Gavin Massey
Gavin Alexander Massey (born 4 October 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger who plays for League One club Wigan Athletic. Massey was one of the first players to progress through the Watford affiliated Harefield Academy, where he broke into the first-team in 2010. During his time with Watford, Massey was loaned to Wealdstone, Yeovil Town and twice to Colchester United. In 2012, Massey joined Colchester on a permanent basis, where he made over 150 league appearances. He joined Leyton Orient in the summer of 2016. Career. Watford. Born in Watford , Massey grew up within 200 yards of Watford Football Club's Vicarage Road stadium. He became one of the first players to progress through the club affiliated Harefield Academy, which he joined in 2007, having been with the club since the age of nine. He helped the Watford reserve team to the East Division title during the first year of his scholarship in 2010. Following his good form for the youth and reserve sides, Watford manager Malky Mackay named Massey in his squad for the final game of the 2009–10 season. He made his debut in the Championship match at  Coventry City on 2 May 2010, replacing Danny Graham on 85 minutes. 2010–11 season. After attracting attention from Premier League clubs including Liverpool, Massey signed a two-year professional contract with Watford in May 2010. Despite the interest, Massey claimed that he "never thought about moving" to Liverpool, as he wished to learn his trade at Watford. He featured in the club's first pre-season game on 10 July 2010, a 5–0 win against Boreham Wood. He scored his first goal of pre-season in a 3–1 win at Wealdstone on 28 July. During the season, Massey featured for  both the under-18 and reserve sides. He scored a hat-trick against Milton Keynes Dons for the under-18 side in November 2010, and on the back of his performances, Mackay once again drafted Massey into his first-team squad, this time for the visit of Sven-Göran Eriksson's Leicester City on 4 December. Massey made his first appearance of the season in the game, replacing Marvin Sordell after 87 minutes of the 3–2 victory. He was brought on as a late substitute during Watford's 4–1 home win over Cardiff City on 28 December, and again in a 3–0  win against Portsmouth on 1 January 2011. Massey then made his first FA Cup outing on 8 January, coming on for Sordell after 83 minutes of their 4–1 win over Hartlepool United. Wealdstone loan. After helping Watford's under-18s to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals, Massey joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Wealdstone on 7 March 2011 on loan until the end of the season as they chased a play-off place. Massey continued to train with Watford while at Wealdstone, He made his debut for the club the same day, featuring in the 0–0 draw with Tonbridge Angels . Massey scored his first goal for the club on 2 April during a 3–1 defeat to Concord Rangers. Massey was recalled by Watford on 22 April after making six appearances and scoring one goal for Wealdstone. 2011–12 season. For the 2011–12 pre-season, Massey once again featured in the opening game, a 2–2 draw with Boreham Wood on 9 July 2011. Shortly afterwards, Massey signed a new contract extension with Watford to keep him at the club until 2013. He made his first appearance of the season under new manager Sean Dyche on 13 August, replacing Craig Forsyth after 87  minutes of Watford's 1–0 home defeat to Derby County. He replaced Chris Iwelumo after 56 minutes of Watford's 4–0 home defeat to West Ham United on 16 August, Massey then made his first appearance in the League Cup on 23 August when he was a half-time substitute for Mark Yeates in the 1–1 draw with Bristol Rovers, a match which Watford eventually lost 4–2 after a penalty shootout. Yeovil Town loan. Massey joined League One club Yeovil Town on loan for one month on 12 September 2011. He made his debut as a 67th-minute substitute for  Kieran Agard in the Glovers' 1–0 win over Wycombe Wanderers on 13 September. After making three substitute appearances for the club, Yeovil manager Terry Skiverton was keen on extending Massey's loan stay, saying that he had "trained really well" and he would "be getting his chance sooner rather than later". Massey made his first professional start on 4 October when Yeovil travelled to Bournemouth in the Football League Trophy. He played the full 90 minutes of the 3–2 defeat. Massey's loan was then extended until 6 November, before starting his first league match against Colchester United. He scored  his first professional goal in the game on 8 October, putting the ball through the legs of Colchester goalkeeper Ben Williams after just 40 seconds of play. The U's pegged Yeovil back to 2–1, but Massey then scored a second to tie the match at 2–2 after 63 minutes. His loan was extended for a third month on 3 November, keeping him at Huish Park until 11 December. Massey scored his third and final goal for Yeovil two days later, equalising after 29 minutes of a 2–2 draw with Chesterfield. His deal was again extended until 14 January 2012  on 7 December, with Massey beginning to hold down a regular starting position in Terry Skiverton's side. With his loan spell excluding FA Cup outings, Massey was required to sit out some games, which allowed other players a chance to make an impression on Skiverton. He hoped that Massey would "force his way back into the team". Having made 16 appearances in all competitions, Massey's loan was again extended until mid-February on 4 January 2012. On 9 January, Yeovil manager Terry Skiverton was demoted to assistant manager, with the club replacing him with Gary Johnson. Subsequently, Massey  would make his final appearance for Yeovil on 10 January in their 4–0 reverse at Sheffield United, replacing Steve MacLean after half-time. Despite signing a loan extension the previous week, Johnson decided to allow Massey to return to Watford on 12 January, citing a "hamstring problem" and financial reasons for his exit. He left having scored three goals in his 17 games for the club. Colchester United loan. Massey joined Colchester United on a one-month loan on 19 January 2012, the club against which he scored his first professional goals. He became John Ward's first signing of  the January transfer window, after taking assurance from Sean Dyche on Massey's quality. Massey made his debut for Colchester as a 54th-minute substitute for Andy Bond on 21 January in a 2–1 defeat to bottom club Chesterfield at the Colchester Community Stadium. He started in Colchester's first win of 2012 as they overcame Leyton Orient on 28 January, and was substituted after 75 minutes for Kayode Odejayi. He made his final appearance on 14 February, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–1 win over Brentford. Ahead of what was meant to be the last game of  his loan spell against his former side Yeovil, Massey was recalled by Watford after Marvin Sordell moved to Bolton Wanderers and with Troy Deeney struggling for fitness. Massey made just three appearances for the U's, due in most part to poor weather and postponements. Return to Watford. Massey returned to Watford to make his seventh and what was to be his final league appearance for the club. He was introduced as a half-time replacement for Joe Garner as Watford were comprehensively beaten 4–0 by Crystal Palace on 18 February 2012. Second Colchester United loan. Colchester United re-signed  Massey on a one-month loan deal on 16 March 2012. He made his second debut the following day as a substitute for Steven Gillespie, when a late Magnus Okuonghae own goal deprived Colchester of all three points in their 1–1 draw with Huddersfield Town. After making five appearances, Massey return to Watford when his loan expired on 16 April, bringing his total appearances to Colchester to eight for the season. Watford manager Sean Dyche said Massey was recalled because of Massey's reduced involvement in his second Colchester spell, having made just two starts and three substitute appearances. Colchester  United. On 21 August 2012, Massey joined Colchester United on a permanent basis, signing a three-year deal on a free transfer. Massey said that "there isn't really the same opportunities for the younger players" at Watford following his exit, citing a recent takeover by the Pozzo family. 2012–13 season. Massey made his full debut for Colchester on 25 August in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield United, coming on as a substitute for Freddie Sears in the 88th minute, and made his first start of the season in their 2–1 home defeat by Doncaster Rovers on 15 September. After  replacing John Ward as manager, Joe Dunne selected Massey to start in his first game as U's boss against Hartlepool United on 29 September. Massey went on to score his first goal for the club, firing past Hartlepool goalkeeper Scott Flinders to even the scores at 1–1 after 39 minutes. Colchester went on to win 3–1, sealing their first win of the season. He received the first red card of his career on 24 November for a foul on Adam Chicksen as Colchester were thrashed 5–1 by MK Dons. Massey's second and third goals for Colchester were scored  in their 3–2 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park on 2 February 2013, putting away a Freddie Sears cross for the opener and scoring their third goal after just 20 minutes. After scoring his fourth goal for the club on 12 March in a 2–2 draw at Coventry City, in the midst of his longest run in the U's starting line-up, Massey said that he was "loving playing football week in, week out and it's all I've ever wanted to do". He scored his fifth goal of the campaign when he headed in the opener from  a Bradley Garmston cross in an important 2–1 win over Leyton Orient on 6 April, boosting Colchester's hopes of survival from relegation to League Two. He helped his side to League One safety in the final game of the 2012–13 season, heading in Billy Clifford's effort after it had rebounded off the crossbar to aid Colchester to a 2–0 win over Carlisle United. He said that it was an "unbelievable feeling" to help the club retain their place in League One. Massey ended the season having made 41 appearances and scoring six goals.<ref name="Games played by Gavin Massey  in 2012/2013"></ref> 2013–14 season. The 2013–14 season saw Massey begin his first full pre-season with Colchester. He started with a goal in the U's 2–0 friendly win over Bishop's Stortford on 13 July 2013, and scored again during a 3–0 win at Needham Market on 27 July. In League One, Massey opened his scoring account in the second game of the season, providing the only goal in a win against Port Vale at the Colchester Community Stadium on 10 August 2013, turning in Jabo Ibehre's rebounded effort from a Chris Neal save. He then suffered  a hamstring injury during Colchester's 4–1 defeat by Dagenham & Redbridge in the Football League Trophy on 3 September, leaving him out of action for much of September and early October. After making just a handful of appearances, Massey was ruled out for all of December 2013 and January 2014 with a recurrence of his hamstring injury after limping off from the U's 1–1 draw at Preston North End on 23 November. On 11 February 2014, Massey made his first appearance since 23 November following his hamstring injury, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 away defeat to  Port Vale. He scored his first goal since 10 August in a 2–1 home victory over Coventry City on 8 March. He followed this up with his third goal of the season when he bundled home Marcus Bean's centre in a 2–2 draw with Bristol City on 22 March. Massey's campaign ended with three goals in 31 appearances in a season disrupted by injury.<ref name="Games played by Gavin Massey in 2013/2014"></ref> 2014–15 season. Massey was a goalscorer in Colchester's 8–0 pre-season friendly win over Heybridge Swifts on 15 July 2014, and he also netted in  another friendly where the U's scored eight when they beat Leiston 8–1 four days later. With manager Joe Dunne departing the club early on in the new season, Massey said that the players "have to take part responsibility for the manager going", while he thanked Dunne for helping him "to play first-team football", having racked up almost 50 appearances under Dunne's stewardship. Massey scored his first goals of the 2014–15 season in a man of the match performance on 11 October as Colchester came from behind to win 2–1 against Fleetwood Town. He grabbed an equaliser with  a finely taken volley following a cross from Freddie Sears. He then scored with a shot from the edge of the box midway through the second half to seal the U's first home win of the season. New manager Tony Humes said that Massey "scored a great first goal, his first of the season and it was great for him. He also scored a fantastic winning goal and we'll take a lot of positives from this win". Massey also added that "it was an unbelievable game for me — it was definitely the best day of my career". On  the back of his performance and with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Massey signed a contract extension on 16 October to see him through to the summer of 2017. His third of the season was an equalising goal in Colchester's 2–2 away draw with Swindon Town at the County Ground on 25 October. Massey scored his first cup goal of his professional career when he opened the scoring on 9 November as Colchester defeated Gosport Borough 6–3 in the first round of the FA Cup, driving the ball home from close range. His  next goal came as a consolation in the U's 4–1 home defeat to Rochdale on 13 December after coming on as a half-time substitute. Massey's sixth goal of the season helped Colchester to a 2–0 win against relegation rivals Leyton Orient on 24 January 2015, sweeping the ball home after 14 minutes of play. He was involved in all three goals for Colchester's 3–1 home win against Barnsley on 6 April. He poked home Jacob Murphy's cross on 62 minutes to level the scores, and then turned provider for Murphy to head in on 80  minutes to give the U's the lead. Six minutes later, he passed through to George Moncur to seal the victory. He scored his eighth goal of the season on 25 April with an equalising goal in the 84th minute of a 3–2 win against Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium. After securing League One safety on the final day of the season, Massey scooped the Colchester United 'Players' Player of the Year' accolade at the club's end of season dinner in May. He was involved in 51 games across the season, scoring eight goals.<ref name="Games played by Gavin Massey  in 2014/2015"></ref> 2015–16 season. Massey scored his first goal of the 2015–16 campaign at Chesterfield in League One on 12 September 2015 when he scored an equalising goal during a 3–3 draw. He scored his second of the season with the opener in Colchester's 2–1 win at home to league leaders Gillingham on 19 September. He scored his third goal five months later in Colchester's 5–2 defeat to Bury on 20 February 2016, before scoring the only goal of the game as Colchester beat Coventry 1–0 at the Ricoh Arena on 29 March. Massey ended the season  with four goals in 47 appearances.<ref name="Games played by Gavin Massey in 2015/2016"></ref> Leyton Orient. Leyton Orient signed Massey from Colchester for an undisclosed fee on 8 June on a three-year deal. He scored on his debut in a 1–1 draw with Cheltenham Town on 6 August 2016. Wigan Athletic. Following Leyton Orient's relegation to the National League, Massey decided to leave the club to sign for League One club Wigan Athletic on a two-year contract. His first goals for the club came when he scored twice in a 3–0 win at Charlton Athletic on 12  September 2017. Honours. Wigan Athletic