Derek Gaston (born 18 April 1987) is a Scottish professional footballer and goalkeeping coach. He plays as a goalkeeper for East Fife and is the goalkeeping coach of Heart of Midlothian Women.
Gaston began his senior playing career with Albion Rovers before spending seven seasons with Greenock Morton, five with Arbroath and two with Stirling Albion. His coaching career has included roles with the academies of Kilmarnock and Rangers, as well as Rangers' women's setup. During his second season at Stirling, he also worked as the club's goalkeeping coach and was part of its interim first-team management group.
Playing career Gaston began his senior career with Albion Rovers in 2009, signing from local youth side Baillieston under-21s. He won the Scottish Football League player of the month award for September 2009.
He joined Greenock Morton in 2012, making his debut against his former club in the Challenge Cup in July 2012. After playing all but three matches for Morton in his first season, Gaston signed a new one-year contract in May 2013.
In May 2014, he agreed to sign for a further season, followed by signing another one-year deal in May 2015 after winning Scottish League One. Another contract renewal followed in October 2015, to tie him to Morton until 2018.
Gaston signed on for a seventh season at Cappielow in June 2018. He was released by Morton in the summer of 2019, having made over 200 appearances for the club.
On 4 June 2019, Gaston signed for newly promoted Scottish Championship club Arbroath. He was voted both the players' and supporters' player of the year at Arbroath for the 2022–23 season.
Gaston left Arbroath after five seasons and joined Stirling Albion in 2024. He initially decided to leave Stirling at the end of the 2024–25 season, but subsequently agreed to remain for another year and took on goalkeeping coaching duties alongside his playing role. In April 2026, following Alan Maybury being placed on gardening leave, Gaston was named as part of Stirling's interim first-team management group.
Stirling announced that Gaston would leave when his contract expired at the end of the 2025–26 season. He joined East Fife ahead of the 2026–27 season.
Coaching career While playing for Arbroath, Gaston worked as a goalkeeping coach in the Kilmarnock academy. He moved to Rangers in 2022, coaching goalkeepers in the club's boys' and girls' academies and also working with the women's first team. Rangers continued to list Gaston among its academy goalkeeping staff in 2025.
Gaston combined playing and coaching duties at Stirling Albion during the 2025–26 season. In April 2026, he became part of the interim group leading the first team after manager Alan Maybury was placed on gardening leave.
On 31 August 2026, Heart of Midlothian Women appointed Gaston as their goalkeeping coach under head coach Andy Thomson, alongside his playing role with East Fife.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAlbion Rovers2009–10Scottish Third Division21030201Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup02702010–1126010105One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and four appearances in the Second Division play-offs03302011–12Scottish Second Division310100050370Total7805030110970Greenock Morton2012–13Scottish First Division3305020204202013–14Scottish Championship1800010001902014–15Scottish League One3102000103402015–16Scottish Championship2603030103302016–1730030201Appearance in the Premiership play-offs03602017–183203040104002018–19100301010150Total1800190130702190Arbroath2019–20Scottish Championship1903020202602020–212701050003302021–223303030204102022–233501040004002023–24230104010290Total137090180501690Stirling Albion2024–25Scottish League Two3602040104302025–26310104020380Total670308030810Career total46203604202605660
Honours Morton Scottish League One: Winners 2014–15
Individual GMFC Player of the Year: 2014–15 SPFL Team of the Year: 2014–15 Scottish Football League Player of the Month: September 2009 Arbroath Players' Player of the Year: 2022–23 Arbroath Fans' Player of the Year: 2022–23
See also Greenock Morton F.C. season 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 2015–16
References
External links