Gary Madine burst through the United Youth ranks to earn a two-and-a-half year professional contract shortly after making his first team debut against Nottingham Forest in March 2008.

The Gateshead-born forward was spotted playing local football in the north-east by United youth coach Eric Kinder after a six-week trial spell with Middlesbrough had come to an end.

He was quick to sign the Geordie youngster on a YTS contract and he made an instant impact with an impressive record both at Youth and Reserve level, scoring 26 goals by the end of the season.

One of those goals came in a famous 2-1 win over Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup, scoring a first half penalty to help knock the Red Devils out of the competion.

It was these performances that convinced the club's management to offer Gary a two and a half year professional deal after just a year of his YTS contract and he made his first-team debut as a sub in a televised win over Nottingham Forest in March 2008. He went on to make a further 12 appearances before the end of the season, including his full debut against Bournemouth.

The 2008/09 season saw Gary again making most of his appearances from the bench, grabbing his first ever senior goal in the 4-1 victory over Yeovil in August 2008. Unable to force his way into the starting eleven, he was allowed to join League Two side Rochdale on a months loan in order to gain first team experience. His time at Spotland was brough to a premature end though due to an injury which ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.

He returned to fitness in time for the start of the 2009/10 campaign and again was making most of his appearances from the bench, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win over Championship side Bristol City in the League Cup.

In October 2009 he joined Championship side Coventry City on a three-month loan deal. He made 9 appearances for the Sky Blues, who were keen to sign him on a permanent basis but United were not willing to let the highly-rated forward leave.

He returned to Brunton Park, scoring in the penalty shoot-out as United beat Leeds United in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy northern area final at Brunton Park. He then had a further loan spell at Chesterfield, playing four times for the Spireites.

It was his return to Brunton Park this time that saw him finally break into the starting eleven on a regular basis. After scoring United's goal in the 4-1 defeat to Southampton in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley, he went on to score 4 goals in the last 9 games of the season.

Now fully established as a first-team regular, his strength, ability to hold up the ball and eye for goal earned him an extended contract in August 2010, tying him to the club for another three years.