Gavin Beith Explained

Gavin Beith
Birth Date:1981 10, df=y
Birth Place:Dundee, Scotland
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Hearts Women
Youthclubs1:Dundee
Years1:1999–2003
Clubs1:Dundee
Caps1:4
Goals1:0
Years2:2001
Clubs2:East Fife (loan)
Caps2:15
Goals2:1
Years3:2003
Clubs3:Peterhead (loan)
Caps3:11
Goals3:2
Years4:2003–2004
Clubs4:Brechin City
Caps4:3
Goals4:1
Years5:2004–2005
Clubs5:Arbroath
Caps5:6
Goals5:0
Years6:2005–2006
Clubs6:East Fife
Caps6:35
Goals6:2
Years7:2006–2008
Clubs7:Forfar Athletic
Caps7:16
Goals7:0
Years8:2008–2011
Clubs8:Carnoustie Panmure
Totalcaps:90
Totalgoals:6
Manageryears1:2015–2021
Managerclubs1:Dundee United Women
Manageryears2:2021–2023
Managerclubs2:Aberdeen Women (joint with Emma Hunter)
Manageryears3:2023–
Managerclubs3:Hearts Women (Assistant)

Gavin Beith (born 7 October 1981) is a Scottish football coach and former player, who played as a midfielder. He is currently co-assistant coach of Scottish Women's Premier League team Hearts Women, having previously been head coach of Aberdeen Women and Dundee United Women.

As a player, he began his career with Dundee, from where he was loaned to East Fife and Peterhead. He later played for Brechin City, Arbroath, East Fife again, Forfar Athletic and Carnoustie Panmure.

Early life

Beith was born in Dundee on 7 October 1981. He grew up supporting Rangers F.C. He left school at the age of 16 and signed for Dundee F.C. as a professional.[1]

Playing career

During his youth career at Dundee, Beith played for the club in the Scottish Youth Cup final. He made a few first team appearances and spent time on loan to East Fife and Peterhead. In November 2003, Beith was one of the players whose contracts were cancelled when Dundee entered administration. He went on to have spells as a part-time footballer with Brechin City, Arbroath, East Fife, Forfar Athletic and junior club Carnoustie Panmure before retiring from playing in 2011.

Coaching career

Beith entered football coaching, obtaining UEFA B Licence and Scottish Football Association (SFA) Advanced Youth Licence qualifications. He began his coaching career at Arbroath, where he was appointed youth coach in 2009,[2] before working as a Player and Coach Development Officer at the SFA East Region office in Dundee.[3]

In June 2015, Beith was appointed as the first head coach of Dundee United's newly formed women's team.[4] During six years at the club, he won the Scottish Women's Football League (SWFL) Division 2 East and the SWFL Second Division Cup in his first season, then promotion from SWFL Division 1 North in 2018. He stepped down in July 2021, having narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight of the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) in the 2020–21 season.[5]

In September 2021, Beith joined Aberdeen Women, newly promoted to the top division of the SWPL, as joint co-manager alongside Emma Hunter.[6] He has also assisted Pauline MacDonald with coaching the Scotland women's under-17 team.[7]

In January 2023, Beith was appointed assistant coach at Hearts Women, working alongside Sean Burt and first-team manager Eva Olid.[8]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupEurope[9] Other[10] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dundee1999–2000Premier League00000000
2000–0100000000
East Fife (loan)2000–01Third Division151000000151
Dundee2001–02Premier League3020000050
2002–0310001020
2003–040000000000
Total402010000070
Peterhead (loan)2003–04Third Division112002000132
Brechin City2003–04First Division3100000031
Arbroath2004–05Second Division6000001070
East Fife2004–05Third Division121000000121
2005–06231001000241
Total35200100000362
Forfar Athletic2006–07Second Division90101010120
2007–08Third Division7000101090
Total16010200020210
Career total906306000301026

Notes and References

  1. News: Lifelong Dundee fan became 'lost soul' after admin axe. 29 February 2016. Evening Telegraph. 20 November 2013. Dundee.
  2. News: Gilzean switches to Carnoustie post. 29 February 2016. The Scotsman. 11 June 2009. Edinburgh.
  3. Web site: Regions – East – Contacts. Scottish Football Association. 29 February 2016.
  4. News: Smith. Craig. Dundee United appoint Gavin Beith as head coach of women's team. 29 February 2016. The Courier. 10 June 2015. Dundee. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121751/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/dundee-united/dundee-united-appoint-gavin-beith-as-head-coach-of-women-s-team-1.882811. 4 March 2016. dmy-all.
  5. News: Club Statement: Gavin Beith . 23 July 2021 . Dundee United F.C. . 23 July 2021.
  6. News: Law . Danny . Aberdeen FC Women appoint new co-manager ahead of SWPL 1 opener against Celtic . 5 September 2021 . Evening Express . 3 September 2021 . Aberdeen.
  7. News: Gordon . Mark . AFC Women: Gavin Beith joins as Co-Manager . 5 September 2021 . Aberdeen F.C. . 3 September 2021.
  8. Web site: Gavin Beith joins Hearts Women Heart Of Midlothian Football Club . 2023-05-09 . www.heartsfc.co.uk.
  9. Includes UEFA Cup and UEFA Intertoto Cup
  10. Includes Scottish Challenge Cup