Gary Shaw: From Newbridge Town to donning the green, and much more
The ups and down of a talented soccer star
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What has Newbridge native Gary Shaw got in common with well-known household soccer internationals such as Jeff Hendrick, Shane Duffy, John Egan, Robbie Brady and Daryl Horgan?
They were all members of the Ireland soccer squad that made it to the U19 European Championship finals in 2011.
Gary made his international debut in a 5-0 win over Luxembourg, starting up front alongside Robbie Brady, going on to defeat Bulgaria and booking a place in the finals.
Just 12 months earlier Shaw was selected for the Irish Schools’ team which took part in the Centenary Shield, an annual inter-
It’s a strange turnaround as the Premier League was his playground for a decent spell, Gavin netting 31 Premier appearances for Middlesbrough (1999-2002).
He played with the current manager of England, played under two others (Steve McClaren and Terry Venables) and in that four-season spell in the English top flight acquitted himself well.
“I remember playing against Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke and their movement was just different to anything I had been used to.
“You had to concentrate every second of the game, they were top-class players.
“Once that Manchester United side took the lead against you it was game over. It was a pleasure to play against that group of people,” says Gavin, now 40.