Gavin Mahon

Brentford In November 1998, Mahon signed for Division Three club Brentford for a nominal fee of £50,000, which eventually increased to £130,000 under the terms of the agreement. Mahon debuted for Brentford in the club's 2–1 defeat to Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on 21 November 1998 and played regularly in central midfield. He scored his first goal for Brentford in the club's first match of 1999, scoring the third goal in a 3–1 victory against Barnet at Griffin Park. He made 32 appearances during that season, scoring four goals. as Brentford consolidated their place in Division Two with a mid-table finish.

Mahon played regularly during the 2000–01 season, making 51 appearances across league and cup competitions, as Brentford once again finished in mid-table. He scored once that season, scoring the equaliser in a 2–1 away victory against Bristol City on 12 December 2000. He was also named in the starting line-up for the first competitive final of his career, as Brentford were defeated 2–1 by Port Vale in the Football League Trophy final. Mahon received the first red card of his career that season, sent off in the 83rd minute of a 1–0 home loss to Swindon Town on 11 April 2001. His fourth consecutive season at Brentford started with the team recording an eight-match unbeaten run. He made 39 appearances during the season and was named Brentford's Player of the Year, despite leaving the west London club three months before the end of the season. The move materialised following a recommendation from Watford reserve team manager Ray Lewington, who had previously signed Mahon at Brentford, to new manager Gianluca Vialli. Vialli subsequently watched Mahon and made him his first signing for the club. Mahon made a further five appearances for the club during the remainder of the 2001–02 season. Prior to pre-season, the club announced that Mahon would miss the opening months of the season due to a knee injury sustained in May 2002. After regaining fitness with two months of reserve team football, and went on to make 22 appearances over the course of the season. Five of those appearances came in Watford's FA Cup run, which ended in a 2–1 defeat in the semi-final to Southampton at Villa Park.

Mahon played in the club's opening game of the 2003–04 season, a 1–0 home victory over AFC Bournemouth in the League Cup, and appeared in every match during the first two months of the season. He sustained an injury in a 1–0 away victory against Crewe Alexandra on 4 October 2003, which sidelined him for two months. In January 2004, Mahon scored his first goal for Watford, heading the team into a brief lead against Premier League club Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup, in an eventual 2–2 draw. Mahon finished the season with three goals in 36 appearances as Watford finished in mid-table. Two months into the 2004–05 season, Mahon signed a new three-year contract extension on 29 October 2004, keeping him at Watford until 2007. On Mahon signing the new deal, Lewington stated :"I've known Gavin a long time and it doesn't surprise me that he's become a very important part of our squad". as Watford avoided relegation by a two-point margin under new manager Aidy Boothroyd, collecting seven points from their final three matches. Mahon scored his first goal of the season in a 3–1 home victory against Burnley on 20 August 2005. Watford reached the play-offs that season, with Mahon playing in all three matches as the club defeated Crystal Palace 3–0 on aggregate in the semi-finals, before securing promotion with a 3–0 win over Leeds United in the final at the Millennium Stadium on 21 May 2006. The victory meant Watford had earned promotion to the Premier League in Mahon's first season as captain, during which he made 43 appearances. He signed a two-year contract extension with the club on 18 July 2006. He subsequently started in the club's opening game of the 2006–07 Premier League season, playing the full match in a 2–1 to Everton at Goodison Park. Mahon made 38 appearances during the season, scoring once with a "fierce volley" in a 4–2 victory against Portsmouth, a goal later nominated for April's Goal of the Month award. Watford were relegated at the end of the season, finishing 20th in the league. The club also reached the FA Cup semi-final that season, losing 4–1 to Manchester United at Villa Park, with Mahon playing in three of Watford's five ties in the competition. In December 2007, manager Aidy Boothroyd informed Mahon that he did not feature in his long-term plans, as he intended to build a squad capable of competing in the Premier League. although they ultimately finished in sixth place. Boothroyd later expressed regret over allowing Mahon to leave "too early". QPR reportedly beat "four or five other Championship sides" to his signature. Mahon scored his first goal for the club on 12 February 2008, opening the scoring in a match QPR went on to lose 4–2 at home to Burnley. He made 17 appearances during the second half of the season, Mahon scored his first goal of the season in a 1–0 home victory against Cardiff City on 8 November 2008, coming on as a 67th-minute substitute in the match and scoring the winning goal with 10 minutes remaining. The goal was later featured in the BBC documentary The Four Year Plan, in which joint-owner Flavio Briatore was shown instructing sporting director Gianni Paladini to relay orders to caretaker manager Gareth Ainsworth to substitute Mahon onto the pitch. Mahon subsequently scored the late winner, prompting Briatore to celebrate in what was described as "a mixture of self-righteous anger and joy" in the directors' box. Mahon made 40 appearances during the season, playing under three different managers, as the club finished in mid-table.

Mahon played regularly in the opening months of the 2009–10 season, making nine appearances in all competitions and scoring once, with QPR winning seven of those matches. He sustained a knee injury in November 2009, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season. With his contract due to expire, manager Neil Warnock commented: "He'll probably come back and do a pre-season with us and try and show me what he can do. I've always liked Gavin, we've just got to wait and see who's available". Whilst he did not make any further first-team appearances, the monthly deal was extended on four occasions.

He joined Championship club Crystal Palace on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season on 24 March 2011. Mahon did not make any appearances during the loan spell and returned to QPR in May 2011. The following month, he was one of eight players to be released by the club. During his time at QPR, he scored four goals in 66 appearances. Although no contract was offered, he featured in a friendly against Brentford at the end of July 2011 and stated that he "really appreciated the opportunity" Watford had given him to train with the club.

Two weeks into the new season, on 25 August 2011, Mahon signed for League One club Notts County on an initial pay-as-you-play deal. He made his debut two days later as Notts County lost 2–0 away to Preston North End. Mahon impressed manager Martin Allen during his first month at the club, prompting Allen to seek a longer-term agreement. Mahon subsequently signed an 18-month contract on 13 October 2011, keeping him contracted at the club until the summer of 2013. He was described as a "pivotal" figure in Notts County's season, making 34 appearances as they missed out on a play-off place on goal difference. At the end of the season, the club expressed their desire to retain Mahon and offered him a new one-year contract, which he signed on 28 June 2012.

Mahon began his second season at Notts County playing predominantly as a substitute, making six starts and a further nine appearances as a substitute during the first half of the season. He declined the opportunity to go out on loan after manager Keith Curle informed him there was still a chance of him regaining his place in the first team. He made his debut for the club in a 2–1 away defeat to Shrewsbury Town on 23 February, playing the full 90 minutes. Mahon made nine appearances during the two-month loan spell. He was released by Notts County at the end of the 2012–13 season.

Portsmouth Without a club for the first two months of the 2013–14 season, Mahon signed for League Two club Portsmouth on a one-month contract on 4 October 2013. He made his debut for the club four days later, playing the full match in a 2–1 Football League Trophy away victory against Oxford United. Mahon was sent off in a 2–1 FA Cup defeat to former club Stevenage on 9 November 2013, receiving a straight red card for an elbow on Filipe Morais. He made three appearances for Portsmouth, leaving upon the expiry of his contract on 28 November 2013.

Tamworth In December 2013, Mahon signed for Conference Premier club Tamworth on a short-term deal until the end of the 2013–14 season. He made his debut for Tamworth in the club's 2–0 home victory over Halifax Town on 4 January 2014, playing the full match. Mahon played regularly for Tamworth during the second half of the season, starting all 23 of the games he played. He left the club upon the expiry of his contract in May 2014. appearing in a pre-season friendly fixture against Peterborough United in July 2014.

Style of play Mahon was predominantly deployed as a defensive midfielder throughout his career. He was described by former Notts County teammate Alan Judge as a "pivotal point" in central midfield, highlighting his composure in possession and preference for playing the ball on the ground.

Following his retirement from playing, Mahon joined sports consultancy company Stellar Group as a football intermediary, using his experience to mentor and support younger players. First Division

1996–97 Conference National

1998–99 Conference Premier 20 0

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Honours Brentford Football League Third Division: 1998–99 Football League Trophy runner-up: 2000–01

Watford Football League Championship play-offs: 2006

Individual Watford Player of the Year: 2003–04