James McPake

James McPake
Personal information
Full name James McPake
Date of birth (1984-06-24) 24 June 1984
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position Central defender
Club information
Current team
 Dundee
Number 5
Youth career
2000–2004 Livingston
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2009 Livingston 140 (6)
2006 → Greenock Morton (loan) 10 (2)
2009–2012 Coventry City 68 (1)
2012 → Hibernian (loan) 11 (0)
2012–2014 Hibernian 32 (2)
2014– Dundee 50 (4)
National team‡
2012 Northern Ireland 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:44, 11 July 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 September 2012

James McPake (born 24 June 1984 in Bellshill) is a professional footballer who plays for Scottish Premiership side Dundee. McPake has previously played for Livingston, Greenock Morton, Coventry City and Hibernian. He has mainly played as a defender, although he started his career as a forward. Although he was born in Scotland, McPake was selected by Northern Ireland in 2012 as one of his grandparents was born in Coleraine.

Club career

During his youth career, McPake played for Holytown Colts, Celtic South BC, Coatbridge Amateurs and Livingston pro youth.[1] He began his professional career when he signed for then Scottish First Division team Livingston in August 2000 as a youth academy player.[2] He did not make his debut for the club until almost four years later in April 2004, when Livingston were playing in the SPL. He agreed a new two-year contract with Livingston in 2005.

In January 2006, Scottish Second Division side Greenock Morton signed McPake on loan,[3] after he had rejected proposed loan moves to Gretna and Partick Thistle.[4] McPake made his debut for Morton against Gretna on 14 January and went on to make 10 appearances for the club, scoring two goals in the process. His two goals were both scored in the same game, against Alloa Athletic.[5]

In October 2006, the Scottish media reported that McPake would be moving to English Football League Championship club Plymouth Argyle.[6] It was confirmed that he was due to go to Plymouth for a week-long trial, but Livingston later changed their minds and the trial never materialized.[6] In July 2007, two months after the appointment of manager Mark Proctor, McPake was appointed club captain. Scottish Premier League outfit St Mirren had a bid for McPake rejected by Livingston.

McPake signed a pre-contract in December 2008 to join Coventry City on a three-and-a-half-year deal in the summer of 2009, but Coventry and Livingston agreed a fee on 2 February 2009 to complete the transfer immediately.[7] He scored his first goal for the club against Leicester City on 21 March 2010.[8] He suffered a back injury that required surgery in May 2011.[9] McPake signed a one-year contract extension with Coventry City in August 2011 extending his contract to July 2013.

McPake signed for Hibernian on an initial six-month loan deal from Coventry City on 23 January 2012.[10] He made his debut for the club the following Saturday, and was sent off in a 4–0 defeat to Rangers.[11] McPake was made team captain on his first appearance.[12] He led the team to safety from relegation,[13] and former Hibs defender Craig Paterson expressed his hope that McPake would sign a longer deal with Hibs.[14] McPake scored Hibs' only goal in the 2012 Scottish Cup Final, a 5–1 defeat to Hearts, this was his first goal for the club.

McPake signed a two-year contract with Hibs on 30 June 2012.[15][16] On 3 January 2013, McPake suffered a bad tackle by Ryan Stevenson in an Edinburgh derby game.[17] Stevenson was suspended for two matches.[18] McPake had injury problems during 2013 that caused him to miss the 2013 Scottish Cup Final, which Pat Fenlon described as a "big blow".[19] After missing out on the Scottish Cup Final, McPake also denied rumours that he had an operation on his back.[20] McPake also played down talk that he would be forced into retirement because of his back injury and criticised internet trolls over this taunt.[21] McPake's first team opportunities were limited during the 2013–14 season and after Hibs were relegated to the Scottish Championship, he was released by the club in May 2014.[22] McPake said that he had been fit for ten weeks and was disappointed he didn't have the chance to help Hibs avoid relegation.[23]

After being released by Hibernian, McPake was linked with newly promoted Scottish Premiership club Dundee, but this was denied by the Manager Paul Hartley.[24] However, McPake signed for the club in May 2014.[25] On 30 January 2015, he signed a contract extension, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2017.[26]

On 2 January 2016, whilst playing in a Dundee derby, McPake suffered a serious knee injury which would end his season.[27][28] McPake was appointed club captain for the 2016-2017 season,[29] but suffered another setback on his injury, keeping him out until January 2017.[30]

International career

McPake was selected in May 2012 by Northern Ireland, who he qualifies to play for through a grandparent born in Coleraine.[31] McPake made his international debut in a 6–0 defeat by Netherlands on 2 June 2012.[32]

Career statistics

As of 11 July 2016[33]
Club Season League Cup[note 1] League Cup[note 2] Other[note 3] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Livingston 2003–04 1000000010
2004–05 141300000171
2005–06 150001000160
2006–07 333202000383
2007–08 190302010250
2008–09 182102020232
Total 10069070301206
Greenock Morton (loan) 2005–06 102000000102
Coventry City 2008–09 4010000050
2009–10 171200000191
2010–11 120001000130
2011–12 5000100060
Total 381302000431
Hibernian (loan) 2011–12 110410000151
Hibernian 2012–13 292300000322
2013–14 3000102060
Total 432711020533
Dundee 2014–15 342202000382
2015–16 162001000172
2016–17 0000000000
Total 504203000554
Career total 241152111306028116
  1. ↑ Includes FA Cup and Scottish Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Football League Cup and Scottish League Cup
  3. ↑ Includes Scottish Challenge Cup and Europa League. Soccerbase haven't recorded a Challenge Cup appearance in 2008–09 on 26 July 2008. His appearances in that competition for that season is 2, not 1 as they say.

References

  1. ↑ "James McPake". Youth Football Scotland. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  2. ↑ "McPake signs new Livingston deal". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 May 2005. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  3. ↑ "Livingston complete Hislop deal". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 January 2006. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  4. ↑ "FEEL LIKE JAMES MCPEAK". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  5. ↑ "Morton 4–1 Alloa Athletic". BBC. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  6. 1 2 "McPake trial at Argyle called off". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  7. ↑ "Coventry sign Livingston's McPake". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  8. ↑ "Leicester 2–2 Coventry". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  9. ↑ Macpherson, Graeme (10 May 2012). "McPake's commitment to the cup-finalists' cause would make him an ideal permanent signing for the Easter Road club". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "James McPake joins Hibernian on loan". STV. STV Group. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "Rangers 4 – 0 Hibernian". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  12. ↑ Hardie, David (3 February 2012). "James McPake to keep Hibs armband despite send off". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  13. ↑ Turner, Andy (9 May 2012). "James McPake in dark over future as Hibs line up £100,000 offer". Coventry Telegraph. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "Hibs hero James McPake 'has to stay for longer'". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  15. ↑ "McPake Signs For Hibernian". www.hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian FC. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  16. ↑ "Coventry's James McPake makes Hibs switch permanent". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  17. ↑ "Hibs: Pat Fenlon fury over Ryan Stevenson challenge". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  18. ↑ "Hearts' Ryan Stevenson banned for cup semi-final". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  19. ↑ "Scottish Cup: Hibernian captain James McPake injury a blow". BBC Sport. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  20. ↑ "SPL: Hibernian captain James McPake has denied rumours of back surgery". Sky Sports. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  21. ↑ "Hibs skipper James McPake hits out at internet trolls who claimed his career was over". Daily Record. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  22. ↑ "James McPake and Kevin Thomson exit Hibs". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Publishing. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  23. ↑ "James McPake hits back at Terry Butcher criticism amid Hibs plight". Scottish Daily Express. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  24. ↑ "Dundee boss denies making offer for released Hibs defender McPake". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "Dundee announce triple signing". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "JAMES EXTENDS CONTRACT". Dundee F.C. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  27. ↑ Davie, Scott (2 January 2016). "Dundee 2–1 Dundee United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  28. ↑ "Dundee: James McPake fractured kneecap confirmed after scan". BBC Sport. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  29. ↑ Kennedy, Liam (14 June 2016). "James McPake to be new skipper at Dundee". Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  30. ↑ Milligan, Jamie (9 July 2016). "Dundee in Austria: James McPake will prove the doubters wrong". The Courier. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  31. ↑ "Roy Carroll and James McPake in NI squad for Holland friendly". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  32. ↑ "Joy of six for classy Dutch". TeamTalk. 365 Media Group. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  33. ↑ James McPake career statistics at Soccerbase
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