With so much attacking talent on the field for Cleveland SC, few might have predicted the first goal in club history would be scored by centerback Declan McGivern. Those that know McGivern, though, would not be surprised he was in the mix to get the season started on the right foot, or head in McGivern’s case.
McGivern’s contributions in the first two matches helped the club tally two clean sheets to begin the season and earned McGivern a spot in the NPSL Best XI of Week 1. Despite the scoring chances McGivern earned in the first match against Rochester Lancers, he is focused on maximizing Cleveland SC’s defensive performance this season.
McGivern, now in his third season in the NPSL, is approaching veteran status among some of the younger talent on the roster. As mentioned during a Q&A with NPSL newcomer Lewis Dunne, McGivern used to battle many of his current teammates while a student-athlete at Notre Dame College.
McGivern is also familiar with many of his Cleveland SC teammates from when they were a part of the NPSL National Championship-winning AFC Cleveland. This connection helped McGivern choose to represent Cleveland SC when the chance beckoned.
Declan, born in Huddersfield, England, also has a special connection to Cleveland since arriving in 2012 to play for the Notre Dame College Falcons. “Cleveland is my home away from home, and I always feel very fortunate to have the chance to play here,” said McGivern. He has even taken a liking to basketball and watching the Cavs through their playoff runs.
McGivern’s path to Cleveland SC began while playing with Bradford City in his home country. The Englishman captained Bradford City at the u16, u18 and Reserve team levels. One of his greatest achievements in Bradford’s youth academy was beating Southampton, an English team notorious for developing Premier League talent like Callum Chambers, James Ward-Prowse and Harrison Reed, in the FA Youth Cup 3rd round.
After Bradford City, then playing in the third-tier of English Football, released McGivern from the team, the young defender knew the best chance to continue his playing career would come in America. The scholarship offered to McGivern by Notre Dame College would allow him to continue a dream of playing high-level football and was too good of an opportunity to pass.
“I came in and joined a great program at Notre Dame College here in Cleveland, which made the transition seamless,” said McGivern. “The coaches and players were welcoming, and the standard of play was good; So I arrived, hit the ground running and never looked back.”
McGivern, who models his game after the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Vincent Kompany and Sol Campbell, captained NDC for two of his four starting years as a Falcon and made four consecutive NCAA tournaments, won the conference and was consistently ranked in the top 25 nationally. I was also fortunate to receive several individual awards.
Individually, McGivern ranks 5th on the all-time appearance list at NDC, starting in all 73 of his appearances, only missing 5 games over the course of 4 years due to injury. However, McGivern awards would be the first to say he values team success and trophies over the individual awards he’s collected through the years. After college and two seasons in the NPSL, where he won a national championship his first year in the league, Declan is now a vital part Cleveland SC’s suffocating backline.
When not on the pitch for Cleveland SC, McGivern is likely reveling in the success of his hometown club, Huddersfield Town, which just completed its first season in the top-flight of English football since the 1971-72 season. His favorite memory as a soccer fan was watching Huddersfield defeat Reading on penalty kicks in the summer of 2017 to win the EFL Championship Final.
“I used to be a season ticket holder and watch them every week with my friends back home when they were in the English 3rd division… so to see them win in such dramatic fashion was absolutely incredible and a moment I’ll never forget.”
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