Denver defies medical opinion to target League Cup glory

If Denver Gage had listened to the groundswell of medical opinion, he wouldn't be preparing for the biggest game of his career this weekend.
Making his point: Denver Gage has battled back from a career-threatening injury to play in this weekend's JBE League Cup final. Picture: Press Eye.Making his point: Denver Gage has battled back from a career-threatening injury to play in this weekend's JBE League Cup final. Picture: Press Eye.
Making his point: Denver Gage has battled back from a career-threatening injury to play in this weekend's JBE League Cup final. Picture: Press Eye.

Indeed, the Clough man’s Irish League career might well have been over before it had properly begun.

When Gage lines up at the heart of the Ards defence as they take on Cliftonville in the final of the JBE League Cup this Saturday it will be largely due to his own desire and perseverance to overcome a career-threatening injury.

Denver had established himself with his hometown club Ballymena United when he sustained the deep-rooted groin injury that kept him out of football for more than two years.

“It was quite a rare injury to both sides of my groin, caused by doing too much, between my work and training hard at the time,” recalls Denver, a builder by profession.

“Things were going well for me at Ballymena and I was raring to go but my pelvic area basically broke down.

“It was a really dark time for me because, although I was getting assistance at Ballymena, it’s the type of injury where you’re left to your own devices.

“The doctors over here were saying it was more or less over for me at the age of 23, which was hard to take.

“I managed to get in touch with a surgeon in England who had a totally different outlook on the injury and told me he believed he could fix it.

“I took out a loan, went private and paid for it myself. It was a lot of money and a bit of a risk taking six weeks off work when I’m self-employed, but I was determined to give it every chance.”

In the meantime, Gage’s contract at Ballymena had expired and with a long recovery period ahead of him, he had to take the difficult decision to rebuild his career away from his boyhood club.

“It was tough because I loved playing for Ballymena - I still go to watch if I’m not playing and my dad Robert is still a season ticket holder.

“But I totally understood that Glenn Ferguson didn’t have time to wait for me to get fit - I needed to get six or eight months’ football under my belt after so long out and I was happy to do that.”

Gage rekindled his career with Ballyclare Comrades and it wasn’t long before his progress caught the eye of Ards manager Niall Currie.

“I played pretty well against Ards a couple of times for Ballyclare and then Niall got in touch with me.

“He said he was looking for players with a bit of experience to try and get Ards back into the Premiership after relegation and that appealed to me because I want to play at the top level as well.

“It’s strange how you can go off the radar a bit when you’re not playing in the Premiership. I still get people asking me ‘are you still playing football?’. The fact that it’s the top end of the second highest league in the country seems to escape a lot of people’s attention.

“Going to Ards certainly wasn’t a matter of taking an easy decision, in terms of the travelling, but from a footballing point of view, it has been a good move for getting my career back on track. I’m still only 28 and I think I can still play att he top level.”

Denver has been a pivotal figure in Ards’ season this year, including their run to Saturday’s final. As a proud Ballymena man, the semi-final victory over Coleraine was a particular highlight.

“I was certainly a bit hyped up for that game! The boys were telling me they should put a picture of Coleraine up in our dressing room every week! Seriously, though, it was great for us to beat any Premiership team to reach the final.”

Denver has also developed an unlikely string to his bow as a central defender.

“I’m actually our top scorer this season with nine goals - I always like to remind our strikers about that!

“It would be great if I could nick another goal against Cliftonville but we’re all determined to enjoy the day, whatever happens,” adds Denver.