Tam Scobbie

Scottish footballer

Tam Scobbie

Scobbie representing Scotland under-21s in 2009

Personal information
Date of birth|  (1988-03-31) 31 March 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth|  Falkirk, Scotland
Position(s)|  Full back
Team information

Current team

|  Berwick Rangers (Manager)
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2006–2012|  Falkirk|  156|  (5)
2012–2017|  St Johnstone|  105|  (2)
2017–2019|  Dundee United|  19|  (0)
2018|  → Partick Thistle (loan)|  7|  (0)
2019|  → Brechin City (loan)|  14|  (0)
2019–2021|  Kelty Hearts|  |
2021–2023|  Berwick Rangers|  |
International career
2006–2007|  Scotland U19|  4|  (0)
2007–2010|  Scotland U21|  12|  (0)
Managerial career
2023-|  Berwick Rangers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:00, 18 September 2021 (UTC)

Thomas "Tam" Scobbie (born 31 March 1988) is a Scottish retired professional footballer who is the manager for Berwick Rangers.

He has previously played for Falkirk, St Johnstone. Dundee United. Partick Thistle, Brechin City, Kelty Hearts before retiring at Berwick Rangers as a player/coach. Scobbie was a regular squad member for the Scotland under-21 national team.

Tam has been appointed manager of former club Berwick Rangers after Stuart Malcolm left for Arbroath in late October 2023, he has also had coaching spell of working under Peter Murphy at Annan Athletic and then move to Kelty Hearts.

## Youth career[edit]

Scobbie played most of his football as a boy with Grangemouth Boys Club, whilst attending Graeme High School. An intelligent student (sic), he mixed his studies well with football but left in fourth-year to pursue a career in the game. At age twelve, Scobbie joined Falkirk's academy team becoming the youngest player to sign a schoolboy form for the club.[1]

## Club career[edit]

### Falkirk[edit]

Scobbie made his debut for Falkirk on 30 April 2005 against Hamilton Academical. He made his Scottish Premier League (SPL) debut against Dundee United in a 2–1 victory.[2] Scobbie made seventeen appearances in his first season. On 18 February 2007, Scobbie received a red card for the first time in his career after he was caught in a late with Chris Burke, resulting a straight red card for Scobbie.[3]

In 2007–08 season, Scobbie made a good start for the club in the opening game of the season after he provided an assist for Michael Higdon, as Falkirk beat Gretna 4–0.[4] However, Scobbie was criticized during a performance against Hearts and this resulted him being dropped.[5] He later make up his mistake when Hearts and Falkirk meet again and scored his first goal for the club and then provided an assist for Carl Finnigan, in a 2–1 win over Hearts on 5 May 2008.[6] The 2007–08 season proved to be Scobbie's breakthrough season, as he made thirty-three appearances and scored once. In February 2008, Scobbie signed a five-year contract with the club.[7]

In 2008–09 season, Scobbie was diagnosed with a pelvic injury.[8] After two months out, Scobbie made his return on the bench, as Falkirk lost 2–1 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but didn't play.[9] Scobbie made his return to playing, as Falkirk beat Hearts 2–1 on 13 September 2008.[10] Later in the end of September, Manager John Hughes commented that Scobbie's progression could see him being captain and could be a manager.[11] On 26 April 2009, he scored in a 2–0 win against Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup semi-final,[12] however Falkirk went on to lose 1–0 to Rangers in the final.[13] Ahead of the Scottish Cup final, Scobbie scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 win over Motherwell on 2 May 2009.[14] Following the loss, Scobbie said the defeat left him "heartbroken".[15]

Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Scobbie was among three players to be linked a move away from Falkirk,[16] as he was keen to sit down with the club's board to discuss the fresh terms.[17] Scobbie made his European debut for the club against FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein, but lost 2–1 in a two-legged tie.[18] The season started without the manager, John Hughes, who left for Hibernian. In October, Scobbie sustained a recurrence of his pelvic problems, which caused him to be pulled out of Scotland's Under-21 squad.[19] Scobbie revealed he had taken 12 injections and unsuccessfully had a hernia operations twice.[20] In late January, Scobbie recovered from injuries.[21] Following his return, Scobbie was unable to help the club survive relegation and was relegated to Division One.

The 2010–11 season was proved to be unsuccessful for Scobbie, as he made thirty-six appearances in all competitions and scored once against Dunfermline Athletic on 15 February 2011, in a 1–1 draw.[22] After the season, Scobbie was linked with SPL clubs Kilmarnock and St Mirren.[23]

On 1 April 2012, Scobbie played as Falkirk beat Hamilton Academical 1–0 to win the Challenge Cup.[24] In May 2012, Scobbie announced he is to leave the club this summer and says his departure was "inevitable".[1] In his last appearance against Ayr United in the last game of the season, Scobbie was given the captaincy and scored the opening goal from the penalty, as Falkirk won 3–2.[25]

### St Johnstone[edit]

Scobbie left Falkirk under freedom of contract in May 2012 and signed a two-year contract with St Johnstone.[26] Scobbie made his debut for the club, where he made his first start, in a 2–1 loss against Aberdeen on 18 August 2012.[27] However, Scobbie was unable to regain his first team place at St Johnstone, as he spent on the bench and had his own injury concerns.

At the beginning of the 2013–14 season, Scobbie played four Europa League matches, including the 1–0 win against Norwegian side Rosenberg in the second round of the Europa League first leg.[28] St Johnstone would later be eliminated by Minsk in the drawing 1–1 in the second leg of Europa League after it went on penalties.[29] In the league, Scobbie would be often used in first team ins and out in his second season at the club. Despite this, on 14 January 2014, Scobbie signed a contract with the club, which see Scobbie stay until the end of the 2014-15 season.[30] A week after signing a new deal, Scobbie was an involved in the incident during the match against Hearts after Scottish Football Association issued a notice on Scobbie and was considering banning him for two games.[31] In conclusion, Scobbie would miss two games after the club decided against appeal.[32] During the match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, which they lost 1–0 on 22 February 2014, Scobbie sustained ligament damage, though he came on for Frazer Wright. After an operation, it was announced that Scobbie would be out for the remainder of the season. Scobbie was part of the successful side that went on to win the 2013-14 Scottish Cup.[33]

At the start of the 2014–15 season, Scobbie played three out of the four Europa League matches for St Johnstone. Scobbie helped St Johnstone progress to the next round after he converted the winning penalty shoot-out, putting St Johnstone through to the next round.[34][35] Having featured for the first five matches, Scobbie suffered medial ligament damage that requires repairment, resulting him out for three months.[36] Though making his return, Scobbie remained on the substitute bench until he made his return on the pitch, coming on as a substitute for Brian Easton in the 82nd minute, in a 2–0 win over Partick Thistle on 17 January 2015.[37] On 13 April 2015, Scobbie signed a new two-year contract with St Johnstone, keeping him at the club until 2017.[38] Scobbie later made twenty appearances for the club.

### Dundee United[edit]

After leaving St Johnstone Scobbie signed for Scottish Championship club Dundee United on 13 June 2017. However, just six games into the new campaign, a torn groin muscle in a League Cup tie with Dundee saw him ruled out of action for nearly two months. He returned at the end of October, and featured regularly at full-back and the centre of defence as United qualified for a Play-off spot.[39]

Scobbie joined Partick Thistle on loan in August 2018, being given the number 37 kit.[40] He returned to Dundee United in January 2019 after making 8 appearances for Thistle.[41]

Scobbie then joined Brechin City on loan on deadline day in January 2019, for the rest of the 2018–19 season.[42] He was released by United at the end of the season.

### Kelty Hearts[edit]

Scobbie signed for Lowland League club Kelty Hearts in September 2019.[43] He left Kelty at the end of the 2020–21 season.[44]

### Berwick Rangers[edit]

Berwick Rangers announced the signing of Scobbie on a short term deal on 30 August 2021.[45]

## International career[edit]

In 2006, Scobbie was called up to represent Scotland U19 team.[46] In 2008, Scobbie stated that he hoped he makes it to the senior team under the new management of George Burley.[47]

The same year, Scobbie was called by the Scotland U21 team.[48]

## Career statistics[edit]

As of match played 4 November 2017 [49]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition  Club  | Season  | League  | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Other  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|

Division  | Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals
Falkirk | 2006–07[50] | Scottish Premier League | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1
2007–08[51] | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 1
2008–09[52] | 20 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2
2009–10[53] | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 23 | 0
2010–11[54] | First Division | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 36 | 1
2011–12[55] | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | 41 | 1
Total  | 156 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 185 | 6
St Johnstone | 2012–13[56] | Scottish Premier League | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0
2013–14[57] | Scottish Premiership | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 27 | 0
2014–15[58] | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 25 | 0
2015–16[59] | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 35 | 2
2016–17[60] | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0
Total  | 105 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 128 | 2
Dundee United | 2017–18[61] | Scottish Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0
Career total  | 264 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 321 | 8

1. ^ a b c d Appearances in the Europa League
2. ^ a b Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup

## Honours[edit]

Falkirk

* Scottish Challenge Cup: 2011–12[24]
* Scottish Cup: runner-up 2008–09

St Johnstone

* Scottish Cup: 2013–14[citation needed]

Kelty Hearts

* Lowland League: 2019–20

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Falkirk ace Tam Scobbie set to depart after spending half his life with Bairns". Daily Record. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
2. ^ "Dundee United 1–2 Falkirk". BBC Sport. 29 July 2006. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
3. ^ "Rangers 2–1 Falkirk". BBC Sport. 18 February 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
4. ^ "Gretna 0–4 Falkirk". BBC Sport. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
5. ^ "Scobie Asks For Falkirk Chance". Daily Record. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
6. ^ "Falkirk 2–1 Hearts". BBC Sport. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
7. ^ "Scobbie stays with Bairns". Sky Sports. 26 February 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
8. ^ "Falkirk duo a doubt for start of new campaign". Daily Record. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
9. ^ "Triple injury boost for Falkirk". Daily Record. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
10. ^ "Falkirk 2–1 Hearts". BBC Sport. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
11. ^ "Falkirk boss John Hughes gives ringing endorsement to starlet Tam Scobbie". Daily Record. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
12. ^ "Falkirk 2–0 Dunfermline". BBC Sport. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
13. ^ "Rangers 1–0 Falkirk". BBC Sport. 30 May 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
14. ^ "Falkirk 2–1 Motherwell". BBC Sport. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
15. ^ "Tam Scobbie's cup final diary: I'm heartbroken I couldn't win cup for my gran". Daily Record. 31 May 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
16. ^ "Falkirk look to strike new deals with in-demand trio". Daily Record. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
17. ^ "Falkirk set to offer new contracts to Barr, Scobbie and Arfield". Daily Record. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
18. ^ "Falkirk 1–0 FC Vaduz". BBC Sport. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
19. ^ "Falkirk's Scobbie forced to rest". BBC Sport. 15 October 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
20. ^ "Tam Scobbie: I'm taking a break after 12 injections and two failed hernia operations". Daily Record. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
21. ^ "Tam Scobbie: I hope I'm fit enough after injury puzzle left me swollen". Daily Record. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
22. ^ "Dunfermline Athletic1-1 Falkirk". BBC Sport. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
23. ^ "Kilmarnock and St Mirren chasing Falkirk stopper Tam Scobbie". Daily Record. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
24. ^ a b "Falkirk 1–0 Hamilton". BBC Sport. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
25. ^ "Falkirk 3–2 Ayr United". BBC Sport. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
26. ^ "St Johnstone sign up full-back Tam Scobbie". BBC Sport. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
27. ^ "St Johnstone 1 – 2 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
28. ^ "Rosenborg 0 St Johnstone 1: Frazer Wright keeps Saints' Europa League hopes alive with crucial away goal". Daily Record. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
29. ^ "St Johnstone 0 – 1 Minsk". UEFA. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
30. ^ "SPFL: Tam Scobbie and Brian Easton sign new St Johnstone deals". Sky Sports. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
31. ^ "SPFL: Tam Scobbie offered two-game ban over alleged head-butt against Hearts". Sky Sports. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
32. ^ "St Johnstone defender Tam Scobbie will miss the club's next two games". Sky Sports. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
33. ^ "Wright facing defensive crisis". Evening Telegraph. 28 February 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
34. ^ "Luzern Switzerland 1 – 1 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
35. ^ "St Johnstone 1 – 1 Luzern (agg 2 – 2 ) (5 – 4 on penalty shoot-out)". BBC Sport. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
36. ^ "St Johnstone: Steven MacLean faces six months on sidelines". BBC Sport. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
37. ^ "St Johnstone 2 – 0 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
38. ^ "St Johnstone give Tam Scobbie a new two-year contract". BBC Sport. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
39. ^ "Welcome Thomas Scobbie". Dundee United FC. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
40. ^ Roache, Ian. "Dundee United defender Tam Scobbie joins Championship rivals Partick Thistle". The Courier. Dundee. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
41. ^ "Livingston: Chris Erskine says Partick Thistle 'will always be my team' as he moves from Firhill". 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
42. ^ "Evening Telegraph the Courier Combined".
43. ^ Oliver, David (13 September 2019). "Former Falkirk defender joins Barry Ferguson and Nathan Austin at Kelty Hearts". Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
44. ^ "Scottish League 2 ins & outs: Summer 2021". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
45. ^ "Tam Scobbie completes Shielfield move". Berwick Rangers Football Club. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
46. ^ "Bairns youngsters in Scots squad". The Falkirk Herald. 29 September 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
47. ^ "Scobbie holds Scotland hope". Sky Sports. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
48. ^ "Two graduates serve their country". The Falkirk Herald. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
49. ^ Tam Scobbie at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
50. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
51. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
52. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
53. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
54. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
55. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
56. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
57. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
58. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
59. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
60. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
61. ^ "Games played by Tam Scobbie in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Scobbie.

* Thomas Scobbie at Soccerbase

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals