Middlesex |page=412}}</ref><ref name="GazetteBourn">{{Cite book |title=Griffin Gazette versus AFC Bournemouth |date=29 April 1995 |publisher=Quay Design |location=Poole |pages=34–35}}</ref> He remained on the bench for the 1–0 victory.<ref name="GazetteBourn" /> McGhee's professional debut came on 21 January 1995, when he replaced Darren Annon during a 2–1 league win over Hull City.<ref name="GazetteBourn" /> He was largely an unused substitute during the rest of the 1994–95 season, finishing with seven appearances and scored one goal.{{Sfn|Croxford|Lane|Waterman|2013|p=480-481}}
McGhee established himself in the first team during the 1995–96 season, wearing five different shirt numbers and proving to be an able utility player.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Griffin Gazette versus AFC Bournemouth |date=4 May 1996 |publisher=Quay Design |location=Poole |pages=30–31}}</ref> He made 45 appearances and scored six goals.{{Sfn|Croxford|Lane|Waterman|2013|p=480-481}}
McGhee's best season for Brentford came in 1996–97, when he made a season-high 53 appearances and scored two goals.<ref name="Soccerbase9697">{{Soccerbase season|5099|1996|name=Dave McGhee|access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> The Bees led the Second Division for much of the first two-thirds of the season, before dropping to fourth position and qualifying for the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brentford Home Page for the 1996–1997 season |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1996-1997 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064621/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1996-1997 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=27 January 2015 |website=Statto.com}}</ref> After beating Bristol City 4–2 on aggregate in the semi-finals, the Bees lost 1–0 to Crewe Alexandra at Wembley Stadium in the final.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wickham |first=Chris |title=League One Guide: Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/league-one-guide-crewe-alexandra_57044 |access-date=10 April 2016 |website=www.brentfordfc.com}}</ref>
McGhee was again a regular pick during the 1997–98 season, making 33 appearances and scoring one goal in which Brentford's playoff hangover consigned them to relegation to the Third Division after a final-day defeat to Bristol Rovers.<ref name="Soccerbase9798">{{Soccerbase season|5099|1997|name=Dave McGhee|access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> A succession of injuries saw McGhee miss the entire 1998–99 season, and he retired in January 1999.<ref name="haynes">{{Cite book |last=Haynes |first=Graham |title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 |last2=Coumbe |first2=Frank |publisher=Yore Publications |year=2006 |isbn=978-0955294914 |location=Harefield |page=46}}</ref> He made 138 appearances and scored 10 goals during his time at Griffin Park.<ref name="haynes" />
=== Stevenage Borough === McGhee came out of retirement to sign for Conference club Stevenage Borough in August 1999.<ref name="haynes" /> He made two appearances before departing Broadhall Way before the end of the first month of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave McGhee – Defence – Player Profile |url=https://www.boroguide.co.uk/players/436/ |access-date=1 August 2023 |website=BoroGuide |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Leyton Orient === McGhee returned to the Football League to sign for struggling Third Division club Leyton Orient in November 1999.<ref name="Hugman">{{Hugman|accessdate=25 June 2015|id=12476}}</ref> He quickly established himself in the side, making 23 appearances and scoring one goal during the remainder of the 1999–00 season to help the Os retain their league status.<ref name="Soccerbase9900">{{Soccerbase season|5099|1999|name=Dave McGhee|access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> McGhee had an excellent 2000–01 season, making 51 appearances and scoring three goals as the Os finished in the playoff positions.<ref name="Soccerbase0001">{{Soccerbase season|5099|2000|name=Dave McGhee|access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> As with Brentford in 1997, McGhee suffered heartbreak in his second appearance at Wembley Stadium, with Orient crashing to a 4–2 defeat to Blackpool in the final, after having twice taken the lead.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 May 2001 |title=Clockwatch: Blackpool 4–2 Orient |work=BBC |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/1353336.stm |access-date=10 April 2016}}</ref>
Orient suffered a hangover in the 2001–02 season, though McGhee again featured in almost all the club's matches, making 45 appearances and scoring two goals.<ref name="Soccerbase0102">{{Soccerbase season|5099|2001|name=Dave McGhee|access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> McGhee's run as a mainstay of the team came to an end on 10 September 2002, when he suffered a ruptured achilles tendon after 11 minutes of a 3–2 League Cup first round victory over Queens Park Rangers.<ref name="Soccerbase0203">{{Soccerbase season|5099|2002|name=Dave McGhee|access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=McGhee blow for O's |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11742/2244788/mcghee-blow-for-os |access-date=27 January 2015 |website=SkySports}}</ref> He returned to match play just over a year later and was named captain, but managed just 12 appearances and one goal during the 2003–04 season,<ref name="Soccerbase0304">{{Soccerbase season|5099|2003|name=Dave McGhee|access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> before leaving the club on 25 March 2004.<ref name="switch">{{Cite web |date=25 March 2004 |title=McGhee Makes Canvey Switch |url=http://www.leytonorient.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~505622,00.html |access-date=9 April 2018 |website=leytonorient.com |archive-date=10 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410083655/http://www.leytonorient.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~505622,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> McGhee made 135 appearances and scored seven goals during five years at Brisbane Road.<ref>{{Soccerbase|id=5099}}</ref> His performances earned him the nickname "Mad Dog".<ref name="switch" />
=== Return to non-League football === On 25 March 2004, McGhee dropped into non-League football to join high-flying Isthmian League Premier Division club Canvey Island on a contract running until the end of the 2005–06 season.<ref name="switch" /> Following the club's promotion to the Conference Premier at the end of the 2003–04 season, McGhee failed to hold down a regular place in the team and made 47 appearances and scored one goal before departing at the end of the 2005–06 season.<ref name="Soccerfacts" /><ref name="hullcitymad">{{Cite web |title=David McGhee Unknown team or unattached – Hull City AFC |url=http://www.hullcity-mad.co.uk/unknown_team_or_unattached/player/season_134/david_mcghee_5039743/index.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603221602/http://www.hullcity-mad.co.uk/unknown_team_or_unattached/player/season_134/david_mcghee_5039743/index.shtml |archive-date=3 June 2016 |access-date=10 April 2016 |website=Hull City Mad}}</ref><ref name="footymad">{{Cite web |title=David McGhee Unknown team or unattached – Hull City AFC |url=http://www.hullcity-mad.co.uk/unknown_team_or_unattached/player/season_135/david_mcghee_5039743/index.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604103527/http://www.hullcity-mad.co.uk/unknown_team_or_unattached/player/season_135/david_mcghee_5039743/index.shtml |archive-date=4 June 2016 |access-date=10 April 2016 |website=Hull City Mad}}</ref>
McGhee continued his descent down the pyramid with short spells at Isthmian League clubs Chelmsford City and Wivenhoe Town respectively during the first half of the 2006–07 season.<ref name="Mitoo">{{Cite web |title=All Competitions : Player's Appearances – McGhee David |url=http://football.mitoo.co.uk/PlayersHistory2.cfm?PI=106193&LeagueCode=ISTH2006 |access-date=10 April 2016 |website=Football.mitoo.co}}</ref> McGhee returned to Cornwall in late 2006 to sign for South Western League club Falmouth Town.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2006 |title=Town crumble in second half |url=http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/1071623.town_crumble_in_second_half/ |access-date=27 January 2015 |website=Falmouth Packet}}</ref> He signed for East Cornwall League Premier Division club Lanreath in 2007 and played for the team until 2015.<ref name="leytonorient">{{Cite web |title=News: David McGhee |url=http://www.leytonorient.com/news/article/dave-mcghee-illness-2367055.aspx |access-date=14 June 2015 |website=leytonorient.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Wishes To Dave McGhee |url=http://canveyislandfc.com/news/2015/03/best-wishes-dave-mcghee |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924045323/http://canveyislandfc.com/news/2015/03/best-wishes-dave-mcghee |archive-date=24 September 2017 |access-date=10 April 2016 |website=Canvey Island FC – The Official Website {{!}} The Pride of Essex Football}}</ref> He re-emerged with the club's veterans' team 2017, playing as a goalkeeper.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wadebridge Town 7–0 Lanreath |url=http://www.cornwallveteransleague.co.uk/wadebridge-town-7-0-lanreath-35258 |access-date=14 January 2018 |website=Q Cornwall Leisure Veterans League |language=en |archive-date=15 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115001834/http://www.cornwallveteransleague.co.uk/wadebridge-town-7-0-lanreath-35258 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Managerial career == McGhee has held coaching and assistant manager positions in the youth setup at local Cornish club Looe Town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Looe News August 12 |url=http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1xnpn/LooeNewsAugust12/resources/21.htm |access-date=27 January 2015 |website=yudu.com}}</ref> He served as joint-player-manager of East Cornwall League First Division club Lanreath during the 2014–15 season.<ref name="leytonorient" />
== Personal life == McGhee's son Callum played under his management at Lanreath.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Match Report – Pensilva 1st XI |url=http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/pensilvafc/26780/Matches/report/5651038 |access-date=14 June 2015 |website=Pensilva FC}}</ref> In March 2015, McGhee was diagnosed with a brain tumour.<ref name="leytonorient" />
== Career statistics == {{Expand section|1=<nowiki /> * Career from 2007 to 2015 |date=April 2016}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- | rowspan="5" |Brentford |1994–95{{Sfn|Croxford|Lane|Waterman|2013|p=480-481}} |Second Division |7 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |7 |1 |- |1995–96{{Sfn|Croxford|Lane|Waterman|2013|p=480-481}} |Second Division |36 |5 |4 |0 |2 |1 |3<ref name="FLT" group="lower-alpha">Appearances in Football League Trophy</ref> |0 |45 |6 |- |1996–97<ref name="Soccerbase9697" /> |Second Division |45 |1 |3 |1 |3 |0 |2<ref group="lower-alpha">Appearances in Second Division play-offs</ref> |0 |53 |2 |- |1997–98<ref name="Soccerbase9798" /> |Second Division |29 |1 |2 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |33 |1 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !117!!7!!9!!1!!7 !1!!5!!0!!138!!10 |- |Stevenage Borough |1999–00<ref name="Soccerbase9900" /> |Conference |2 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |2 |0 |- | rowspan="6" |Leyton Orient |1999–00<ref name="Soccerbase9900" /> |Third Division |22 |1 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |1<ref name="FLT" group="lower-alpha" /> |0 |23 |1 |- |2000–01<ref name="Soccerbase0001" /> |Third Division |39 |3 |4 |0 |4 |0 |4<ref group="lower-alpha">3 appearances in Third Division play-offs, 1 appearance in Football League Trophy</ref> |0 |51 |3 |- |2001–02<ref name="Soccerbase0102" /> |Third Division |40 |2 |4 |0 |0 |0 |1<ref name="FLT" group="lower-alpha" /> |0 |45 |2 |- |2002–03<ref name="Soccerbase0203" /> |Third Division |3 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |4 |0 |- |2003–04<ref name="Soccerbase0304" /> |Third Division |10 |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |1<ref name="FLT" group="lower-alpha" /> |0 |12 |1 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !114!!7!!9 !0!!5 !0!!7!!0!!135!!7 |- | rowspan="4" |Canvey Island |2003–04<ref name="Soccerfacts">{{Cite web |title=Player Details: Season 2003–2004 |url=http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2003/player_details.php?playerid=2540 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425044515/http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2003/player_details.php?playerid=2540 |archive-date=25 April 2016 |access-date=10 April 2016 |website=SoccerFacts UK}}</ref> |Isthmian League Premier Division |4 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |4 |0 |- |2004–05<ref name="hullcitymad" /> |Conference Premier |22 |1 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |3<ref name="FAT" group="lower-alpha">Appearances in FA Trophy</ref> |0 |25 |1 |- |2005–06<ref name="footymad" /> |Conference Premier |20 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |2<ref name="FAT" group="lower-alpha" /> |0 |22 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !46!!1!!0 !0!! colspan="2" |—!!5!!0!!51!!1 |- |Chelmsford City |2006–07<ref name="Mitoo" /> |Isthmian League Premier Division |7 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |7 |0 |- |Wivenhoe Town |2006–07<ref name="Mitoo" /> |Isthmian League First Division North |6 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |6 |0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !292!!15!!18!!1!!12!!1!!17!!0!!350!!18 |}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGhee, David}} Category:Living people Category:1976 births Category:Footballers from Worthing Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football utility players Category:Men's association football defenders Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Isthmian League players Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. players Category:A.F.C. St Austell players Category:Brentford F.C. players Category:Stevenage F.C. players Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players Category:Canvey Island F.C. players Category:Chelmsford City F.C. players Category:Wivenhoe Town F.C. players Category:Falmouth Town A.F.C. players Category:Player-coaches Category:English football managers