Shropshire Star

Ryan McGivern: Terry Butcher blooded me as a Shrewsbury centre-back

We're yet to see him in a blood-soaked head bandage – but Ryan McGivern has Terry Butcher to thank for helping him become the defender he is today.

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The Northern Ireland international played under the former England hero for a season at Hibernian and it was around the same time that the adaptable defender was moulded from a left-back to a centre-half, writes Lewis Cox.

Left-footed, McGivern spent his academy days at Manchester City as a left-back and subsequent loans away from the Etihad – including Leicester, Walsall and Crystal Palace – all had him as a full-back.

It was not until his time in Scotland, which began as a loan deal before the Easter Road club signed him permanently, that the Newry-born star fitted in at the heart of the defence.

McGivern is just 26, while his Hibs chief Butcher enjoyed most of his 77 England caps across the 1980s, but the Ulsterman is all-too familiar with the reputation of the former no-nonsense hard man.

"I didn't know of him as a player much to be honest!" admitted the former Port Vale man.

"I was only born in 1990, the first image of him is probably that bandage around his head. I knew he was a great centre-half but didn't really see much of him.

"Obviously as a manager he had a bit of a tough time up at Hibs in that season he came in but you could see from the way that he spoke and some of his stories that you respect him for what he did as a player and it was great to work with him.

"Yes he did (help me), he spoke to all of the boys in that position although I was playing left-back at Hibs and that's when I started to slide into the middle and play a few games there.

"He taught me a few things, tips and advice and I took it on-board and will keep it with me for the rest of my career.

"I'll leave the bandage and blood to him, hopefully it doesn't happen!"

McGivern, who has 23 international caps for his country, noted how current Shrewsbury Town boss Micky Mellon compares to Butcher and how it played a part in attracting him to the Greenhous Meadow.

He added: "The gaffer is fairly similar with Terry Butcher, obviously he just tells it how it is.

"When I had the phone call with the manager, he told me that's the way he is and for me as a player that's how I prefer it.

"If you're doing well he'd tell you and if you're not doing well he'd tell you. If you need a kick up the backside then that's what you get."

Ardent Salop supporters will confirm that McGivern's current defensive partner, skipper Adam El-Abd, is the one to have donned a Butcher-style bandage this term – at a hustling pre-season friendly at Stourbridge.

The pair go in search of their first clean sheet at Coventry City tomorrow, and McGivern has seen enough against MK Dons and Huddersfield to know that the pair can form a formidable partnership.

"He's a great leader and he's shown that and it's the reason the gaffer's given him the armband, he's got great experience and he's constantly talking on the pitch," said McGivern.

"For a fellow centre-half when you've got someone constantly talking it makes your job that much easier. It's been great, we're still looking for our first clean sheet but hopefully it'll come Saturday and we can get many more throughout the season."

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