Gary Twigg facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gary Twigg | ||
| Date of birth | 19 March 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2002 | Derby County | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2005 | Derby County | 9 | (0) |
| 2003 | → Burton Albion (loan) | 4 | (1) |
| 2004 | → Bristol City (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2005–2007 | Airdrie United | 57 | (17) |
| 2007 | Oxford United | 9 | (3) |
| 2008 | Hamilton Academical | 3 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Brechin City | 23 | (12) |
| 2009–2012 | Shamrock Rovers | 119 | (81) |
| 2013–2016 | Portadown | 114 | (53) |
| 2016–2017 | Coleraine | 6 | (4) |
| Total | 392 | (178) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gary Twigg was a Scottish professional footballer. He was born on 19 March 1984. Gary played as a forward, which means he was usually trying to score goals for his team. He played for many different clubs during his career, mostly in Scotland and Ireland.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Gary Twigg started his football journey in the youth system at Derby County in England. He was a young talent, making his first team debut at just 17 years old. This happened in May 2002, when he played in a Premier League match against Sunderland. He played eight more games for Derby County in the next season.
Loan to Burton Albion
In September 2003, Gary went on loan to Burton Albion. He played four games for them and even scored one goal. This helped him get more experience on the field.
Time at Airdrie United
After leaving Derby County, Gary joined Airdrie United in August 2005. He stayed there for two years, playing 65 games and scoring 18 goals. He was even named the Scottish Football League Player of the Month in December 2006. This was because he scored six goals in six games, helping his team play very well.
Moving to Oxford United
On 5 July 2007, Gary signed a two-year contract with Oxford United. The chairman of Oxford United, Nick Merry, said that Gary was a good player because he could play in different positions. Gary made a great start, scoring a penalty in his very first game for Oxford United. This goal helped his team win the match. However, an ankle injury meant he missed several weeks of playing. He decided to leave the club at the end of 2007 to move back to Scotland. He had played 11 games and scored three goals for Oxford.
Short Spell at Hamilton Academical
In January 2008, Gary signed with Hamilton Academical. He played only four games there. He left the club in July 2008 after a disagreement with the manager.
Success with Shamrock Rovers
Gary Twigg joined Shamrock Rovers in Ireland in February 2009. This move was a big success for him. He scored a goal in his very first friendly game for the club.
Making History in Tallaght Stadium
Gary made his official debut in the League of Ireland in March 2009. He scored the first-ever goal in the new Tallaght Stadium for Shamrock Rovers. This was a special moment for the club and its fans.
Top Scorer and Player of the Year
Gary was a fantastic goalscorer for Shamrock Rovers. In 2009, he finished as the top scorer in the League of Ireland with 24 goals. His amazing performance earned him two big awards:
- He was voted the Player of the Year by Shamrock Rovers fans.
- He also won the PFAI Player of the Year award, which is voted for by other players in the league.
Winning League Titles
In 2010, Gary continued his great form. He scored his 50th goal for Shamrock Rovers in a game that helped them win the 2010 League of Ireland title. This was their first league title in 16 years, a huge achievement for the club! Gary was again the top scorer in the league with 20 goals.
In 2011, he helped Shamrock Rovers win their 17th league title, scoring 15 goals. He was also part of the team that made history. Shamrock Rovers became the first Irish club to reach the group stages of the UEFA Europa League. This meant they played against some of the biggest teams in Europe.
Gary left Shamrock Rovers at the end of the 2012 season. He had scored a total of 88 goals in 160 games for the club. He was the top scorer for Shamrock Rovers for three out of his four seasons there. His 81 league goals make him one of the top goalscorers in the club's history.
Playing for Portadown
On 29 October 2012, Gary signed a long-term deal with NIFL Premiership side Portadown. He scored a goal in his very first game for Portadown in January 2013. He finished that season with six goals in 11 league games. On 7 September 2013, Gary scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) for Portadown. This happened in a big 11–0 win against Ballinamallard United.
Final Club: Coleraine
Gary had initially agreed to join Ballymena United in 2016. However, this agreement was cancelled. Instead, on 16 July 2016, it was announced that Gary would be signing for Coleraine, a rival team to Ballymena.
Honours
Club
- Shamrock Rovers
- League of Ireland Premier Division (2): 2010, 2011
- Setanta Sports Cup (1): 2011
Individual
- PFAI Players' Player of the Year (1): 2009
- Shamrock Rovers Player of the Year (1): 2009
- NIFL Player of the Month (1): September 2013
