Paul McGowan (footballer)

For other people with the same name, see Paul McGowan.
Paul McGowan

McGowan playing for Hamilton Academical
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-10-07) 7 October 1987
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Playing position Central Midfielder/Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Dundee
Number 18
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2011 Celtic 6 (0)
2006–2007 → Greenock Morton (loan) 36 (11)
2009 → Hamilton Academical (loan) 14 (1)
2010–2011 → St Mirren (loan) 33 (1)
2011–2014 St Mirren 98 (17)
2014– Dundee 75 (4)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:07, 3 December 2016 (UTC).


Paul McGowan (born 7 October 1987) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

McGowan started his career with Scottish Premier League club Celtic, he made his debut in 2007. However, he failed to break into the first team and was sent out on loan several times. McGowan spent the 2006–07 season with Second Division side Morton, where he won the Second Division title and was also named SFL young player of the month for January 2007. McGowan then spent the second half of the 2008–09 season with Hamilton Academical in the SPL.

He moved on loan to another SPL side, St Mirren, for the 2010–11 season. After this Celtic released him from his contract and he signed with St Mirren permanently. In December 2011 he won the SPL player of the month award.

Career

Celtic

McGowan made his Celtic debut in the 5–0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in September 2007, where he came on as a substitute.[1] He scored his first senior goal for Celtic on 7 August 2008 in a pre-season friendly against Manchester City at Celtic Park. He had the chance to score his second senior goal to win the game for Celtic but his shot hit the crossbar and the game ended 1–1. McGowan made his Champions League debut against Villarreal on 10 December 2008, as a 75th-minute substitute for Aiden McGeady. Celtic won the match 2–0 but finished bottom of their group.[2]

In the 2009–10 season, McGowan soon became part in the first team, under manager Tony Mowbray.[3] On 17 December 2009, just over a year to the day of his European debut, McGowan made his Europa League debut in a 3–3 draw away to Rapid Vienna. He made an impact in the 91st minute by scoring his first competitive goal for the Hoops to complete a comeback from 3–0 down to draw 3–3.[4] On 24 January 2010, McGowan made an impressive display when he provided double assist for Marc-Antoine Fortuné and Paddy McCourt, as Celtic made a comeback from 1–0 down to 4–1 up, against St Johnstone.[5]

Towards the end of the 2009–10 season, on 29 April 2010, he signed a two-year contract with the club.[6] Having signed a new deal, McGowan expected to make more appearance in the first team in near future.[7]

Greenock Morton

McGowan was loaned out to Greenock Morton for the 2006–07 season.[8] He played as a striker for Morton and scored a total of 16 goals in 44 competitive matches. During his loan spell at Morton, McGowan then won the Scottish Football League player of the month award for January 2007.[9] He was the club's top scorer and received a League winners medal as Morton won the Scottish Second Division. He was chosen to the 'Team of the year' in the Second Division[10] and 3rd place in the 'Player of the Year' award. Morton failed to land the player in the summer transfer window when their bid – approaching a six-figure sum – was rejected.[11]

Hamilton Academical

McGowan was loaned out to SPL side Hamilton Academical at the beginning of the January 2009 transfer window,[12] and started his first game with an assist for Chris Swailes in the 1–0 win over Ross County in the Scottish Cup. His first goal for the club came on 21 February 2009, in a 2–1 win over Falkirk, scoring from 10 yards out.[13] At the end of the 2008–09 season, McGowan loan spell with Celtic had come to an end.[14]

St Mirren

In July 2010, McGowan was again sent out on loan, this time to St Mirren.[15] He made his league debut for the club in the opening game of the 2010–11 season, a 1–1 draw against Dundee United on 14 August 2010. He scored his first competitive goal for St Mirren in a League Cup match against Ross County. Eventually, St Mirren would win in the penalty-shootout after a tie 2–2 in the regular time and kept 3–3 after extra-time.[16] McGowan wasn't a good start when he received a straight red card for incident in off-the-ball at Killie's Manuel Pascali, which was spotted by the referee and then taunt the opposition fan. After the match, McGowan apologised for his action,[17] while Lennon might consider fining him, once reviewing the video evidence.[18] After missing one game, he made his return from suspension.[19] On his return, on 25 September 2010, he scored his first goal, in a 2–1 loss against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Following a 0–0 draw with Peterhead, which resulted going to replay in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, McGowan scored his first hat-trick of his career, in a 6–1 win. After the match, McGowan says his hat-trick convinced the club's groundsman to get the match ball,[20] while Lennon believes McGowan should learn from Lionel Messi and also describe him as a "threat", whose rise above the difficult treatment.[21] Throughout the season, he played a total of 39 matches and scored 6 goals in all competitions for St Mirren. Danny Lennon converted McGowan from a striker to a central attacking midfielder with the role of playmaker during this period.

On 6 June 2011, McGowan signed a two-year deal with St Mirren, having had a successful loan spell.[22] McGowan's first game, after signing for the club on a permanent basis, came on the opening game of the season, in a 0–0 draw against Dunfermline Athletic. In a 2–0 loss against his former club, on 28 August 2011, McGowan made a mistake when he capitalised on a misplaced pass, allowing Gary Hooper to score, but despite this, Lennon would praised him, while McGowan, himself, says he will take full responsibility for his performance.[23] McGowan's first goal, after signing for the club on a permanent basis, came on 24 September 2011, when he scored a brace, in a 3–0 victory against Kilmarnock.[24] His next brace was soon followed up, on 22 October 2011, in a 3–2 loss against Hibernian.[25] In November 2011, McGowan attracted interest from English clubs, believed to be Crystal Palace and Wigan.[26] He then won the Scottish Premier League player of the month award for December 2011.[27] McGowan revealed he was surprised earning the Scottish Premier League player of the month award is the first Saints player to win the award since Andy Dorman in April 2009.[28] McGowan gained plaudits for his ability to retain possession of the ball. Throughout the season, he played a total of 45 matches and scored 8 goals in all competitions for St Mirren.

After scoring his two goal of the 2012–13 season, one was in the first round of the Scottish League Cup, in a 5–1 win over Ayr United and provided assist during a match; and another in a 3–1 loss against Kilmarnock on 22 September 2012, McGowan suffered a shoulder injury early in the 2012–13 season that required surgery.[29][30] While on the sideline, captain Jim Goodwin says the club miss McGowan and was the main player for the club.[31] McGowan returned to the first team in mid-December[32] and went on to score a penalty against Celtic in the Scottish League Cup semi-final.[33] Ahead of the Scottish League Cup final, on 27 February 2013, McGowan scored and provided an assist for Graham Carey, who scored a wonder strike, in a 2–0 win.[34] St Mirren qualified for the final with a sensational 3–2 win, booking a date with Hearts – scheduled to take place on St Patrick's Day 17 March 2013. Paul McGowan won man of the match in the buddies 3–2 victory over hearts in the league cup final on 17 March as the club ended its 26-year wait for silverware.[35] After the match, told BBC Scotland that the match was unbelievable and very proud.[36] A few week later after the final, McGowan scored a penalty, in a 1–1 draw against Celtic by scoring from a penalty.[37] Towards the end of the 2012–13 season, McGowan says his future is uncertain, having attracted interests from English clubs, with one believed to be Birmingham City[38] after Manager Lennon revealed he had yet sorted out his future at the club by signing a new deal.[39] Eventually, on 3 June 2013, it was announced that McGowan had re-signed for St Mirren on a free transfer, just two days after his previous contract had expired.[40] After signing a new contract, he explains his stay at St Mirren, citing family reasons.[41]

In 2013–14 season, McGowan starts off his season when he struggled to score for the eight games, but scored his first goal of the season on 5 October 2013, in a 2–0 win over Hearts[42] and scored another, as well as, making a double assist, in a 4–3 win over St Johnstone on 19 October 2013.[43] In the match against Inverness CT, McGowan limped off where he sustained a broken toe and had to wore a protective mask in the match fourth round replay of the Scottish Cup against Queen of the South.[44] Despite being disciplined, McGowan continuously be used by the club.[45] He later added two more goal to his tally; one was against Dundee United on 15 March 2014[46] and second goal came was against Hibernian on 19 April 2014, to help the club secure their future in the Scottish Premiership.[47] After the match, McGowan says he is happy to put the incident behind him by helping the club finish the season on high.[48]

At the end of season 2013–14, St Mirren announced that McGowan would not be offered a new contract and was released.[49]

Dundee

McGowan signed a two-year contract with newly promoted side Dundee in June 2014.[50] Upon joining Dundee, Manager Paul Hartley says he immediately signed him once he learned he was released by St Mirren.[51]

McGowan made his Dundee debut, playing as a central-midfielder, as Dundee won 4–0 against Peterhead on 2 August 2014, in the Scottish League Cup[52] and then made his league debut, as Dundee drew 1–1 with Kilmarnock on 9 August 2014.[53] McGowan continued to be in the first team throughout the first half of the season until he suffered a knee injury that kept him sidelined for four weeks.[54] McGowan then made his return to the first team, in the Dundee derby, which Dundee lose 6–2 to Dundee United.[55] McGowan scored his first Dundee goal, in a 1–0 win over Partick Thistle on 14 February 2015.[56] As a result of being placed on a curfew, McGowan cannot be included for matchday squad when it kicks off in the evening for the rest of the season, though he can play in the afternoon games.[57] Despite being placed on a curfew, McGowan went on to make thirty-four appearance and scoring once in all competitions.

Personal life

In December 2013, McGowan pleaded guilty for attacking two police officers that took place at Coatbridge police office on 11 August.[58] On 8 January 2014, the judge ordered McGowan to do a 130 hours of unpaid work and a one-year supervision order.[59]

Manager Danny Lennon believed McGowan was a lucky to avoid a jail sentence. McGowan was told by Sheriff Frank Pieri " that the punishment was a 'direct alternative' to custody and told him to behave in future or face prison".[60] As a result of this incident, McGowan was disciplined by the club.[45]

For the second time in 2014, McGowan was arrested after attacking a community support constable at Coatbridge Police station.[61] McGowan was convicted of assault on 19 March 2015.[62] On 15 April 2015, McGowan was spared jail sentence, but was placed restriction curfew for sixteen weeks and had to wear electronic tags.[63] Following the incident, McGowan apologised for his actions and said he hoped to become a better person, having a problematic lifestyle of alcohol and gambling,[64] while the club stood by him.[65]

McGowan is a father of a son. In the wake of his conviction in April 2015, McGowan vowed to be a better father by putting his life on track for the sake of his son.[66]

Career statistics

As of 3 December 2016[67][68]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other[69] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic 2006–07 0000000000
2007–08 1000000010
2008–09 0000001010
2009–10 5000001161
2010–11 0000000000
Total 6000002181
Greenock Morton (loan) 2006–07 36113141114414
Hamilton Academical (loan) 2008–09 11200000161
St Mirren (loan) 2010–11 331541100396
St Mirren 2011–12 378503000458
2012–13 255204200317
2013–14 364201000394
Total 981790820011519
Dundee 2014–15 301103000341
2015–16 301401000351
2016–17 152002100173
Total 754506100865
Career total 262342451853230746

Honours

Clubs

Greenock Morton
St Mirren

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Celtic 5–0 Inverness CT". BBC Sport. 15 September 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Celtic 1–1 Manchester City". Daily Record. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Paul McGowan: I've been told I'm part of Celtic first team squad – I want to keep it that way". Daily Record. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Rapid Vienna 3 – 3 Celtic". BBC Sport. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  5. ↑ "St Johnstone 1 – 4 Celtic". BBC Sport. 24 January 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Paul McGowan signs new two-year contract with Celtic". Goal.com. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "McGowan up to the task". Sky Sports. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "McGowan heads to Morton on loan". BBC Sport. 27 July 2006. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  9. 1 2 "McGowan is voted top young player". BBC Sport. 16 February 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "Division Two team of year". BBC Sport. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Celtic reject £80,000 for McGowan". BBC Sport. 12 August 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "Accies sign Old Firm pair on loan". BBC Sport. 7 January 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Falkirk 1–2 Hamilton". BBC Sport. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Five axed at Accies as Canning and Thomas land new deals". Daily Record. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "St Mirren take Celtic striker Paul McGowan on loan". BBC Sport. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  16. ↑ "Ross C 3–3 St Mirren (4–3 pen)". BBC Sport. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "McGowan sorry for gesture". Sky Sports. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "Lennon to review dismissal". Sky Sports. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Fitness boost for St Mirren as McQuade and McGowan return to action". Daily Record. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "I had to convince groundsman I bagged a hat-trick to get match ball, says St Mirren hero Paul McGowan". Daily Record. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "St Mirren gaffer Danny Lennon: Paul McGowan should learn from Lionel Messi". Daily Record. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "Saints seal double swoop". Sky Sports. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "Buddies boss hails effort". Sky Sports. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  24. ↑ "SPL: St Mirren 3 Kilmarnock 0". Daily Record. 25 September 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  25. ↑ "SPL: St Mirren 2 Hibs 3". Daily Record. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  26. ↑ "Monday's Scottish gossip". BBC Sport. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  27. 1 2 "Paul McGowan named SPL player of the month". STV. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  28. ↑ "Player of the month award proves I was right to leave Celtic, says St Mirren's Paul McGowan". Daily Record. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  29. ↑ "St Mirren's Paul McGowan facing three-month absence". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  30. ↑ "St Mirren's Paul McGowan facing three months out with injury". Sky Sports. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  31. ↑ "St Mirren captain Jim Goodwin says the club can cope without injured Paul McGowan". Sky Sports. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  32. ↑ "Celts are still right at home". The Scottish Sun. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  33. ↑ "St Mirren 3 Celtic 2: Buddies shock Lennon's Bhoys in Hampden thriller". Daily Record. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  34. ↑ "St Mirren 2–0 Hearts". BBC Sport. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  35. 1 2 "St Mirren 3 Hearts 2: Buddies bounce back from a goal behind to win the League Cup Final". Daily Record. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  36. ↑ "Man of the match Paul McGowan 'so proud' as St Mirren end 26-year wait for a trophy". Daily Record. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  37. ↑ "St Mirren 1–1 Celtic". BBC Sport. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  38. ↑ "Paul McGowan remains unsure on St Mirren future". BBC Sport. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  39. ↑ "Danny Lennon asks Paul McGowan to confirm intentions". BBC Sport. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  40. ↑ "St Mirren agree new one-year deal with Paul McGowan". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  41. ↑ "Family ties keep St Mirren star Paul McGowan in Paisley". Daily Record. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  42. ↑ "Hearts 0 St Mirren 2: Saints hero Sean Kelly's decision to go into hiding pays off as Tynie win sees Lennon's men go above Killie". Daily Record. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  43. ↑ "St Mirren 4–3 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  44. ↑ "St Mirren playmaker Paul McGowan set for quick return as scan shows injured toe is not broken". Daily Record. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  45. 1 2 "St Mirren stick by Paul McGowan after assaults on police". BBC Sport. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  46. ↑ "Dundee United 3 St Mirren 2: Buddies crumble as they are overpowered in 15-minute Arab Alamo". Daily Record. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  47. ↑ "St. Mirren 2 – 0 Hibernian". BBC Sport. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  48. ↑ "Bad Buddie Paul McGowan desperate to put past mistakes behind him as he focuses on finishing the season on a high with St Mirren". Daily Record. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  49. ↑ "St Mirren: Paul McGowan exits as Marian Kello signs new deal". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  50. ↑ "Dundee: Paul McGowan and Paul McGinn pen two year deals". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  51. ↑ "Paul Hartley delighted to land Paul McGowan". The Courier. 25 June 2014. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  52. ↑ "Dundee 4–0 Peterhead". BBC Sport. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  53. ↑ McLeod, Liam (9 August 2014). "Dundee 1–1 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  54. ↑ "Dundee boss Paul Hartley has work cut out". The Courier. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  55. ↑ "Dundee United 6–2 Dundee". BBC Sport. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 14 (help)
  56. ↑ "Dundee 1 – 0 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  57. ↑ "Dundee boss Paul Hartley reveals concerns over Paul McGowan's curfew". The Courier. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  58. ↑ "St Mirren footballer Paul McGowan admits kicking police". BBC Sport. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  59. ↑ "SPFL: St Mirren's Paul McGowan sentenced to 130 hours of unpaid work". Sky Sports. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  60. ↑ "St Mirren's Paul McGowan 'a fortunate chap' to avoid prison". BBC Sport. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  61. ↑ "Dundee player Paul McGowan to stand trial over police assault charge". The Courier. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  62. ↑ "Dundee player Paul McGowan admits police assault charge". BBC Sport. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  63. ↑ "Dundee midfielder Paul McGowan spared jail after assaulting police officer". The Guardian. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  64. ↑ "Dundee star Paul McGowan "hopes to be a better person"". The Courier. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  65. ↑ "Dundee FC 'standing by' Paul McGowan after he is spared jail for police assault". The Courier. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  66. ↑ "Paul McGowan vows to tackle problems and make son proud". The Courier. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  67. ↑ Paul McGowan career statistics at Soccerbase
  68. ↑ Paul McGowan profile at Soccerway
  69. ↑ Includes matches in UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and Scottish Challenge Cup
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