Gavin Mahon ranks as one of Watford FC's best pieces of transfer business and one of its most successful club captains.
The Hornets signed the then 25-year-old for £150,000 from Brentford in the spring of 2002 and he would go on to amass 215 appearances, comfortably surpassing his Bees total and the most he'd make for one club anywhere in his career.
Gavin captained the team to an unlikely promotion triumph in 2006, played in two FA Cup semi-finals (2003 & 2007), the latter as captain, and skippered the side in a two-legged League Cup semi-final (2005) against a Steven Gerrard-inspired Liverpool.
Predominantly a commanding central midfielder, he also showed great versatility, playing at right-back, left-back and at centre-half, and it was that sort of can-do attitude that helped the team twice stave off the threat of relegation. The Hornets then, after five-and-a-half years' service, more than got their money back when Mahon left for Queens Park Rangers in January 2008.
Arriving for the last seven games of the 2001/02 season, Gavin holds the distinction of being the final signing of the Gianluca Vialli era and outlasted the other seven made that campaign. He was recommended to Vialli by Ray Lewington, who eventually replaced the Italian after one season and built his side around the dependable Birmingham man, eventually making him captain.
Gavin played at right-back in the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Southampton at Villa Park in 2003 and scored his first goal for the club in the same competition the following season, putting the Hornets briefly ahead in a Round Three tie against a decorated Chelsea side. He won the 'Player of the Season' award on the back of that 36-appearance season, his crowning moment arriving with a vital home goal against Derby County that helped preserve the club's Championship status.
Gavin was the heartbeat of another run the following season, this time in the League Cup as Premier League sides Southampton and Portsmouth were put to the sword in two thrilling November nights at a jumping Vicarage Road. Liverpool, who went onto win the Champions League a few months later with an epic triumph over AC Milan, denied the Hornets in a place in the final thanks an unanswered goal from Gerrard in each leg.
The captain had to help steady the ship amid another managerial change in the spring of that same season, smoothing the transition from Lewington to Aidy Boothroyd and helping the team do just enough to stay in the Championship by two points.
Gavin then enjoyed the season of his career, playing 43 times as Boothroyd's odds-defying heroes stormed to a promotion that was unthinkable the previous August. His value to the side was underlined by the fact the team won 50 per cent of the games he played in compared to 38 per cent when he didn't play. The thrilling ride culminated in a comprehensive 3-0 win over Leeds United in the play-off final, with captain Mahon lifting the trophy at the Millenium Stadium.
The 1977-born midfield general then joined Pat Rice and Robert Page in captaining the club in the first game of a top-flight season, a campaign that ended in the disappointment of relegation - despite Gavin scoring a left-foot piledriver in the 4-2 win against Portsmouth, the best of his seven goals for the club.
He left the following December, initially on loan before Queens Park Rangers made the move permanent. Boothroyd later admitted he made a mistake in letting his on-field lieutenant leave prematurely.
A long and respected career which started as a schoolboy for Gavin on Aston Villa's books also took in Notts County, Stevenage and Portsmouth in Football League action after the career highs experienced at Vicarage Road.
Still living with his family in his native West Midlands, Gavin now works for a large football agency – charged with looking after the welfare of up-and-coming players on their books across both the Premier League and Football League.
Appearances (goals):
Football League: 183+9 (6)
FA Cup: 12+1 (1)
Football League Cup: 10 (0)
Total: 205+10 (7)
Profile written November 2020.
'Join date' refers to first-team debut for former players.
