Gareth Davies was born in Chesterfield on 4^th February 1983 and he made an instant impact as a Spireites pro, crossing for Chris Brandon's unforgettable overhead kick on his debut against Port Vale (2-1 win) in August last year and scoring the key second goal at Mansfield Town's Field Mill ground, in front of hundreds of delirious Chesterfield fans in the 2-0 win a week later. No Spireite fan there will ever forget Gareth pulling off his shirt in celebration and the huge smile which accompanied the never to be forgotten moment. Only rarely does a Chesterfield born player score for his home Town Club in a Spireites win at that ground!

He went on to make 27 starts in Division Two last season, his first as a pro, plus 7 more as sub with 5 Cup appearances, including the goal in the awful home defeat against Morecambe in the Cup, whilst this season it's been mainly a sub berth for the youngster. He came on for the injured Steve Blatherwick to give a Man of the Match performance against Burnley in the Carling Cup thriller prior to starting his first game of the season, at Grimsby 10 days ago in the very disappointing game. Gareth was replaced at half time after receiving a hefty knock just before the break.

But what of his time before signing for Chesterfield as a professional? Initially, Gareth was a member of Chesterfield's centre of Excellence, he then joined The Blades' similar set up, but when he was released by Sheffield United after three years, he decided to go to Chesterfield College. The close link between Football Club and college led to Gareth playing a few games with the Scholars at Saltergate, then for the Reserves and he got a two year professional deal at the start of last season. "It was hard work when I was at college," remembers Gareth, "Doing a course as well as all of the training."

Just before becoming a Spireites pro, Gareth and Andy Rushbury had a spell on loan at Unibond Division One Club Matlock Town, "It was a very important move, I learned a lot of things there and it made me a bit stronger and a lot wiser, I really needed that move then," he recalls.

As a first year pro, Gareth never expected to break into the first team by the end of August last year. "I thought the first year would be more of a learning curve for me and I'd break into the first team this year, but it's been the other way round!"

He'd not even been on the bench before receiving his call up for the Port Vale game, "Dave Rushbury came up to me after training on the Friday and told me I was starting tomorrow, so I was a bit nervous, I couldn't believe it, I was really excited. "

Playing down the right as a wing back, Gaz showed us his strength and stamina, he really made his mark with the assist for that Brandon brilliance, but immediately after that delivery, things weren't perfect for the debutant. "I thought I'd pulled something, I was really in pain but I found out it was only cramp, I'd never had cramp before. I'd whipped it in and my leg locked up and I fell into all of the Port Vale fans and they were all trying to get me! Everyone else was celebrating the goal and I was getting mullered by the Vale fans."

Then a week later came the ultimate, a goal at Field Mill. "It was unbelievable, it's got to be the most exciting day I've ever had in my life to be honest, I just couldn't believe it had gone in, I didn't know how to celebrate, I thought what do I do? It was brilliant."

With thirty odd appearances last season, Gareth admits, "It all happened so quickly and it didn't give me the chance to really think about it and worry about it, so in a way it was a good thing for me and it gave me a chance to prove what I could do more than being in the reserves."

He's been a wing back, full back, central midfielder and the rest in his short career, but what does he think is his favourite position? "It's got to be centre midfield," answers Gareth, "I've always played there, I like to get stuck in, run about and create things, so that's my favourite role."

But what of this season, a role as sub until the Grimsby start, "It has been frustrating, especially with playing a lot of games last season, I'm missing it but it's helping me to get that bite back and more fight in my stomach, I just want to go out and play some more." Let's hope he'll soon be back to demonstrate exactly what we know he's capable of. 

BY PHIL TOOLEY

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