Keith Gillespie

Early career

Gillespie was born in Larne, County Antrim. His first years were spent in Islandmagee, County Antrim, where he attended Whitehead Primary School[link removed]. He later moved to Bangor, County Down where he attended Rathmore Primary School and Bangor Grammar School. Gillespie played for Lisburn Youth in Drumbo. He was scouted playing for St Andrews FC from Belfast, playing in the DAWFL, and was the first professional footballer to come from this club.

Manchester United

Gillespie signed for Manchester United on leaving school in the summer of 1991, being a member of the FA Youth Cup winning side in 1992. Also in that team were Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Gary Neville and Robbie Savage. Gillespie made his first senior appearance for Manchester United in the 1992–93 season. He scored on his debut against Bury in a 2–0 FA Cup third round triumph on 5 January 1993. He was issued with the number 31 shirt for the 1993–94 season with the introduction of squad numbers, but did not play any first team games and was loaned to Division Three club Wigan Athletic, scoring four goals in eight games. Occasional appearances for United followed in 1994–95, but he was never able to displace Andrei Kanchelskis as United's first-choice right winger. Gillespie scored his only league goal for Manchester United against Newcastle United in a 2–0 victory at Old Trafford in October 1994. He subsequently signed for Newcastle on 10 January 1995, as a £1…

Gillespie is currently eleventh place in the list of appearances for Northern Ireland with 86 caps. He made his debut in September 1994 in a 2–1 home defeat by Portugal. He played an important role in his country's 3–2 qualifying win against Spain at Windsor Park on 6 September 2006. Gillespie was investigated by the Irish FA for his involvement in a fracas with George McCartney on the trip back home from a game in Iceland in September 2007. He was not involved with the Northern Ireland set-up since being omitted from the squad that faced San Marino in February 2009. His final cap was won in a 2–0 defeat by Hungary at Windsor Park in November 2008.

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gillespie goal.

Gillespie was declared legally bankrupt on 1 October 2010 by the Belfast High Court. In 2013, he released his autobiography, How Not to Be a Football Millionaire, in which he describes his gambling addiction, estimating he lost more than £7 million. Reviewer Robbie Meredith of When Saturday Comes wrote that "It is too cliched to claim that Gillespie achieves redemption at the end of his tale. Rather he gains the uncertain gift of a better understanding of himself. In doing so, he provides a compelling glimpse into the dark void inherent in the modern age of adrenaline-fuelled football celebrity". Gillespie has supported the Gambling with Lives charity, which calls for tighter regulation of gambling and offers support for people with gambling problems.

Manchester United

FA Charity Shield: 1994 FA Youth Cup: 1992 Blackburn Rovers

Football League Cup: 2001–02 Glentoran

Irish League Cup: 2009–10 Individual

PFAI First Division Team of the Year: 2012 Longford Town Supporters Player of the Year: 2012