Macaulay Gillesphey

Macaulay Gillesphey (born 24 November 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Charlton Athletic.

Macaulay Gillesphey

Macaulay Gillesphey in 2025.
Personal information
Full name	Macaulay Gillesphey[1]
Date of birth	(1995-11-24) 24 November 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth	Ashington, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)[2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Charlton Athletic
Number	3
Youth career
2011–2015	Newcastle United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2018	Newcastle United	0	(0)
2015–2016	→ Carlisle United (loan)	23	(2)
2016–2017	→ Carlisle United (loan)	32	(0)
2018–2019	Carlisle United	24	(0)
2019–2021	Brisbane Roar	50	(4)
2021–2024	Plymouth Argyle	79	(3)
2024–	Charlton Athletic	62	(5)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:10, 9 August 2025 (UTC)

Career

Newcastle United

Gillesphey played for Cramlington Juniors before being signed by Newcastle United where he progressed through the youth academy and signed a professional contract in March 2015.^[3] Gillesphey made his professional debut on 24 September 2015 in a 1–1 draw away at Liverpool in the League Cup.^[4]

Carlisle United (loan)

Gillesphey warming up for Carlisle United in 2015.

Gillesphey went out on loan to Carlisle United in September 2015 along with Newcastle teammate Alex Gilliead.^[5] On 29 July 2016, Gillesphey re-joined Carlisle United on loan until 2 January 2017,^[6] before later extending the deal to the end of the season.^[7]

Carlisle United

Gillesphey re-joined Carlisle United on a permanent basis in June 2018, signing a two-year contract with the club .^[8] On 22 May 2019, the club announced a mutual release so that Gillesphey could look for 'new challenges'.

Brisbane Roar

On 25 June 2019, the Brisbane Roar announced they had signed Gillesphey.^[9] He was the fourth signing made by new manager Robbie Fowler.

On 16 September 2020, Gillesphey was named the Gary Wilkins Medalist for the 2019–20 season.^[10]

On 15 June 2021, it was confirmed that Gillesphey had turned down the offer of a new contract at The Roar and would be returning to the UK to sign for a club in England.^[11]

Plymouth Argyle

On 15 June 2021, Plymouth Argyle announced they had signed Gillesphey on a two-year deal after turning down a new contract with Brisbane Roar.^[12][13] He was given additional time off before pre-season due to the late finish of the A-League season.^[14]

Gillesphey scored his first goal for Argyle on 5 February 2022 against Chelsea in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. The goal gave Argyle an early lead against the reigning European champions in a match they eventually went on lose 2–1 after extra time.^[15]

Charlton Athletic

On 12 January 2024, Gillesphey joined Charlton Athletic on a two-and-a-half-year deal, with the option of an extra year, for an undisclosed fee.^[16]

On 4 July 2025, Gillesphey signed a new two-year contract with a club option of an additional year.^[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 August 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[a]		League Cup[b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Newcastle United	2015–16	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2016–17	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2017–18	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	3[c]	0	3	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	0
Carlisle United (loan)	2015–16	League Two	23	2	3	0	1	0	0	0	27	2
	2016–17	League Two	32	0	0	0	1	0	3[c]	0	36	0
	Total		55	2	3	0	2	0	3	0	63	2
Carlisle United	2018–19	League Two	24	0	2	0	1	0	3[c]	1	30	1
Brisbane Roar	2019–20	A-League	27	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	27	1
	2020–21	A-League	23	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	23	3
	Total		50	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	50	4
Plymouth Argyle	2021–22	League One	40	1	4	1	1	0	2[c]	0	47	2
	2022–23	League One	35	2	0	0	1	0	4[c]	0	40	2
	2023–24	Championship	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	Total		79	3	4	1	2	0	6	0	91	4
Charlton Athletic	2023–24	League One	17	0	—		—		—		17	0
	2024–25	League One	44	5	3	0	1	0	6[d]	1	54	6
	2025–26	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
	Total		62	5	3	0	2	0	6	1	73	6
Career total			217	14	10	0	6	0	18	2	251	16

1. Includes FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearances in EFL Trophy
4. Three appearances in the EFL Trophy and three appearances and one goal in the League One play-offs

Honours

Plymouth Argyle

• EFL League One: 2022–23^[18]
• EFL Trophy runner-up: 2022–23^[19]

Charlton Athletic

• EFL League One play-offs: 2025^[20]

Individual

• Gary Wilkins Medal (Brisbane Roar Player Of The Year): 2019–20^{[citation needed]}