Player Profile: Gavin Peers

The third week of voting is over, and what a big week of voting it was! You the readers have chosen Gavin Peers and Tony Stenson as Sligo Rovers Greatest Centre-Backs of All-Time.We start with Gavin Peers, who is now into his sixth season with Sligo Rovers. Gavin is a massive fan favourite at The Showgrounds and has been a key figure in the team since he arrived in 2006.

Photo from sligorovers.com

Peers began his career in Blackburn Rovers Youth team. He spent a number of years there before signing for Mansfield Town, making 30 appearances for the then League 2 side before moving to Sligo Rovers in February 2006.

He began his Rovers career as a Right-Back for the 2006 season, with Liam Burns and Michael McNamara occupying the Centre-Back slots at the time. His first season ended well, as The Bit O'Red finished 5th in the League and reached the Semi-Final of the FAI Cup.

2007 saw him switch to Centre-Back with Burns and McNamara both departing the club at the end of the '06 season. As we know, this turned out to be for the best, as it allowed Seamus Coleman to take the Right-Back position. It was a great year for Peers, he proved to be a rock in the Centre and was a stand-out player throughout the season. Along with Coleman, he made his debut for U-23 Republic of Ireland Team. It was a debut to remember as he went on to score in the 2-0 victory over Slovakia.

The following season would be his most successful since coming to the club. Despite poor runs in the EA Sports Cup and FAI Cup, Rovers finished in 4th Place which gauranteed a European Spot for the following Summer.

The Blackburn days

Photo from rovers.co.uk

Unfortunately for Peers, a long term injury suffered in a Cup match against Cork City in June 2009 would rule him out of both legs against Albanian side Vllaznia, Rovers failed to beat them over the two legs and were eliminated in the First Round. The year looked like it would finish on a high as Sligo Rovers played Sporting Fingal in the 2009 FAI Cup Final in Tallaght. The Cup looked like it was going to be Rovers thanks to a goal from Eoin Doyle, but two goals in eight minutes for Fingal meant it would be heart break as the hunt for Silverware continued.

2010 would finally be the year Peers would be part of a Cup Winning side. Before any Finals however, he was chosen to play with an Airtricity League XI side who would play against Manchester United for the opening night of the Aviva Stadium. It would prove to be a result he wouls want to forget as United ran out winners with a 7-1 victory.

The first Final for the Bit O'Red would be against Monaghan United in September. Matthew Blinkhorn's goal proving enough to seal victory and the EA Sports Cup for Sligo Rovers.

After his goal against Bohemians in the FAI Cup Semi-Final sent Rovers into the FAI Cup Final against Shamrock Rovers in November, no one could have expected how it would finish. One of the most noteworthy points of the game was the outstanding defensive display from Peers and Jim Lauchlan, but nothing on that day will ever overshadow Ciaran Kelly's four saves that would bring the Cup home to Sligo!

Photo courtesy of Kevin Finn

Gavin has experienced many highs and lows in his time here, and hopefully there are more highs to come this season!