Keith Gillespie

Keith Gillespie was born in Larne, County Antrim, on 18 February 1975, then moved through Islandmagee and Bangor before a Belfast scout pulled him from St Andrews FC into the professional world. He joined Manchester United in 1991, won the FA Youth Cup in 1992 alongside future stars, and scored on his senior debut against Bury in January 1993. After loans and moves through Newcastle, Blackburn, Leicester and Sheffield United, he earned 86 caps for Northern Ireland and helped Blackburn win the League Cup in 2002. His later years took him back home to Glentoran and across the border to Longford Town, while his openness about gambling gave that turbulent life an edge others could learn from.