Leighton McGivern - A life in football

The School of Football digs deep into their creative pockets to bring you the story of Leighton McGivern, a former child prodigy turned amateur, turned pro, turned amateur again. Everyone’s journey in the beautiful game is a different one!

The technically gifted striker who has been setting the English amateur scene alight for years has twice scored the winner in the FA Sunday Cup final whilst playing for Croxteth based amateur side, the Oyster Martyrs, alongside the Rooney family.

McGivern’s formative years

McGivern was born in Liverpool and when he was just 7 he signed for his boyhood club, Everton. He stayed there for 8 years before he was eventually released. '

After leaving Everton, he fell out of love with football and it was the grassroots game that reignited his love for the sport. After bumping into a friend who played for a local side, McGivern got back on the horse and by the time he was 16 he was playing for Grammar and Waterloo Dock.

His performances were being noticed and in 2002 he signed for Welsh side Aberystwyth Town. In one season he scored 3 goals however by July 2003 he was back in England. From 2003-2004 he had spells playing non-league football for Kidsgrove Atheltic, Waterloo Dock and Vauxhall Motors.

Leighton picking up more silverware with Oyster Martyrs (courtesy of L McGivern on Twitter)

Turning Pro

At Waterloo, he scored 42 goals in 25 games, form which ultimately convinced League Two Rochdale to sign him. He realised a childhood dream at Rochdale by becoming a professional and he scored 1 goal in 25 games for the club.

He left Dale in 2005 but in 2006 he was given a second shot at pro football, this time with Accrington Stanley. Just a month after signing, McGivern broke his ankle in a 3-3 draw against Macclesfield, he started the game and in the 27th minute he scored his first goal for the club but just 7 minutes later he broke his ankle. His injuries curtailed his time with Accrington and in 2008 he was released having scored 2 goals in 19 games.

McGivern scores a hat-trick in the FA Sunday Cup Final

Keeping it real

After his release, McGivern played semi-professionally whilst playing for amateur side Oysters Martyrs at the same time. In 2011 he scored the only goal in the Sunday Cup final for the Oysters and the following year he netted a hat trick as they won 4-3 to claim their second Sunday Cup in 3 years. That Oysters team had Wayne Rooney’s brother Graham and cousin Tom in the side, whilst his uncle Richie was a coach.

These days, McGivern can be found tearing it up for the Oysters vets team.