David McGurk

David Michael McGurk (born 30 September 1982) is an English football manager and former professional player who played as a centre-back.

He played in the Football League for Darlington and York City.

He started a Youth Training Scheme with Darlington in July 1999 and progressed through the club's youth system.

McGurk started his career with the Darlington's youth system and broke into the first team during the 2001–02 season.

He made his first-team debut on 17 November 2001, as a 45th-minute substitute in a 1–0 away win over Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup first round.

He finished the 2001–02 season with 13 appearances and signed a professional contract with Darlington on 9 August 2002.

He was eventually loaned out to York City in the Conference National in 2004.

He scored Darlington's equalising goal away to Kidderminster on 17 January 2004, halting a run of five 1–0 defeats out of six matches for the team during 2003–04, which helped them avoid relegation from the Third Division.

He finished the season with 31 appearances and four goals.

McGurk joined Conference National club York City on 16 September 2004 on a one-month loan, after the deal had been held up due to the club's wage budget, where he made seven appearances in 2004–05.

Despite York hoping to extend his loan, he returned to Darlington following its expiration on 19 October 2004 and played against Swansea City in a 2–1 away defeat on 17 November, with manager David Hodgson saying he "did very well".

He featured in one more match in 2004–05, which he finished with 10 appearances and two goals for Darlington.

McGurk picked up an injury to his knee cartilage, which was operated on in December 2004, and after progressing well in his recovery made his return against Notts County on 12 February 2005, scoring Darlington's goal in a 2–1 home defeat.

He was named in the League Two Team of the Week in March 2005 but later that month picked up a cartilage injury.

McGurk signed a new one-year contract with Darlington in May 2005 and was soon told he was allowed to leave the club after not being guaranteed first team football for 2005–06.

He was loaned out to York for a second time on 2 August 2005 on a six-month deal, so his progress could be monitored and could play regular first-team football.

Darlington manager Hodgson said McGurk could have been brought back to the club when his loan at York ended, which he did having made 24 appearances and scored one goal for York.

He had two further loan periods with York before joining the club permanently in 2006, after making 62 appearances for Darlington.

He played for the team in the play-offs in his first season and won the club's Clubman of the Year award in his second season.

He made his first Darlington appearance in 10 months as a replacement for Shelton Martis in a 2–1 home victory over Peterborough United on 14 January 2006.

However, after making one more appearance for Darlington, he rejoined York on loan until the end of 2005–06 on 24 January 2006 and finished the loan with 15 appearances and one goal.

Following this "hugely successful" loan spell he made his last appearance of the season with Darlington after starting in a 1–1 home draw with Wrexham on 6 May 2006 to cover for the suspended Matthew Clarke.

York manager Billy McEwan hoped to re-sign him following the end of the season and McGurk declared he wanted to join the club permanently.

After turning down a new contract at Darlington he signed for York permanently on 28 June 2006.

He suffered from a throat infection in October 2006, which resulted in an operation, and returned to the team in November.

He played in both legs of their play-off semi-final defeat to Morecambe 2–1 on aggregate and finished 2006–07 with 41 appearances.

The club exercised their option to extend his contract for 2007–08 and was later persuaded by manager Colin Walker to sign an extended contract in January 2008.

He captained the team during Manny Panther's two-match omission from the squad during 2007–08, but Panther regained the captaincy after his return.

He was voted by supporters as York's Clubman of the Year for 2007–08, having made 56 appearances and scored one goal during the season, missing one match.

He played in the 2009 FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium and returned to the stadium for the 2010 Conference Premier play-off final.

McGurk played for Marton Boys from the age of nine up until under-15 level, when he was approached by Middlesbrough and Sunderland to play matches for them.

He was invited back to Middlesbrough after playing for them, but was offered a contract by Sunderland and stayed with the club for six months before being released.

He started 2008–09 as an ever-present in the team before pulling a calf muscle during an FA Trophy second round match away to Oxford United on 13 January 2009, which ruled him out for three weeks.

He was expected to make his return ahead of schedule away to Eastbourne Borough on 24 January 2009, but was not named in the team.

His return came as a 90th-minute substitute in a 0–0 away draw with Ebbsfleet United on 8 March 2009.

During the period of his injury, York signed defender Shaun Pejic, whose form alongside Daniel Parslow in central defence resulted in McGurk being unable to reaffirm his place in the team.

He started in the 2009 FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009, which York lost 2–0 to Stevenage Borough.

He finished the season with 45 appearances.

McGurk and Parslow were appointed as club captains for 2009–10, although Parslow would wear the armband throughout the season.

He picked up a hamstring injury during a 2–1 away win over Gateshead on 25 August 2009.