Simon Lappin

Simon Lappin

Simon Lappin wearing the Championship winners medal after promotion with Norwich

Lappin celebrating promotion with Norwich City
Personal information
Date of birth (1983-01-25) 25 January 1983
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position Left back / Left winger
Club information
Current team
 St Johnstone
Number 4
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1997–2007 St Mirren 152 (9)
2007–2013 Norwich City 109 (2)
2008 → Motherwell (loan) 14 (2)
2012–2013 → Cardiff City (loan) 2 (0)
2013–2014 Cardiff City 0 (0)
2013–2014 → Sheffield United (loan) 9 (0)
2014– St Johnstone 37 (3)
National team‡
2004–2005 Scotland U21 10 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:07, 25 October 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:36, 22 October 2013 (UTC)

Simon Lappin (born 25 January 1983) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for St Johnstone. Born in Glasgow, Lappin began his career with St Mirren before moving to Norwich City in 2007. He has had short loan spells at Motherwell and Cardiff City before moving to Cardiff permanently in 2013. He was capped 10 times by the Scotland national under-21 football team.

Early life

Lappin was born in Glasgow and began his career at St Mirren whilst still at school. He had ambitions to stay-on at school, take his Highers and become an airline pilot, but St Mirren's Head of Youth Development at the time, Joe Hughes, who lived near to the Lappin family, persuaded his parents that he had the talent to make it in football and he left school to sign for the club.

Club career

St Mirren

Lappin was an unused substitute in several games during St Mirren's 2000–01 Scottish Premier League campaign. After relegation that season he was fast-tracked into the first team where his precision crosses from the left, both in open play and from set pieces led to a number of goals for team mates. He made the first of his ten Scotland Under-21 appearances during season 2003–04 and helped the club gain promotion to the Scottish Premier League for the 2006–07 season, after which he signed a two-year contract extension.[1] Lappin made more than 170 appearance for the Buddies before he was signed by Norwich City manager Peter Grant.

Norwich City

In January 2007 Lappin signed a two and a half-year deal with Norwich City for a fee of £100,000.[2] He made his debut for Norwich on 3 February at Carrow Road in a 2–1 win against Leeds United, in which he earned the official sponsor's Man of the Match award. Lappin then scored his first goal for Norwich against Luton Town on 27 February. City were awarded a free-kick in the 90th minute of the game at Kenilworth Road, with the scores level at 2–2, when Lappin curled in a match-winning goal. Lappin played in most of Norwich City's games under Peter Grant in the 2007–08 season, but when Grant was replaced by Glenn Roeder Lappin found himself out of favour after a 3–0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle. Lappin was one of six players criticised by Roeder after a 5–1 reserves defeat to Ipswich Town.

Lappin was loaned to Motherwell for the rest of the 2007–08 season on 31 January.[3] During this spell, he played 15 matches and scored two goals, including the only goal of the game in Motherwell's shock 1–0 win against Celtic at Celtic Park.[4] Somewhat surprisingly, Lappin remained at Norwich through the following summer. Despite the club's poor start to the 2008–09 season, he still failed to get near the first team, even being made to train with the youths by Roeder.[5] Many Norwich fans felt Lappin was being badly treated and should have been recalled to the team[6] After Bryan Gunn's appointment as Norwich manager, Lappin made his first appearance for Norwich's first team in 16 months on 21 March 2009, in a 1–1 draw against Birmingham City at St Andrew's. Although his performances were not enough to prevent the club being relegated to League One, Lappin signed a two-year contract extension with the club in June 2009.[7]

When Paul Lambert took over as Norwich manager early in the 2009–10 season, Lappin began to feature more regularly and ended up starting 42 league games, more than any other player, even captaining the side in a Football League Trophy match with Brentford when Grant Holt and Gary Doherty were both absent.[5][8] Lappin continued to play a prominent role in the Norwich City side during the 2010–11 season, signing another two-year contract extension in January 2011.[8] He was rushed into hospital on 19 February suffering with appendicitis and was ruled out of playing for a number of weeks.[9]

By the start of the 2011–12 season, players such as Andrew Surman and Elliott Bennett were regular choices, which resulted in Lappin only making four Premier League appearances, along with two substitute appearances in cup competitions. This included deputising at left back for the last two matches following injuries to both Marc Tierney and Adam Drury.

At the start of the 2012–13 season Lappin scored his first goal for the club in over five years in a Football League Cup tie against Scunthorpe United, beating Sam Slocombe with a powerful effort from the edge of the box.[10] He made his last appearance for the club on 5 January 2013, in a 3–0 win over Peterborough United in the third round of the FA Cup.[11]

During his time at Norwich, Lappin was given the nickname "King of Spain".[12]

Cardiff City

In November 2012, Lappin moved to Cardiff City on an emergency loan until 1 January 2013.[13] He made his debut for the club in a 2–1 victory at Barnsley, but was sent off after picking up two yellow cards, the first Cardiff player to be dismissed in over a year. Following Andrew Taylor's return to the side, Lappin was restricted to appearances on the bench, ensuring his second appearance for the Bluebirds didn't come until New Years Day in a 1–0 win at Birmingham City, which was his last before returning to Norwich the next day.[14]

In January 2013, Lappin was announced as a Cardiff City player having left Norwich by mutual consent earlier in the month.[15][16] In October 2013, Lappin signed for League One side Sheffield United on a month-long loan.[17] Having made five appearances for the South Yorkshire club in his first month, Lappin agreed to extend his stay until January 2014.[18] With his loan deal close to ending, Manager Nigel Clough insisted he would be willing to extend Lappin's loan spell until the end of the season.[19]

Following his loan spell at Sheffield United, Lappin never played for Cardiff again and at the end of the season, was released upon expiry of his contract.[20]

St Johnstone

After leaving Cardiff, Lappin was reported to be on trial with Rangers in August 2014,[21] however this was denied by Rangers manager Ally McCoist.[22] Lappin then signed a two-year contract with St Johnstone.[23] Upon signing, St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright said that the club had signed Lappin ahead of other clubs who were interested, including one in MLS in America.[24]

Lappin made his St Johnstone debut on 23 August 2014, coming on as a substitute for Scott Brown in the 72nd minute, in a 1–0 win over Aberdeen.[25]

Career statistics

As of 18 May 2015.[26]
Club Season League Cup[A] League Cup Other[B] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St Mirren 2001–02 Scottish First Division 1000000010
2002–03 340102120391
2003–04 244200020284
2004–05 341301010391
2005–06 35340204[27]2455
2006–07 Scottish Premier League 2411020——271
Total 1529110719217912
Norwich City 2006–07 Championship 1411000——151
2007–08 1510031——182
2008–09 500000——50
2009–10 League One 440202020500
2010–11 Championship 2701020——300
2011–12 Premier League 401010——60
2012–13 000011——11
Total 10925092201254
Motherwell (loan) 2007–08 Scottish Premier League 1421000——152
Cardiff City (loan) 2012–13 Championship 200000——20
Cardiff City 2012–13 000000——00
2013–14 Premier League 000000——00
Total 2000000020
Sheffield United (loan) 2013–14 League One 90200010120
St Johnstone 2014–15 Scottish Premiership 271202000311
St Johnstone 2014–15 Scottish Premiership 122210010153
Total--3091522118313237922
A. ^ Includes Scottish Cup and FA Cup.
B. ^ Includes Scottish Challenge Cup and Football League Trophy.

Honours

St Mirren
Norwich City

References

  1. ↑ "St Mirren pair sign new contracts". BBC Sport. 15 May 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Norwich net Lappin from St Mirren". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  3. ↑ "Norwich loan Lappin to Motherwell". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  4. ↑ 0–1 "Celtic 0–1 Motherwell" Check |url= value (help). BBC Sport. 5 April 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Lappin revels in Norwich return". BBC Sport. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "'Forgotten men' back in spotlight". Advertiser 24. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  7. ↑ "Lappin signs new Norwich contract". BBC Sport. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Norwich deals for Simon Lapin and Wes Hoolahan". BBC Sport. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Norwich City pair Simon Lappin and Chris Martin injured". BBC Sport. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Capital One Cup: Norwich City 2, Scunthorpe United 1". Eastern Daily Press. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "Peterborough United 0, Norwich City 3". Eastern Daily Press. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  12. ↑ http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/gallery-simon-lappin-611368.aspx
  13. ↑ "City land Lappin on loan". Cardiff City F.C. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  14. ↑ "Malky Mackay pondering Cardiff City defensive cover". BBC Sport. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Lappin Signs Permanent City Deal". Cardiff City F.C. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Simon Lappin leaves Norwich City". Eastern Daily Press. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  17. ↑ "Lappin arrives on loan". Sheffield United F.C. 4 October 2013. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "Lappin loan extended". Sheffield United FC Official Web Site. 4 November 2013. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  19. ↑ "Porter praised". Sheffield United FC Official Web Site. 2 January 2014. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  20. ↑ "Tommy Smith and Simon Lappin to leave Cardiff City, but Don Cowie has been offered a new contract". Wales Online. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  21. ↑ "St Johnstone sign Simon Lappin". The Courier. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  22. ↑ "Ally McCoist keen to keep Lee Wallace as Rangers deny bids for defender". STV Sport. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  23. ↑ St Johnstone: Simon Lappin agrees deal after Cardiff exit, BBC Sport
  24. ↑ "St Johnstone fought off MLS interest to sign midfielder Simon Lappin". STV Sport. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  25. ↑ "St Johnstone 1 – 0 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  26. ↑ "Simon Lappin". Soccerbase. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  27. ↑ Includes 1 appearance not recorded on Soccerbase. "Queen of the South 1-2 St Mirren". BBC Sport. 31 August 2005. Retrieved 9 February 2015.

External links

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