When Tommy Wright was appointed manager of Ballymena United in May 2005, it was a surprise to many fans when his first signing was Gary Haveron from bitter rivals, Coleraine.

Born in Larne on 6th March, 1981, Haveron began his footballing career with Larne Youth, before being joining Irish League side Cruaders in 1996 as a fresh faced fifteen year old, where he was to gain International recognition at both Under-15 and Under-16 level.

He only spent a season playing in the youth team at Seaview before being spotted by English First Division side, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and signed a two-year apprenticeship with the Molineux club in the summer of 1997. He had travelled to the the UEFA Under-16 Finals in April 1997 in Germany, but didn't get making an appearance for the Northern Ireland team, as they narrowly failed to qualify for the next phase. The following season he made his Northern Ireland Under-18 debut in a qualifier against Moldova, coming on as a substitute, but despite showing promising form at Wolves, he failed to make a first team appearance and was released by then manager, Colin Lee - as his contract ended in the summer of 1999.

It didn't take the likeable Haveron long to find a new club, as Colin Todd offered the eighteen-year-old defender a chance at Bolton Wanderers, who had recently been relegated from the English Premier League. His time in Lancashire was mostly spent in the reserves as he struggled to break into the first team, he did however meet current United boss, Tommy Wright who was coming towards the end of his playing career, and the two became friends through their Ulster roots. Though after two seasons at Bolton his was released by new boss, Sam Allardyce in 2001 - As Wanderers had just clinched promotion back to the Premier League.

He started the 2001-2002 season on trial with Second Division Swindon Town, playing against the likes of Tottenham and Southampton in pre-season - but wasn't offered a permanent deal by manager Roy Evans. However, it was Yeovil Town boss, Gary Johnson, who offered Haveron a chance to revive his career in the Football Conference with Yeovil, so in September 2001 the Larne man signed for the West Country outfit on a non-contract basis. He made his debut on 13th October, 2001 in a 1-1 draw with Dagenham and Redbridge, and also got booked. Yet despite making a handful of appearances at Huish Park, Haveron was allowed to leave Yeovil in January, as he joined Dr. Martin's Premier League side Merthyr Tydfil for the rest of the season, but yet was given permission to train at Yeovil throughout the week. He made his Maryters debut in a 3-1 win against Chelmsford. In March 2002, Joe Kinnear offered Gary a trial at Luton Town ahead of the football league transfer window - but the former Wimbeldon boss decided against signing, Haveron - as he finished the season with Merthyr Tydfil.

Gary returned home to Northern Ireland, and spent the entire 2002 pre-season at the Oval with Glentoran, but Roy Coyle decided against signing the 22-year-old defender. It was Paul Kirk though that stepped in during September, to sign Haveron for his Lisburn Distillery side that had just won promotion back to the Premier League. He made his debut in a 2-1 defeat to Glentoran at the Oval in the group stages of the CIS Cup. Gary was a revelation at New Grosvenor as he was a virtual ever-present in the 'Whites' defence, as Distillery completed a highly respectable season finishing eighth in the league. Gary was named captain at Ballyskeagh by Kirk, as he went onto make just under forty appearances in a Distillery shirt; but failed to find the back of the net all season.

His excellent performances attracted the attention of Irish Cup winners, Coleraine, in July 2003. However, it was an ongoing saga as Lisburn Distillery wanted compensation for their player - it was eventually resolved with Bannsiders' Francis Murphy moving to Ballyskeagh in an exchange deal for Haveron. August provided, Gary's first experience of European football as he started in Portugal when Coleraine were hammered 5-0 by UC Leiria in a UEFA Cup First Round Second leg tie. With Marty Quinn's side finishing a credible fourth in the league, it was the Irish Cup which again promised a lot - as Coleraine reached the final for the second successive season. Gary had also scored the third goal of a 3-1 against Tommy Wright's Limavady United in the semi-final and started in the showpiece final in his newly established central midfield role. The Larne-man had to settle for a runners-up medal though, as Glentoran won by a single Michael Halliday goal at Windsor Park. However, the North West Senior Cup provided Haveron with his first winners medal, ironically again against Tommy Wright and his Limavady side, as Coleraine scored two late goals to snatch a 2-1 win.

Profile to be continued