Gary Beckett

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Personal information
Gary Beckett

Full name	Gary Beckett
Date of birth	July 24, 1973 (age 33)
Place of birth	Enniskillen, Ireland
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.78 m)
Nickname	Bing
Playing position	Centre forward
Club information
Current club	Derry City
Number	9
Youth clubs
1989-1992	Enniskillen Town United
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1992-1993 1993-1995 1995–present	Omagh Town Coleraine Derry City	19 (7) 301 (38)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:57, 27 January 2007 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Gary Beckett (born on July 24, 1973 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland) is an Irish footballer who currently plays with League of Ireland club Derry City.

[edit] Career

Beckett in action for Derry City against F.C. Barcelona at the Brandywell in 2003.

Gary Beckett started his career playing for his local club Enniskillen Town United in the Fermanagh and Western First Division. His precocious talent and know-how was in evidence from the word 'go'. During the 1989-90 season Gary finished the season with 19 League goals. In 1991-92 season he scored 38 goals to set up the club record that still holds good today and seems unlikely ever to be surpassed. He gave a full season's notice that he was to move to Omagh Town and in his final season he finished up with 35 goals. In 3 seasons he scored 92 League goals and no 'Town' player has demonstrated more aptitude for scoring goals in large numbers and at regular intervals than Beckett. His scoring feats won him the 'Young Player of the Year' award on three consecutive occasions.

After playing with Omagh Town for one season Gary moved to Coleraine but that proved to be not as successful as he would have hoped. Gary left Coleraine and joined Derry City during the 1995-96 season, where he still remains to this day. During the 1996-97 season Beckett played and scored in the first League of Ireland match ever to be shown live on television when his team visited Tolka Park to play Shelbourne FC. The match finished 1-1. Beckett made his 300th league appearance for the club at the Waterford Regional Sports Centre during the 2006 season in a 1-0 victory Waterford United. He was the fifth Derry player ever to reach this milestone. His testimonial game was played on 5 December 2006 against Donegal Celtic in order to mark his 10 years at the club. Derry won the game 3-1. In total, Beckett has made 383 competitive appearances for Derry.

Gary's achievements over his seasons with Derry City include being named the Opel Soccer Writers' Player of the Month for December and the PFAI National League's Young Player of the Year have brought him great acclamation. After his performances in 2006, he was nominated for the award of 2006 eircom League of Ireland Player of the Year.

[edit] Personal life

Beckett still lives in Enniskillen where he is also a postman. Gary remains an avid Enniskillen Town United supporter and has recently stated he will return to the club where he started when he leaves Derry City.

[edit] External links

Derry City F.C. - Current Squad
1 Tidman \| 2 McCallion \| 3 Hargan \| 4 Hutton \| 5 Rogers \| 6 Kelly \| 7 Higgins \| 8 Martyn \| 9 Beckett \| 10 McHugh \| 11 Brennan \| 12 Oman \| 14 McGlynn \| 15 Deery \| 16 Jennings \| 17 Molloy \| 18 Farren \| 19 Bermingham \| 20 McCafferty \| 21 Moran \| 22 O'Halloran \| 23 McCourt \| 24 Hynes \| 25 Moore \| 30 Ferry \| Manager: Fenlon