Northern Ireland Players in the Scottish Premiership

The Scottish Professional Football League Premiership was formed in 2013 when the Scottish Premier League (SPL, founded 1998) "re-merged" with the Scottish Football League (founded 1890) to once again form a single governing body for senior league clubs in Scotland, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). All four divisions within the league structure were re-branded, with the Premiership as the top level with the Championship, League 1 and League 2 beneath.

The following Northern Ireland players have featured in the Premiership to date...

Liam Boyce (Ross County)
Conor Brennan (Kilmarnock)
Sammy Clingan (Kilmarnock)
Ben Hall (Motherwell)
Josh Magennis (Aberdeen, St Mirren, Kilmarnock)
Alan Mannus (St Johnstone)
Niall McGinn (Aberdeen)
Ryan McGivern (Hibernian)
Ryan McLaughlin (Aberdeen)
Michael McGovern (Hamilton Academical)
Billy McKay (Inverness Caledonian Thistlem Dundee Unired)
Rory McKeown (Kilmarnock)
Brian McLean (Ross County)
James McPake (Hibernian, Dundee)
Paul Paton (Dundee United)
Jamie Sendles-White (Hamilton Academical)
Ivan Sproule (Ross County)
Chris Turner (Hamilton Academical)
Jude Winchester (Kilmarnock)

Links:
SPFL

See also:
NI Players in the SPL
NI Players in the English Premier League
NI Players in the UEFA Champions League
NI Players in the UEFA Europa League
NI Players in the NASL and MLS
NI Players in the Scottish Cup Final
NI Players with 20+ Goals in a Scottish League Season

James McPake

Name: James McPake
Born: 24 June 1984, Bellshill (Scotland)
Height: 6.02ft (1.88m)
Weight: 13.03st (84kg)
Position: Centre-Back

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Full Cap (2012)
Club Honours: (with Hibs) Scottish Cup Runner-Up 2011/12.

Club Career:
Teams .... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Others
Livingston 03/04-08/09 Aug-00 Youth 82(18)/6 9(0)/0 7(0)/0 3(0)/0
G'k Morton 05/06 ..... Jan-06 .Loan .3 (7)/2
Coventry C 08/09-11/12 Jan-09 ..... 34 (4)/1 3(0)/0 1(1)/0
Hibernian .11/12 ..... Jan-12 .Loan 11 (0)/0 4(0)/1 
Hibernian .12/13-13/14 Jun-12 .Free 30 (2)/2 3(0)/0 1(0)/0 2(0)/0
Dundee ... 13/14-17/18 May-14 .Free 50 (0)/4 2(0)/0 3(0)/0

Biography:
Qualified for Northern Ireland through a Coleraine-born grandparent, James McPake was first called into the Northern Ireland squad at the end of the 2011/12 season, and put in an admirable rearguard performance on his début despite a 6-0 defeat by the Netherlands. Although he has been included in several more squads, he has yet to add to his cap collection, and seems unlikely to do so in the near future.

In January 2018 McPake announced his retirement due to a knee injury. It had been two years since he last played, having suffered the injury while playing in the Dundee-derby on 2nd January 2016. He took up a coaching position with the Dundee Academy.

More to follow.

Wikipedia

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
02-06-2012 Netherlands A L 0-6 FR

Summary: 1/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.

Sam Morrow

Name: Sam Morrow
Born: 3 March 1985, Londonderry
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight:
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 4 Under-21 Caps / 4 Goals (2005-2006), 8 Under-15 Schoolboy Caps (2000-2001).
Club Honours: (with Derry) FAI Cup Runner-Up 2008; League of Ireland Cup Winner 2008; (with Ross Co.) Scottish First Division Champion 2011/12.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
Institute	-	-	Youth	-	-	-	-	-
Ipswich Town	03/04	Jul-03	Youth	0 (0)/ 0	-	0(1)/0	-	-
Boston United	03/04	Dec-03	Loan	0 (2)/ 0	-	-	-	-
Hibernian	04/05-06/07	Jul-04	Free	5(25)/ 1	2(2)/2	3(1)/0	1(2)/0	-
Livingston	05/06	Jan-06	Loan	11 (0)/ 0	-	-	-	-
Partick Thistke	06/07	Mar-07	Loan	4 (4)/ 1	-	-	-	-
Derry City	2007 - 2009	Aug-07	Free	41 (-)/ 7	-	-	4(-)/0	-
Dunfermline Ath.	-	Jan-10	Trial	0 (0)/ 0	-	-	-	-
Coleraine	09/10-10/11	Feb-10	Free	4 (-)/ 0	-	-	-	*2(-)/0
Tranmere Rovers	10/11	Aug-10	Undisc.	2 (3)/ 0	0(1)/0	-	-	1(2)/0
Ross County	11/12-12/13	Jul-11	Free	21(13)/ 6	2(1)/1	1(0)/0	-	-
Linfield	14/15	May-14	Free	17 (6)/ 5	0(2)/0	-	0(1)/0	1(0)/1
Coleraine	15/16-16/17	May-15	Free	8(10)/ 2	-	-	-	5(1)/0
Institute	16/17- date	Dec-16	Free	-	-	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£0		-	-	-	-	-

* all domestic cup games

Biography:
Sammy Morrow first came to prominence as a schoolboy when, as captain, he scored the equaliser in a 2-1 win over Wales that gave Northern Ireland their first ever Victory Shield title.

One of the many players left in limbo following the financial meltdown of Derry City in the autumn of 2009, Morrow was left without a club and five months wages. He joined Dunfermline on a trial basis in late-December, and reportedly signed a contract towards the end of January. However, on the 5th February it was then revealed that he had been signed by Coleraine on an 18-month deal.

Previously Morrow played in Scotland with Hibernian, but his career was hampered by a cruciate ligament injury. After being released by Hibs in 2007 he joined hometown club, Derry City. He scored a hattrick in the 6-1 2008 League of Ireland Cup Final win over Wexford Youths and the following season collected an FAI Cup runner-up medal despite scoring twice in the final as Bohemians won on penalties.

In March 2010 Morrow was given a three month suspension by FIFA after admitting betting on a number of games in which he was involved. In the summer of 2010 he joined Tranmere Rovers on trial with a deal completed for an undisclosed fee a few days before the close of the transfer window. Having failed to make an impact at Prenton Park he was allowed to leave the following summer, joining Ross County of the Scottish First Division early in the 2011/12 season and he helped them to promotion to the top-flight for the first time. He scored three times, notably in a 3-2 win over Celtic, as County secured a top-half finish.

Morrow was released in the summer of 2013. He later emerged at Linfield as one of Warren Feeney's first signings. He was released after a disappointing single season, returning for another spell at Coleraine shortly thereafter where once again he failed to live up to expectations. Morrow was released mid-way through the 2016/17 season to allow him to join Institute.

Soccerbase
Wikipedia

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
08-02-2005 Scotland....... H W 2-1 FR. sub 1 goal
16-08-2005 Rep. of Ireland H D 2-2 FR
28-02-2006 Wales.......... A W 1-0 FR..... 1 goal
12-04-2006 Leichtenstein.. A W 4-1 ECQ ... 2 goals

Summary: 3(1)/4. Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 0.

Dermot McCaffrey

(theGAWA)

Name: Dermot McCaffrey
Born: 29 March 1986, Omagh
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight:
Position: Defender / Left Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 8 Under-21 Caps (2006-2008), Under-19.
Club Honours: (with Derry) FAI Cup Winner 2012.

Club Career:
Teams ............. --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Fivemiletown United .................. Youth
Dungannon Swifts .. 02/03-03/04 Aug-02 Youth....................... 0(1)/0
Hibernian ......... 04/05-06/07 ..2004 Youth. 1(0)/ 0
Queen of the South. 06/07 ..... Aug-06 .Loan 11(0)/ 0
Livingston ........ 07/08 ..... Aug-07 .Loan 28(0)/ 0 1(1)/0 1(0)/0 1(0)/0
Falkirk ........... 08/09-09/10 May-08 .Free .1(1)/ 0
Arbroath .......... 09/10 ..... Sep-09 .Loan .6(0)/ 0
Dundalk ....................... Jan-10 Trial
Dungannon Swifts .. 09/10-11/12 Feb-10 .Free 23(-)/ 3
Derry City ........ 2012 - 2013 Feb-12 ..... 35(-)/ 1
Dungannon Swifts .. 13/14-14/15 Aug-13 ..... 42(-)/ 1
Rochedale Rovers .............. Jan-15 .Free (Australia)
Dungannon Swifts .. 15/16- date c/s-15

Biography:
A member of Mal Donaghy's Northern Ireland Under-19 squad that played at the 2005 UEFA European Championship Finals as host, as a youngster Dermot McCaffrey played with Fivemiletown United, then of the Fermanagh & Western League before joining Dungannon Swifts. He made just one substitute appearance for the Swifts before moving to SPL side, Hibernian in 2004.

A veteran of the 2003 Milk Cup competition where he impressed for County Tyrone, for Northern Ireland Under-19, McCaffrey appeared at both left-back and as a left-sided central defender. At the 2005 European Finals he played in Northern Ireland's opening two matches, defeats by Greece and Serbia & Montenegro. He stepped up to the Under-21 squad for a two match tour of Israel in February 2006, playing in the second 1-0 win. For the next two years he was a regular in the squad, featuring most regularly at left-back.

McCaffrey made his debut in Scottish football while on loan at Queen of the South against Ross County in September 2006. He played eleven times in all during a three month spell with Queens, impressing with his pace. Through the rest of the season he featured on the bench for Hibs on several occasions, finally making his debut on 21st April 2007, starting in defence against Aberdeen as manager John Collins rested several players ahead of an impending Scottish Cup semi-final. It proved a bitter-sweet occasion as McCaffrey was sent-off for two yellow card offences in the dying minutes of a 2-2 draw. That proved to be his only firstteam appearance while at Easter Road.

A season long loan deal took McCaffrey to First Division Livingston where he played regularly at both left-back and centre-back. On his return to Hibernian he was released and almost immediately signed with another SPL club, Falkirk. He played just twice in a season-and-a-half with The Bairns and early in the 2009/10 season was sent out on loan to Second Division, Arbroath. On 20th January 2010 McCaffrey was released by Falkirk. He joined Dundalk on trial a few days later before re-joining Dungannon Swifts.

After scoring 7 goals in over 60 appearances for the Swifts McCaffrey joined Derry City for the 2012 season. He re-joined Dungannon after 18-months having struggled to establish himself in the starting eleven at the Brandywell.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
08-02-2006 Israel.. A W 1-0 FR
16-05-2006 Scotland H W 1-0 FR. sub
14-11-2006 Germany. A L 1-2 FR
06-02-2007 Wales... H L 0-4 FR
24-05-2007 Scotland A L 0-4 FR. sub
01-06-2007 Moldova. A W 1-0 ECQ sub
07-09-2007 Germany. H L 0-3 ECQ sub
26-03-2008 Romania. H L 1-3 FR

Summary: 4(4)/0. Won 3, Drew 0, Lost 5.

Ryan McGivern

Name: Ryan McGivern
Born: 8 January 1990, Damolly, Newry
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight: 13.02 st
Position: Left-Back

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Full Caps (2008-), 6 Under-21 Caps / 1 Goal (2009-2012), Under-19, 7 Under-17 Caps / 2 Goals (2006).
Club Honours: (with Man. City) FA Youth Cup Winner 2007/08; (with Hibs) Scottish Cup Runner-Up 2012/13.

Club Career:
Teams.......... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup -Other-
Christian Eneavour ............... Youth (Carnbane League)
Drumcashlone ..................... Youth (Carnbane League)
Manchester City 08/09-12/13....... Youth .0 (1)/0
Morecambe ..... 08/09...... Oct-08 .Loan .5 (0)/1 ............. 1(0)/0
Leicester City. 09/10 ..... Aug-09 .Loan .9 (3)/0 2(0)/0
Walsall ....... 10/11 ..... Jul-10 .Loan 15 (0)/0 1(0)/0

Crystal Palace. 11/12 ..... Aug-11 .Loan .5 (0)/0 

Bristol City .. 11/12 ..... Aug-11 .Loan 26 (5)/0 1(0)/0
Hibernian ..... 12/13 ..... Aug-12 .Loan 25 (2)/1 5(0)/0
Hibernian ..... 13/14 ..... May-13 .Free 31 (2)/0 1(0)/0 1(1)/0 2(0)/0
Port Vale ..... 14/15-15/16 Jun-14 .Free 44 (4)/0 4(0)/0 2(0)/0 1(0)/0
Shrewsbury Town 16/17-17/18 Jun-16 .Free 14 (1)/0 1(0)/0 2(0)/0
Northampton T.. 17/18 ..... Nov-17 .Free .0 (1)/0 1(0)/0 ...... 1(0)/0 
Swindon Town .. 17/18 ..... Mar-18 .Free 
Linfield ...... 18/19- date

Biography:
A star of the Northern Ireland youth set-up, Ryan McGivern was part of the Under-19 side that defeated Chile in the 2008 Milk Cup Final. Just two weeks later he was called into the Northern Ireland squad for a match against Scotland by Nigel Worthington as cover for the injured George McCartney.

Although McGivern has yet to play a senior game for Manchester City he was a member of their 2008 FA Youth Cup winning squad and had just received his first call-up to the Under-21 squad. After the Milk Cup Worthington had said of McGivern: “I was very impressed with (him). I watched him closely — he is a good young professional with the right attitude and he is a very good player."

A surprise starter when he made his Northern Ireland debut against Scotland, McGivern's nerves showed as he received two bookings for clumsy challenges and was sent-off - the first ever Northern Ireland player to receive his marching orders on his debut. Worthington did not lose faith in the youngster and has retained him in the squad thereafter.

In October 2008 McGivern was farmed out on a month loan to Sammy McIlroy's Morecambe in order to gain firstteam experience. He made his League debut in a 2-1 defeat at Port Vale on 25 October and on 1 November he scored in a 2-0 win over Aldershot. McIlroy was disappointed when he was unable to extend McGivern's stay with The Shrimps beyond a month.

Although Manchester City manager Mark Hughes assured McGivern that he would be in his firstteam plans for the 2009/10 season, continued big-spending saw the youngster loaned out to Leicester City prior to the close of the August transfer window. The loan deal, initially set to expire in January, was extended to the end of the season and during his time with the Foxes he appeared at centre-back as well as left-back.

McGivern joined League One Walsall on a seasons loan in July 2010, however the loan deal was cut short in January as he was no longer guaranteed first team football. On 3rd February 2011 he made his Manchester City début as a second-half substitute in a convincing home win over Sunderland.

In August 2011 McGivern joined Crystal Palace on a 28 day loan. At the end of the month he joined Bristol City on loan for the remainder of the season. More impressive was a seasons loan at Hibernian, which culminated with a Scottish Cup final appearance and a permanent two-year deal. However, the following season Hibs suffered a serious mid-season collapse in form that saw them relegated from the Premiership via the play-offs, and McGivern was among those allowed to leave and he joined League One side, Port Vale.

Under Michael O'Neill's management, McGivern's international chances have been limited as initially Daniel Lafferty then Chris Brunt have been preferred for the left-back role. He appeared just twice during the successful Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, and was often not even included in squads. He also struggled for a a regular place at Port Vale and was released in the summer of 2016.

McGivern wasn't without a club for long as he signed for Shrewsbury Town in June 2016. Good early season form saw him re-called to the Northern Ireland squad, but subsequent injuries and a change of manager saw him on the periphery of the Shrews team. At the start of the 2017/18 season he was not awarded a squad number and before the close of the summer transfer window his contract was terminated by mutual consent. McGivern was without a club until agreeing a short-term deal with Northampton in November, however his contract was not extended beyond January.

Soccerbase


Northern Ireland Cap Details:
.1. 20-08-2008 Scotland...... A D 0-0 FR. sent-off 57
.2. 11-10-2008 Slovenia...... A L 0-2 WCQ sub
.3. 15-10-2008 San Marino.... H W 4-0 WCQ sub
.4. 19-11-2008 Hungary....... H L 0-2 FR
.5. 01-04-2009 Slovenia...... H W 1-0 WCQ sub
.6. 06-06-2009 Italy......... A L 0-3 FR
.7. 12-08-2009 Israel........ H D 1-1 FR. sub
.8. 14-10-2009 Czech Republic A D 0-0 WCQ
.9. 03-03-2010 Albania....... A L 0-1 FR
10. 26-05-2010 Turkey........ N L 0-2 FR
11. 30-05-2010 Chile......... A L 0-1 FR
12. 11-08-2010 Montenegro.... A L 0-2 FR
13. 17-11-2010 Morocco....... H D 1-1 FR
14. 11-10-2011 Italy......... A L 0-3 WCQ
15. 29-02-2012 Norway........ H L 0-3 FR
16. 02-06-2012 Netherlands... A L 0-6 FR. sub
17. 11-09-2012 Luxembourg.... H D 1-1 ECQ
18. 16-10-2012 Portugal...... A D 1-1 ECQ
19. 15-11-2013 Turkey........ A L 0-1 FR. sub
20. 05-03-2014 Cyprus........ A D 0-0 FR
21. 14-10-2014 Greece........ A W 2-0 ECQ sub
22. 14-11-2014 Romania....... A L 0-2 ECQ
23. 15-11-2016 Croatia....... H L 0-3 FR. sub
still active

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
.1. 13-11-2009 Germany....... H D 1-1 ECQ
.2. 17-11-2009 Czech Republic H L 1-2 ECQ
.3. 03-09-2010 San Marino.... H W 4-0 ECQ 1 goal (pen)
.4. 07-09-2010 Germany....... A L 0-3 ECQ
.5. 09-02-2011 Wales......... A L 0-2 FR
.6. 10-05-2012 FYRo Macedonia A L 0-1 ECQ

Summary: 6/0. Won 1, Drew 1, Lost 4.

Picture by Roy Cathcart.