Dual Chatham Cup winner Eddie Gavigan has died after a short illness in Auckland, aged 57.
Scottish-born Gavigan emigrated to New Zealand as a 19-year-old, joining Mount Wellington in 1983 and helping the club to a Chatham Cup victory against Gisborne City, after a replay.
He repeated the feat in 1990 when Mount won the cup again, this time needing penalties to overcome Christchurch United.
He later played at Mt Albert Ponsonby with former Mount clubmates Dave Taylor and Martin Jennison.
Gavigan’s football career started with Celtic Boys’ Club and he signed for Greenock Morton in 1979 as a 15-year-old, playing in the club’s Premier Division squad until his departure to New Zealand.
”My agent at the time had three offers – in Australia, Hong Kong or New Zealand. He convinced me to take the New Zealand offer,” Gavigan said in a later interview.
He had a successful 32-year career in the food industry, returning to New Zealand in 2018, after a stint in Australia, to be CEO for Foodfirst.
Friends of Football extends its condolences to his wife Sharon, children Meg and Lucy, and step-children Ben and Max.
