Paddy McCourt

Paddy McCourt

McCourt playing for Celtic in 2010
Personal information
Full name Patrick James McCourt[1]
Date of birth (1983-12-16) 16 December 1983[1]
Place of birth Derry, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Playing position Winger
Club information
Current team
 Glenavon
Number 23
Youth career
1998–2000 Foyle Harps
2000–2001 Rochdale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Rochdale 80 (8)
2005 Shamrock Rovers 17 (7)
2005–2008 Derry City 60 (5)
2008–2013 Celtic 66 (9)
2013–2014 Barnsley 23 (2)
2014–2015 Brighton & Hove Albion 10 (0)
2015 → Notts County (loan) 12 (1)
2015–2016 Luton Town 24 (1)
2016– Glenavon 11 (1)
National team‡
2002–2005 Northern Ireland U21 9 (0)
2009 Northern Ireland B 1 (0)
2002– Northern Ireland 18 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:40, 12 November 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 09:04, 13 November 2015 (UTC)

Patrick James "Paddy" McCourt (born 16 December 1983) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for NIFL Premiership club Glenavon and the Northern Ireland national team.

He started his professional career with Third Division club Rochdale in 2001 before moving to League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers in 2005. Later that year he moved to his home-town club, Derry City, where he won the League of Ireland Cup three times in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and the FAI Cup in 2006. At Derry, he gained the nickname "The Derry Pelé"[2] for his skilful play. In 2008 he signed for Scottish Premier League club Celtic; the club he supported as a boy. In a five-season spell with Celtic, McCourt won the Scottish Cup in 2011 and 2013 and the SPL title in 2011–12 and 2012–13. Despite being a fan favourite at the club, he failed to gain a regular first-team place and was released in June 2013. McCourt then signed a one-year contract at Championship club Barnsley, though the club was relegated during the 2013–14 season and McCourt was released. He signed a one-year deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for the 2014–15 campaign, but featured little and joined League One club Notts County on loan for the final third of the season. He left Brighton and in July 2015 signed for League Two club Luton Town on a two-year contract. He was released by mutual consent one year into his contract to enable him to return to Northern Ireland and subsequently signed a one-year contract with NIFL Premiership club Glenavon.

McCourt made his Northern Ireland international debut in 2002, but did not play again until 2009. He scored his first two goals against the Faroe Islands in 2011.

Early life

McCourt was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, and educated at Steelstown Primary School.[3]

Club career

Rochdale

McCourt began his career with an early move from Derry-based youth club Foyle Harps to English Third Division club Rochdale on a youth contract in 2000. He made his first-team debut in the Football League Trophy on 16 October 2001 and his potential persuaded the Spotland club to sign him on a three-and-a-half-year professional contract in December 2001. His first season ended with 23 appearances and four goals, going on to make 30 appearances in 2002–03. His skillful playing style attracted the attention of Premier League clubs Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City.[4]

In the 2003–04 season, McCourt managed just a handful of starts for the club and had two spells away on trial with First Division clubs Norwich City[5] and Crewe Alexandra, though neither club followed up their initial interest in him. A combination of injuries and loss of form hastened his departure from Rochdale in February 2005.

After Rochdale manager Steve Parkin informed him that he was to be released, McCourt headed for another trial, this time with Scottish Premier League outfit Motherwell. However, after two weeks at Fir Park a move failed to take place.

Shamrock Rovers

In March 2005, McCourt was signed by Roddy Collins, manager of League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers.[5] McCourt scored three goals in his first six appearances for the Dublin club and topped the goalscoring charts by May 2005. As the club ran into financial difficulty, mainly due to the costs surrounding the building of Tallaght Stadium, Rovers were forced to place all players except McCourt on the transfer list. After seven goals in 17 appearances,[6] and following interest from Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers, the club, in dire need of funds, decided to sell McCourt. He was signed by his home-town club, Derry City, for a fee thought to be around £60,000.[7] Despite leaving the club halfway through the season, McCourt was their top goalscorer that season and won the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland Young Player of the Year award.[8]

Derry City

In his first few months at the club, McCourt helped Derry City to the League of Ireland Cup and runners-up in the league in 2005. In the 2006 season, he played in Derry's UEFA Cup run, in which the club eventually lost to French giants Paris Saint-Germain, and helped them to win a cup double with victories in both the FAI Cup and League of Ireland Cup finals. McCourt scored four goals in 25 appearances in the 2007 season and won a third League of Ireland Cup medal. His performances interested English club West Bromwich Albion and Derry announced in June 2008 that they had reached an agreement with the newly promoted Premier League club.[9] However, Derry also agreed a fee with Scottish Premier League side Celtic, leaving McCourt to make his choice.

Celtic

McCourt at Celtic Park

The lure of joining Celtic, the club he had supported as a boy, persuaded McCourt to move to Glasgow and, on 19 June 2008, he signed for a fee of £200,000[7] after agreeing a three-year contract.[10] The manager who signed him, Gordon Strachan, would later claim that McCourt was "as gifted a footballer as I have ever seen."[11]

McCourt made his competitive debut for Celtic on 25 October 2008 in a 4–2 win over Hibernian.[12] In his first season, he featured primarily for the Celtic reserve team, playing in the deciding game on 28 April 2009 against Rangers reserves to clinch the Reserve League title for the eighth season in succession.[13]

On 23 September 2009, McCourt opened his goalscoring account for Celtic with a memorable goal in a League Cup match at Falkirk, in which he beat five defenders before chipping the ball over goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik.[14] He then scored his first SPL goal on his first league start three days later against St Mirren,[15] which saw him go past six defenders before beating the goalkeeper. On 24 January 2010, McCourt bagged his second league goal for Celtic against St Johnstone after a mazy run and finish into the top right hand corner, from just inside the penalty box.[16] Premier League newcomers Blackpool expressed an interest in McCourt following his performances throughout the 2009–10 season, prompting Celtic to offer him an improved contract, which he duly signed.[17]

In the first game of the 2010–11 season, McCourt scored the only goal of the game against newly promoted Inverness CT with a now-typical solo run and shot, beating three defenders and then netting from the edge of the box.[18] He scored his second goal of the season, his first at Celtic Park in Celtic's 3–0 victory over Hearts on 11 September 2010, beating three players before chipping the goalkeeper. On 6 November 2010, McCourt netted the final goal of Celtic's 9–0 demolition of Aberdeen.[19] Later that month, he scored Celtic's 600th home SPL goal in a 2–2 draw with Inverness at Celtic Park, with another jinking run and precise finish.[20] On 29 December 2010, McCourt scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win over Motherwell.[21] On 26 January 2011, McCourt added another SPL goal in a 4–0 win over Hearts.[22] He came on as a substitute in the 2011 Scottish Cup Final on 21 May 2011, a 3–0 win over Motherwell, to win his first silverware in Scotland. On 15 August 2011, it was reported that several English clubs, including Liverpool, were interested in signing McCourt.[23]

McCourt was mainly used as a late substitute over the course of the next two seasons, failing to score a single goal, though he was part of the Celtic team that won both the 2011–12 and 2012–13 SPL titles, as well as the 2013 Scottish Cup. In the final at Hampden Park, a 3–0 victory over Hibernian, he entered play as a substitute and was handed the captain's armband in what proved to be his final appearance for the club.[24] McCourt left Celtic after his contract expired in June 2013, having played in a total of 88 games, scoring ten goals.[25] On 6 August 2013, he began training with Hibernian to try and win a contract, but no move materialised.[26]

Barnsley

On 22 August 2013, McCourt signed for Championship club Barnsley, managed by his former Rochdale team-mate David Flitcroft, on a one-year deal.[27] He made his debut on 21 September 2013 at home to Watford.[28] He played in 23 league games for the club, scoring twice,[29] before being released at the end of the season. One goal, which opened the scoring in Barnsley's 3–2 victory over Middlesbrough, saw McCourt guide the ball into the box and take out six opposition players, before finishing past the goalkeeper from the six-yard line. The goal was shortlisted for The Football League Goal of the Year award, though lost to Franck Moussa's chip for Coventry City against Leyton Orient.[30][31]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 19 August 2014, McCourt signed a one-year contract with Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion.[32] He found his playing time limited and subsequently joined Notts County on loan on 21 February 2015 until the end of the 2014–15 season.[33] McCourt made 12 appearances for the club and scored once.[34]

In April 2015, Brighton confirmed that McCourt, who made 13 appearances for the club during the 2014–15 season would not be offered a new contract.[35]

Luton Town

On 1 July 2015, McCourt joined League Two club Luton Town on a two-year contract.[36]

McCourt made 25 appearances, scoring one goal during the 2015–16 season,[37] but was released from his contract one year early on 24 May 2016 to enable him to return to Northern Ireland.[38]

Glenavon

McCourt signed a one-year contract with NIFL Premiership club Glenavon on 19 July 2016.[39] He made his home debut on 30 July 2016 as Glenavon earned a 1–0 win over Crusaders to win the NIFL Charity Shield.[40] His league debut came one week later in a 4–0 home win over Carrick Rangers on the opening day of the 2016–17 season, but was substituted in the 43rd-minute due to an injury.[41]

International career

McCourt has represented Northern Ireland at senior international level.[7] He has also received nine caps for the Northern Ireland under-21s between 2002 and 2005 while playing for Rochdale and played once for the Northern Ireland B team while in the Celtic reserve team.[42]

In April 2002, Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy handed McCourt his senior international debut against Spain in a friendly at Windsor Park, which Northern Ireland lost 5–0.[43]

He had an almost-seven year wait for his second cap, which came in February 2009 against San Marino in a qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup.[44] Northern Ireland won the game 3–0.[45] Following his breakthrough 2010–11 season at Celtic, McCourt has been named in a number of Northern Ireland squads, primarily playing as a substitute.

He scored his first international goals with two "superb" solo efforts, as he helped Northern Ireland to a 4–0 victory over the Faroe Islands in a 2012 European Championship qualification match on 10 August 2011.[46] The second goal, which saw him dribble the ball for 40 yards past four players and finish with a close-range chip over the opposition goalkeeper, was described by the Belfast Telegraph as "one of the best ever witnessed" for Northern Ireland.[47]

Style of play

McCourt is known for his technical ability[46] and propensity for scoring "wonder goals".[48] At Derry, he gained the nickname "The Derry Pelé"[2] for his skillful play and is often referred to by his previous clubs' fans as a "cult hero"[48] for his crowd-pleasing displays.[48][49][50]

Personal life

McCourt has two older brothers; Harry and Leroy. Harry also played for Derry City and was joint-top scorer in the Irish League during the 1991–92 season while playing for Omagh Town.[51] He also won the 1997–98 Irish League with Cliftonville and now serves as a director at Derry.[52] Leroy has previously worked as a scout for various English and Scottish clubs and is a FIFA registered football agent; his brother Paddy being one of his clients.[53][54]

On 12 January 2011, bullets were sent in the post to McCourt (i.e. a death threat) from an address in Northern Ireland. Celtic manager Neil Lennon and team-mate Niall McGinn were sent similar packages earlier in the same week.[55]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 November 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rochdale 2001–02[56] Third Division 2442000—2[lower-alpha 1]0294
2002–03[57] Third Division 2622110—1[lower-alpha 1]0303
2003–04[58] Third Division 2422010—1[lower-alpha 1]0372
2004–05[59] League Two 600010—1[lower-alpha 1]080
Total 8086130—50949
Shamrock Rovers 2005[6] Ireland Premier Division 1770000——177
Derry City 2005[60] Ireland Premier Division 1510020——171
2006[60] Ireland Premier Division 21231203[lower-alpha 2]0—293
2007[60] Ireland Premier Division 17231312[lower-alpha 3]0—254
2008[60] Ireland Premier Division 700000——70
Total 605627150—788
Celtic 2008–09[61] Scottish Premier League 40100000—50
2009–10[62] Scottish Premier League 9210212[lower-alpha 4]0—143
2010–11[63] Scottish Premier League 25730201[lower-alpha 3]0—317
2011–12[64] Scottish Premier League 13020102[lower-alpha 5]0—180
2012–13[65] Scottish Premier League 15010202[lower-alpha 3]0—200
Total 669807170—8810
Barnsley 2013–14[29] Championship 2320000——232
Brighton & Hove Albion 2014–15[34] Championship 1000030——130
Notts County (loan) 2014–15[34] League One 1210000—00121
Luton Town 2015–16[37] League Two 2411000—00251
Glenavon 2016–17[60] NIFL Premiership 1110010—1[lower-alpha 6]0131
Career total 303342132121206036339
  1. 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  3. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  4. ↑ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  5. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ↑ Appearance in NIFL Charity Shield

International

As of match played 13 November 2015.[6]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Northern Ireland 200210
200920
201010
201152
201220
201330
201410
201530
Total182

International goals

As of match played 13 November 2015. Northern Ireland score listed first, score column indicates score after each McCourt goal.[6]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref
1 10 August 2011Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland7 Faroe Islands3–04–0UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying[66]
2 4–0

Honours

Club

Derry City

Celtic

Glenavon

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2005). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2005/2006. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-85291-662-6.
  2. 1 2 "'Derry Pele' McCourt moves to Barnsley". Derry Journal. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "From Foyle to fame". The Cian Edge. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "West Brom pull out of battle for McCourt as Celtic target Derry winger". London Evening Standard. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Patrick McCourt – Biography". Flown From the Nest. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "McCourt, Patrick". National Football Teams. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 "Paddy McCourt". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  8. 1 2 DeLoughry, Sean (6 January 2016). "Ireland – Player of the Year and Other Awards". Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Update on McCourt speculation". Derry City F.C. 14 June 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008.
  10. ↑ "McCourt seals transfer to Celtic". BBC Sport. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  11. ↑ "Gordon Strachan says Celtic made a mistake by letting Paddy McCourt leave". Derry Journal. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  12. ↑ Jardine, Peter (27 October 2008). "Celtic's McCourt says he just wants to be taken seriously". Daily Mail. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  13. ↑ Cameron, Neil (29 April 2009). "Rangers Reserves 0 Celtic Reserves 1". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "Falkirk 0–4 Celtic". BBC Sport. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  15. ↑ Gibbons, Glenn (26 September 2009). "Paddy McCourt and Shaun Maloney strike to take Celtic past St Mirren". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  16. ↑ Henderson, Mark (24 January 2007). "Fortune favours the Hoops against Saints". Celtic F.C. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010.
  17. ↑ "Celtic offer Blackpool target Paddy McCourt a new deal". BBC Sport. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  18. ↑ Murray, Keir (14 August 2010). "Inverness CT 0–1 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  19. ↑ "Celtic 9–0 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  20. ↑ "Celtic 2–2 Inverness CT". BBC Sport. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  21. ↑ "Celtic 1–0 Motherwell". BBC Sport. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Celtic 4–0 Hearts". Sky Sports. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  23. ↑ "Liverpool line up shock swoop for Celtic's 'Derry Pele' McCourt". Daily Mail. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  24. ↑ Lindsay, Matthew (19 June 2013). "Paddy offered a Kris goodbye by Commons". Evening Times. Glasgow. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  25. ↑ Macfarlane, Iain (16 May 2013). "Paddy McCourt to leave Celtic". Daily Express. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  26. ↑ Moffat, Colin (6 August 2013). "Pat McCourt joins training at Hibernian". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  27. ↑ "Barnsley sign former Celtic winger Paddy McCourt". BBC Sport. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  28. ↑ "Barnsley 1–5 Watford". BBC Sport. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  29. 1 2 "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  30. ↑ "Mitre Goal of the Year Announced". Rotherham United F.C. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  31. ↑ "McCourt Goal in Final 5". Barnsley F.C. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  32. ↑ "Paddy McCourt: Brighton sign Northern Ireland winger". BBC Sport. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  33. ↑ "Paddy McCourt: Notts County take Brighton winger on loan". BBC Sport. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  34. 1 2 3 "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  35. ↑ "Hughes and McCourt to leave Brighton". BBC Sport. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  36. ↑ "Paddy McCourt and Magnus Okuonghae join Luton Town". BBC Sport. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  37. 1 2 "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  38. ↑ "Paddy McCourt leaves the Hatters". Luton Town F.C. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  39. ↑ "Paddy McCourt and Guy Bates agree one-year deals with Glenavon". BBC Sport. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  40. ↑ "Charity Shield: Ten-man Glenavon defeat Crusaders". BBC Sport. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  41. ↑ Jack, Kris (8 August 2016). "Millar praises Hamilton for quality of Glenavon squad". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  42. ↑ "Paddy McCourt recalled to Northern Ireland squad". The Scotsman. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  43. ↑ McIntosh, Mark (18 April 2002). "Raul mauls McIlroy's makeshift side in Spanish stroll". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  44. ↑ "McCourt ready for his second cap". Londonderry Sentinel. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  45. ↑ "San Marino 0–3 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  46. 1 2 Jackson, Lyle (10 August 2011). "N Ireland 4–0 Faroe Islands". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  47. ↑ Beacom, Steven (9 August 2013). "Where did it all go wrong for Paddy McCourt?". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  48. 1 2 3 Muirhead, Andy (20 August 2011). "Opinion: Celtic's Cult Hero Paddy McCourt Should Be Sold". Scotzine. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  49. ↑ "McCourt is happy to be back on the samba beat with Reds". Yorkshire Post. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  50. ↑ McCarthy, David (13 August 2011). "Paddy McCourt is a cult hero at Celtic but no-one is guaranteed a position here, says Neil Lennon". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  51. ↑ "Northern Ireland – list of top scorers". Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  52. ↑ "Derry City to meet with season ticket holders". BBC News. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  53. ↑ "McCourt keeping eye on youths". Londonderry Sentinel. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  54. ↑ Haggerty, Anthony (7 August 2013). "Hibs eye deal for Paddy McCourt as former Celtic winger trains with Easter Road club". Daily Record. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  55. ↑ "Bullets in post target Celtic footballer Paddy McCourt". BBC News. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "P. McCourt". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  62. ↑ "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  63. ↑ "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  64. ↑ "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Paddy McCourt in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  66. ↑ "McCourt shines as Northern Ireland sink the Faroes". UEFA. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  67. ↑ King, Ian (7 October 2005). "Ireland League Cup 2005". Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  68. ↑ "Derry win Eircom League Cup final". BBC Sport. 18 September 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  69. ↑ "Derry City 1–0 Bohemians (AET)". RTE Sport. 10 October 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  70. ↑ "Player of the Month". Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
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