Craig McGuffie

Summary

Craig McGuffie (born 15 December 1997) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Queen of the South.

Craig McGuffie
Personal information
Full name Craig Crawford McGuffie[1]
Date of birth (1997-12-15) 15 December 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth Irvine, Scotland
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Queen of the South
Youth career
Ayr United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2020 Ayr United 77 (5)
2015–2016Glenafton Athletic (loan) 27 (2)
2019Raith Rovers (loan) 13 (3)
2020–2021 Greenock Morton 20 (4)
2021–2023 Falkirk 62 (8)
2023– Queen of the South 11 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 January 2024 (UTC)

Career edit

McGuffie came through the Ayr United Football Academy. In January 2015, he signed with Glenafton Athletic on a loan deal that lasted until the end of the 2014–15 season.[2] He spent the majority of the following season at Glenafton again, having signed another one-year loan deal in August 2015, but returned to Ayr United to make his debut in the SPFL, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute for Alan Forrest in a 1–0 defeat to Albion Rovers.[3] In May 2016, McGuffie signed a new year-long deal, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2016–17 season.[4] During this season, McGuffie continued to make more appearances off the bench as he had impressed manager Ian McCall with his under-20s performances.[5]

McGuffie started his first game for Ayr on 23 July 2016, against Edinburgh City in the Scottish League Cup,[6] and followed this up with his first goal for the club in another League Cup win, this time over Livingston.[7] It would prove to be a breakthrough season for McGuffie but an unimpressive season for Ayr. The club were relegated on the final day of the season, but had a good run in the Scottish Cup, reaching the quarter-finals where they were knocked out by Hibernian. McGuffie scored a brilliant 25 yard goal which would eventually be crowned goal of the competition.

In the 2017–18 season McGuffie started off by scoring in a 6–1 demolition of Annan Athletic. He played a bit part role mainly coming on as a substitute, but found it hard to break in to the free scoring side. He did make an impact coming on against Queen's Park and scoring a brace in a 4–1 win for Ayr. He followed this up by playing the role of super-sub when he scored a late equaliser against Arbroath. This goal proved crucial as it sent Ayr to the top of the table on goal difference.

On 24 January 2019, McGuffie moved on loan to Raith Rovers until the end of the season.[8]

On 30 January 2020, McGuffie signed for Greenock Morton on an eighteen-month contract. [9]

During June 2021, McGuffie signed for Falkirk on a two-year deal. [10] On 04 March 2023, McGuffie scored a hat-trick against Peterhead after coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute; the first of these goals was a half volley scored from inside his own half.[11]

On 14 June 2023, McGuffie signed a one-year contract with Queen of the South. [12]

Career statistics edit

As of 22 September 2023
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
Ayr United 2014–15[13] Scottish League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16[14] 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2016–17[15] Scottish Championship 26 0 6 1 5 1 3[a] 1 40 3
2017–18[16] Scottish League One 29 3 3 0 4 1 2[a] 0 38 4
2018–19[17] Scottish Championship 9 0 2 0 4 0 1[a] 0 16 0
2019–20[18] 12 2 0 0 3 1 0 0 15 3
Total 77 5 11 1 16 3 6 1 110 10
Glenafton Athletic (loan) 2014–15[19] WSSL - Premier Division 8 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 10 0
2015–16[20] 19 2 0 0 0 0 15 7 34 9
Total 27 2 0 0 0 0 17 7 44 9
Raith Rovers (loan) 2018–19[18] Scottish League One 13 3 0 0 0 0 2[b] 0 15 3
Greenock Morton 2019–20[18] Scottish Championship 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
2020–21[21] 16 3 3 0 3 0 0 0 22 3
Total 20 4 3 0 3 0 0 0 26 4
Falkirk 2021-22 Scottish League One 34 4 1 0 2 0 1 0 38 4
2022-23 28 4 3 2 5 1 2 0 38 7
Total 62 8 4 2 7 1 3 0 76 11
Queen of the South 2023-24 Scottish League One 3 0 0 0 3 0 1 1 7 1
Career total 202 22 18 3 29 4 29 9 278 38
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in the Scottish Championship play-offs

References edit

  1. ^ Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  2. ^ "Player Profile – Craig McGuffie". Glenafton Athletic. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Ayr United 0 – 1 Albion Rovers". BBC Sport. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Wardrope & McGuffie Sign". Ayr United Football Club. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  5. ^ "The Emergence of Craig McGuffie". Ayr United Football Academy. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Ayr United 1 – 0 Edinburgh City". The Guardian. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Ayr United 2 – 0 Livingston". Sky Sports. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Craig McGuffie". Raith Rovers F.C. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Craig McGuffie signs for Morton – Greenock Morton". Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Craig Mcguffie Signs for Falkirk!".
  11. ^ "Falkirk 5-0 Peterhead: Craig McGuffie's stunning hat-trick steals the show as Bairns beat bottom club".
  12. ^ https://qosfc.com/news-6106
  13. ^ "Games played by Craig McGuffie in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Games played by Craig McGuffie in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Games played by Craig McGuffie in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Games played by Craig McGuffie in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  17. ^ "Games played by Craig McGuffie in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  18. ^ a b c "Games played by Craig McGuffie in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  19. ^ "2014/15 Appearances & Goals". Glenafton Athletic. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  20. ^ "2015/16 Appearances & Goals". Glenafton Athletic. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Games played by Craig McGuffie in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 April 2021.

External links edit

  • Craig McGuffie at Soccerbase
  • Craig McGuffie at Soccerway