The young McGovern initially wanted to play as a striker for the glory that came with scoring goals but was unsuited to that role. He then played as a winger. He began his senior career in English football's fourth tier with local club Hartlepools United. 'Pools were under the management of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. It was Taylor who advocated they get McGovern on the books. His senior debut was aged 16 on 21 May 1966 in a 1–1 draw v Bradford City in Pools' last home league game of the season. He became a first team regular the season after. On 3 September 1966 he signed a pro contract on apprentice terms. In 1967/68, Hartlepool finished third earning promotion to the Third Division. His last game for Pools was on 6 September 1968 in a 2–1 defeat at Bristol Rovers. After playing six games in that 1968/69 season he moved up a division by transferring to Derby County. Derby County Clough and Taylor moved to Derby County in May 1967. They signed 18 year old McGovern to Derby for a fee of £7,500 in September 1968. His mother and brother relocated with him to Derby (his sister had already moved to California). Shortly after arriving at Derby, on 2 October 1968 while in the reserves he watched the first team 3-1 replay win v Chelsea in the 1968–69 Football League Cup. On seeing Dave Mackay play, McGovern realised the level he had been playing at was a long way short of what was needed to be a footballer. He responded with dedication and hard work. His first team debut arrived in a game for which there was an opening to play on the right side of midfield. It was at Derby that Taylor then moved McGovern to central midfield to capitalise on McGovern's playing strengths of vision and being able to pass and control the ball with both feet. He allied this by learning how to tackle. By January 1969 he had established himself in the Derby side that won promotion to the First Division at the end of his first season there. Within an 18-month period and by the age of 19 he had played in all four divisions of the Football League. Liverpool contesting a 1971-72 four-way league title fight lost 1–0 in their penultimate game to McGovern's 62nd-minute goal at Derby County. Derby had now