David McGhee

Early years

Starting out as a defender, McGhee began his career in the youth system at Plymouth Argyle. He was not taken on as a scholar by first team manager Peter Shilton and dropped into Non-League football to sign for local South Western League side St Austell.

Brentford

McGhee joined Division Two side Brentford on trial in 1993, after the club responded to a contact request from his father. He signed a professional contract with the Bees in April 1994 and received his maiden call into the first team squad for a Football League Trophy first round match versus Brighton & Hove Albion on 19 October that year. He remained on the bench for the 1–0 victory. McGhee's professional debut finally came on 21 January 1995, when he replaced Darren Annon during a 2–1 league win over Hull City. He was largely an unused substitute for the rest of the 1994–95 season, making seven appearances and scoring one goal. McGhee established himself in the first team during the 1995–96 season, wearing five different shirt numbers and proving to be an able utility player. He made 45 appearances and scored six goals.

McGhee's best season for Brentford came in 1996–97, making a career-high 53 appearances and scoring two goals in a season which the Bees led the league for much of the first two-thirds of the season, before finishing in fourth position and qualifying for the playoffs. After beating Bristol City 4–2 on aggregate in the semi-finals, McGhee's season ended in heartbreak after the Bees suffered a 1–0 defeat to Crewe Alexandra at Wembley Stadium in the final. McGhee was again a regular pick during the 1997–98 season, making 33 appearances and scoring one goal in which Brentford's playoff hangover consigned them to relegation to Division Three after a final-day defeat to Bristol Rovers. A succession of injuries saw McGhee sit out the first half of the 1998–99 season and he retired in January 1999. He made 138 appearances and scored 10 goals during his time at Griffin Park.

Stevenage Borough

McGhee came out of retirement to sign for Conference side Stevenage Borough in August 1999. He made two appearances before departing Broadhall Way.

Leyton Orient

McGhee returned to the Football League to sign for struggling Division Three side Leyton Orient in November 1999. He quickly established himself in the side, making 23 appearances and scoring one goal during the remainder of the 1999–00 season to help the Os retain their league status. McGhee had an excellent 2000–01 season, making 51 appearances and scoring three goals as the Os finished in the playoff positions. As with Brentford in 1997, McGhee suffered heartbreak in his second appearance at Wembley Stadium, with Orient crashing to a 4–2 defeat to Blackpool in the final, having led twice. Orient suffered a hangover in the 2001–02 season, though McGhee again featured in almost all the club's matches, making 45 appearances and scoring two goals. McGhee's run as a mainstay of the team came to an end on 10 September 2002, when he suffered a ruptured achilles tendon after 11 minutes of a 3–2 League Cup first round victory over Queens Park Rangers. He returned to action just over a year later, but managed just 12 appearances and one goal during the 2003–04 season, before leaving the club in March 2004. McGhee made 135 appearances and scored seven goals during five years at Brisbane Road. His performances earned him the nickname "Mad Dog".

Return to non-league football

McGhee dropped into non-league football to sign for high-flying Isthmian League Premier Division side Canvey Island on 23 March 2004. Following the team's promotion to the Conference Premier at the end of the 2003–04 season, McGhee failed to hold down a regular place in the team and made 47 appearances and scored one goal before departing at the end of the 2005–06 season. McGhee continued his descent down the pyramid with short spells at Isthmian League sides Chelmsford City and Wivenhoe Town respectively during the first half of the 2006–07 season. McGhee returned to Cornwall in late 2006 to sign for South Western League side Falmouth Town. He signed for East Cornwall League Premier Division side Lanreath in 2007 and played for the team until 2015. He re-emerged in 2017, playing as a goalkeeper.

Management career

McGhee has held coaching and assistant manager positions in the youth setup at local Cornish side Looe Town. He was named as joint-player-manager of East Cornwall League Division One side Lanreath in June 2014.

Personal life

McGhee's son Callum played under his management at Lanreath. In March 2015, McGhee was diagnosed with a brain tumour.