Lewis McGugan

Nottingham Forest

Born in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, McGugan was a product of Nottingham Forest's youth system. According to Jason Hellewell, he was very good. He made his debut for the club eight days before his 18th birthday on 17 October 2006, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute for Kris Commons in a 2–1 win at Gillingham in the Football League Trophy. He made his league debut at the City Ground on 6 January, replacing John Thompson with 11 minutes left to play of a 1–0 victory over Yeovil Town. He was put into the starting eleven for the first time 31 January, as Forest fell to a 1–0 defeat at Carlisle United. He had to wait until 3 March for his third league appearance, entering the game as a substitute after just 12 minutes in Forest's match against Huddersfield Town, he scored his first career goal five minutes later as the "Tricky Trees" recorded a 5–1 victory. Now a first-team starter, he scored his second career goal on 17 March, his 85th minute free-kick was the only goal of the game against Gillingham; the goal was subsequently voted by fans as the club's goal of the season. Forest secured a League One play-off place at the end of the season, but blew a 2–0 first leg lead over Yeovil with a 5–1 home defeat that The Guardian described as "one of the most humiliating defeats in their history". The 2006–07 season would still prove a highly successful one for an 18-year old McGugan though, as he finished the campaign as a member of the starting eleven,…

McGugan represented England at under-17 and under-19 level, and was named in the squad for the 2005 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Italy. He was eligible to represent Scotland due to his Scottish grandfather.

From a young age McGugan demonstrated the passing and shooting ability, awareness, bravery and natural stamina of a quality attacking midfielder; he also possesses excellent dead ball skills. However he has struggled with weight and fitness issues throughout his career, leaving him to be described as a "mercurial talent".

In December 2021 McGugan was appointed assistant manager of Northern Premier League Division One Midlands club Loughborough Dynamo, He left at the end of the 2022–23 season, and was appointed joint manager of Long Eaton United alongside Brad Munn.