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Blair Spittal

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Blair Spittal
Personal information
Full name Blair Thomas Spittal[1]
Date of birth (1995-12-19) 19 December 1995 (age 28)
Place of birth Erskine, Scotland[2]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Heart of Midlothian
Number 16
Youth career
2008–2010 Rangers
2010–2012 Queen's Park
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Queen's Park 52 (9)
2014–2017 Dundee United 82 (9)
2017–2019 Partick Thistle 69 (11)
2019–2022 Ross County 63 (8)
2020–2021 → Partick Thistle (loan) 8 (2)
2022–2024 Motherwell 73 (15)
2024– Heart of Midlothian 10 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 October 2024 (UTC)

Blair Thomas Spittal (born 19 December 1995) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian. He has previously played for Motherwell, Queen's Park, Dundee United, Partick Thistle and Ross County.

Early life and career

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Blair began playing for Erskine Boys Club and from there moved to Rangers. He spent two years there before joining Queen's Park's under-17 side.[3] He attended Park Mains High School in Erskine.

Club career

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Queen's Park

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At the age of 16 years old, Blair made his debut for Queen's Park away to Montrose on 17 November 2012.[4] He went on to make a total of 18 appearances that season,[5] scoring his only goal in a 5–3 win away to Elgin.[6]

The following season, he established himself as a first team regular, making 41 appearances and scoring 12 goals in the process.[5] This successful form saw him pursued by both of Dundee's Scottish Premiership clubs. Having agreed terms with both sides, he opted to join his ex-Queen's Park teammates Aidan Connolly and Andrew Robertson at Dundee United, over city rivals Dundee.[7]

Dundee United

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Having spent the first two games of the season as an unused substitute, Blair made his debut for the Terrors from the bench in the club's third game of the season away to Celtic on 16 August 2014.[8] Blair played in the United squad that faced relegation from the Premiership in 2016. He was part of the side that won the 2016–17 Scottish Challenge Cup as he played in the earlier third and fourth rounds, as well as the quarter-final. However, he missed out on both the semi-finals and the final due to injury.

Partick Thistle

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Blair joined Scottish Premiership club Partick Thistle on a two-year contract on 15 June 2017.[9] He scored three goals in his first three games for the club, scoring a brace against St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup, including a free kick.[10] He then scored in a 2–1 win away to Airdrieonians in the same competition.[11] Blair marked his league debut for Partick Thistle with 3 assists against Aberdeen in a 4–3 defeat. In his second league appearance for the club, he scored his first league goal away to Ross County in a 1–1 draw. Blair continued his form the week after with a goal direct from a free kick and another assist as ten-man Thistle grabbed a 2–2 draw with Rangers at Firhill, taking his overall club tally to 7 appearances, 5 goals and 4 assists in all competitions.[12] He then carried his form into the next league game by opening the scoring in a 1–1 draw with Hearts. He scored his fourth league goal of the campaign with another freekick, scoring the opener in a 3–2 home win against Motherwell.[13] On 26 February 2019, in the absence of Partick Thistle's regular club captain Stuart Bannigan, Blair donned on the armband as the club travelled to East End Park to take on Dunfermline. They ended up losing the game 3–0. Blair again lead the team out in a home game against Hearts in the Scottish Cup quarter-final which ended in a 1–1 draw, meaning that there would be a replay in Edinburgh. Blair rounded off the season with a total of 8 goals in all competitions, and was awarded the club's Player of the Year award. Blair informed the club that he intended to leave on 31 May 2019. In all competitions, he made 89 appearances for the Jags, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists.

Ross County

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On 4 June 2019, Blair signed for Ross County, agreeing a two-year contract.[14] He made his club debut in the Scottish League cup at home to Montrose, providing an assist. Three days later, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 away win to Brechin City. Just five days on, he bagged another assist in a 2–1 away win against the group favourites St. Johnstone. Ross County would finish top of their league cup group with the maximum twelve points and advance to round two. Blair would start his first Premiership game on the bench, but was subbed on after just 11 minutes to help his side defeat Hamilton 3–0.

Return to Partick Thistle

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On 7 October 2020, Blair made a return to former club Partick Thistle who, at the time, were in League One, on a loan deal until January.[15] Blair scored on his second debut for Partick Thistle just hours after he rejoined the club, scoring the equaliser in an eventual 4–1 defeat away to St. Mirren in their Scottish League Cup group stage.[16] Blair scored his first league goal in his second spell for Thistle, scoring the winner in a 2–1 home win over Airdrieonians in the second league game of the season, with a fantastic curled shot into the top corner from outside the box.[17] On 22 January 2021 Spittal was recalled to County following the suspension of the League one season.[18]

Return to Ross County

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Following his loan spell at Partick, Blair returned to Dingwall in January. From then and until the end of the season, he only made five appearances. Spittal became a first-team regular for the 2021–22 campaign and was given the number 7 shirt. On 17 May 2022 it was announced Spittal would leave Ross County at the end of his contract after three years having made 72 appearances for the club scoring 12 goals.[19]

Motherwell

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On 27 May 2022, it was announced that Spittal would join Motherwell on a two-year contract.[20] Spittal scored his first Motherwell goal in a 3–2 away win against Aberdeen and would score six times in the 2022–23 season.

In the 2023–24 season Spittal would record a career high 13 goals finishing as Motherwell 2nd top goalscorer. He won his first Scottish Premiership Player of the Month award in February 2024, after scoring 4 and assisting 2 in 5 games.

Heart of Midlothian

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On 21 March 2024, he agreed a pre-contract with Heart of Midlothian,[21] officially signing for the club on 20 June 2024 on a three-year contract.[22]

Career statistics

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As of 27 October 2024 [5]
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
Queen's Park 2012–13[23] Scottish Third Division 16 1 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 18 1
2013–14[24] Scottish League Two 36 8 3 4 1 0 1[b] 0 41 12
Total 52 9 3 4 1 0 3 0 59 13
Dundee United 2014–15[25] Scottish Premiership 25 2 2 0 3 0 — 30 2
2015–16[26] Scottish Premiership 33 5 4 1 2 1 — 39 7
2016–17[27] Scottish Championship 24 2 1 0 6 0 8[c] 3 39 5
Total 82 9 7 1 11 1 8 3 108 14
Partick Thistle 2017–18[28] Scottish Premiership 33 4 2 0 5 3 2[d] 0 42 7
2018–19[29] Scottish Championship 36 7 4 1 5 0 2[b] 0 45 8
Total 69 11 6 1 10 3 4 0 87 15
Ross County 2019–20[30] Scottish Premiership 20 2 1 0 5 2 — 26 4
2020–21[31] Scottish Premiership 9 1 0 0 0 0 – 9 1
2021–22[31] Scottish Premiership 34 5 1 0 2 2 – 37 7
Total 63 8 2 0 7 4 0 0 72 12
Partick Thistle (loan) 2020–21[31] Scottish League One 4 1 0 0 4 1 — 8 2
Motherwell 2023–23 Scottish Premiership 36 6 2 0 2 0 2 0 42 6
2023–24 Scottish Premiership 37 9 2 2 5 2 – 44 13
Total 73 15 4 2 7 2 2 0 86 19
Heart of Midlothian 2024–25 Scottish Premiership 10 2 0 0 1 0 4 1 15 3
Career total 347 55 22 8 39 9 21 4 429 76
  1. ^ Appearances in Scottish Second Division play-offs
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup
  3. ^ Three appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup, five appearances and three goals in Scottish Premiership play-offs
  4. ^ Appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs

Honours

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Club

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Dundee United

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  2. ^ "Blair Spittal player profile". Dundee United F.C. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  3. ^ Stewart, Craig (16 August 2013). "Spittal the latest to shine at Hampden". SPFL. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Blair Spittal". The Queen's Park Football Club. Archived from the original on 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "B. SPITTAL". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Elgin City 3–5 Queen's Park". BBC Sport. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Dundee United sign Blair Spittal from Queen's Park". BBC Sport. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  8. ^ Lamont, Alasdair (16 August 2014). "Celtic 6 1 Dundee Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  9. ^ Barrie, Douglas (15 June 2017). "Blair Spittal signs two-year deal with Partick Thistle". STV News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  10. ^ Campbell, Andy (22 July 2017). "Partick Thistle 5–0 St Mirren". BBC Sport.
  11. ^ "Livi progress with comfortable victory". BBC Sport.
  12. ^ Lewis, Jane (15 September 2017). "Partick Thistle 2–2 Rangers". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "Partick Thistle 3–2 Motherwell". BBC Sport. 13 December 2017.
  14. ^ Smith, Tyrone (4 June 2019). "Ross County: Blair Spittal out to 'rebuild reputation' after Partick Thistle exit". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Loan News: Blair Spittal joins on loan".
  16. ^ "St Mirren v Partick Thistle". BBC Sport.
  17. ^ "Partick Thistle v Airdrieonians". BBC Sport.
  18. ^ "Ross County sign Norwegian defender Leo Hjelde on loan from Celtic".
  19. ^ "Blair Spittal departs Ross County". Ross County FC. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Motherwell sign Blair Spittal after Ross County exit". BBC Sport. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  21. ^ Anderson, Barry (21 March 2024). "Three new signings for Hearts as Blair Spittal agrees a deal to move from Motherwell". Edinburgh Evening News.
  22. ^ "Spittal signs – Hearts". www.heartsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Games played by Blair Spittal in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  24. ^ "Games played by Blair Spittal in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  25. ^ "Games played by Blair Spittal in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Games played by Blair Spittal in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Games played by Blair Spittal in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  28. ^ "Games played by Blair Spittal in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  29. ^ "Games played by Blair Spittal in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  30. ^ "Games played by Blair Spittal in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  31. ^ a b c "Games played by Blair Spittal in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Falkirk and Rangers dominate team of the year voting". BBC Sport. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
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