Jim McAlister (Scottish footballer)

Jim McAlister
Personal information
Full name James Duncan McAlister
Date of birth (1985-11-02) 2 November 1985
Place of birth Rothesay, Scotland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Blackpool
Number 4
Youth career
Livingston
Rothesay Brandanes
Linwood Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2002–2010 Greenock Morton 224 (16)
2010–2012 Hamilton Academical 54 (1)
2012–2015 Dundee 111 (9)
2015– Blackpool 23 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:18, 4 January 2016 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

James Duncan "Jim" McAlister (born 2 November 1985 in Rothesay) is a Scottish footballer who plays for Blackpool.

McAlister, although predominantly right footed, played on the left hand side of midfield whilst at Greenock Morton and was transformed into a right wing back while at Hamilton Academical. At Dundee he established himself as a centre midfielder.

Career

Greenock Morton

McAlister made his Morton début as a substitute against Peterhead at Cappielow Park on 28 December 2002 at 17 years old.[1] His first start was made a few months later on 15 February 2003 away at Elgin City as an attacker.

Over the next couple of seasons McAlister flirted with the first team while playing regularly for Morton's reserve side. Morton manager John McCormack introduced McAlister to the Morton first team as a result of his performances in the reserve team.

By season 2004/05 McAlister had forced his way into Morton's first team and such were his performances that he went on to start in every league match that season; barring one in which he appeared as a substitute. As a result, he was offered a new three-year contract which he signed in July 2004.

Some of his performances led to comparisons with Barcelona player Ronaldinho and resulted in a number of fans giving him the, tongue-in-cheek, nickname 'Jimaldinho'.[2]

McAlister started 107 consecutive league (including the two playoff games against Peterhead in 2006) matches for Morton, with the last game he missed being the meaningless game against Forfar Athletic at the end of the 2005–2006 season.[3] However, this run came to an end as he missed the game on 2 May 2009, due to suspension for accumulating five yellow cards.

On 21 July 2009, after a friendly loss to Romania's champions Unirea Urziceni, McAlister was approached by head coach Dan Petrescu to join Unirea, also offering him the chance to play in the UEFA Champions League.[4]

McAlister went on trial to Football League Championship side Watford in August 2009.[5]

Watford manager Malky Mackay told the club that they intended to keep an eye on McAlister over the weeks following the trial.[6]

He has also attracted interest from Morton's rivals St Mirren, as claimed by the Greenock Telegraph towards the end of the January 2010 transfer window.[7]

In April 2010, McAlister broke his foot in a 3–3 draw with Queen of the South.[8]

Hamilton Academical

He was released by Morton at the end of the 2009–10 season,[9] and joined Hamilton Academical.[10] He scored his first and only goal for the club in a 5-1 loss at Ross County on 28 April 2012.[11]

Dundee

After his release by Hamilton, McAlister went on trial at English side Carlisle United after being recommended by former boss at Morton, Davie Irons[12] and then trained at his previous club Greenock Morton.[13] In August 2012, he signed for Scottish Premier League side Dundee.[14] At Dundee, he went on to be an almost ever present in the midfield, playing 123 times, scoring 12 times.

Blackpool

McAlister signed with Blackpool on 29 July 2015 after playing three pre-season friendlies for them. He joined on a free transfer in a two-year deal with an option for a third year.[15]

Honours

Morton

2006–07
2002–03

Dundee

2013–14

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Morton 1–0 Peterhead". Soccerbase. Retrieved 16 September 2008.
  2. ↑ "Jim McAlister profile". gmfc.net. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2008.
  3. ↑ "Forfar 0–2 Morton". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  4. ↑ Law, Gareth (22 July 2009). "Cappielow: Gateway to Europe". The Scottish Sun. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  5. ↑ Smith, Frank (4 August 2009). "Watford have taken Greenock Morton's Jim McAlister on trial". Watford Observer. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  6. ↑ "McAlister wants to stay in UK". Greenock Telegraph. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  7. ↑ "Search for new striker goes on". Greenock Telegraph. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  8. ↑ "McAlister out for season". Scottish Football League. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  9. ↑ "Brian Graham signs new Ton deal". Greenock Telegraph. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  10. ↑ "Jack Ross secures contract at Hamilton Accies". BBC Sport. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  11. ↑ "Ross County 5-1 Hamilton". BBC Sport. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "Scottish pair link up with Carlisle Utd. on trial". News & Star. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  13. ↑ "MEET JIM". dundeefc.co.uk. Dundee F.C. 5 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "Jim McAlister makes Dundee debut after becoming latest signing". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "Midfielder Agrees Blackpool Deal" - Blackpool Gazette, 29 July 2015

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