Stuart Bannigan

Stuart Bannigan

Personal information
Date of birth	17 September 1992
Place of birth	Bishopbriggs, Scotland
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Partick Thistle
Number	8
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2010–	Partick Thistle	139	(8)
2010–2011	→ Ayr United (loan)	17	(4)
National team
2013	Scotland U21	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:47, 27 February 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Stuart Bannigan (born 17 September 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Partick Thistle in the Scottish Premiership as a midfielder.^[1] A product of Thistle's youth setup, Bannigan played his first professional season on loan at the then Scottish Second Division side Ayr United. He has also played for the Scotland U21 national team.

Career

Partick Thistle

Bannigan made his first team debut as a substitute on 24 July 2010 against Clyde in the Scottish Challenge Cup.^[2] Going on to make his league debut for Partick Thistle from the start on 11 September 2010 against Stirling in the Scottish First Division.^[3] He made one more appearance^[4] before being sent out on loan to Scottish Second Division side Ayr United.

Following his loan spell at Ayr United, Bannigan would be often used in first team ins and out in the 2011–12 season. After the last game of last season in which he scored his first thistle goal in against Hamilton Academical, which the results was 2–2.^[5]

In the 2012–13 season, Bannigan was on a high and scored his first goal of the season against Queens Park at Hampden Park in a 5–4 thriller, in the second round of the Scottish Challenge Cup. Just a week later, on 25 August 2012, Bannigan set up a goal for Kris Doolan before scoring the goal for himself, in a 3–0 win over Dumbarton.^[6] In a match against Falkirk, on 27 October 2012, Bannigan suffered a leg injury in the first half and was substituted. Forty-eight-hour later, Bannigan revealed he passed his driving test.^[7] Though it was serious at first, Bannigan managed to escape the injury, which he describe it as "relived".^[8] Soon after, on 24 November 2012, Bannigan scored his second league goal of the season, in a 2–0 win over Livingston.^[9] Then, the next game, on 15 December 2012, Bannigan scored his third goal of the season, in a 3–2 win over Raith Rovers.^[10] Later in the 2012–13 season, Bannigan's great skilful play and accurate passing led to Stuart winning the club's Young player of the year, including City Centre, Jagscast and JordanHill;^[11] and attracting attention from Top Barclays Premier League clubs such as Aston Villa and Hull City. Bannigan cemented his place in the Scottish under twenty one starting eleven squad after Thistle won the Scottish First Division gaining Promotion to the Scottish Premier League. Bannigan is one of Scotland's top young talents. Bannigan was then involved in the Scottish Challenge Cup final against Queen of the South, which Bannigan then came-off in extra half-time, as Partick lose the final. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Bannigan was among with team-mates to be named as PFA Scotland Team of the Year in Scottish First Division, representing Partick Thistle.^[12] It couldn't get better for Bannigan as he signed a new two-year contract at Thistle in June 2013.^[13]

In September 2013, Bannigan was awarded the Scottish Premiership Young Player award.^[14]

On 14 May 2014, Banningan signed a new two-year deal with the Jags.^[15] Bannigan made his 100th league appearance for Partick Thistle against Hamilton Academical at Firhill Stadium on the 23rd of August 2014

Ayr United (loan)

On 4 November 2010 Bannigan joined Ayr United on a one-month loan deal.^[16] He made his debut against Dumbarton on 13 November 2010.^[17] After only 5 games his loan was extended until the end of the season.^[18] Bannigan made 24 Appearances scoring 4 goals to help Ayr gain promotion to the Scottish First Division via the play-offs.^[19]

International career

Bannigan, along with team-mate Stephen O'Donnell, was called up by Billy Stark for the Scotland U21 squad.^[20] Bannigan played his first match international debut, in a 1–1 draw against Greece U21.^[21] He was also called up for an under-21 match against England.

Career statistics

As of 23 May 2015^[22]

Club statistics

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Partick Thistle	2010–11	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	4	0
	2011–12	14	1	2	0	1	0	1	0	18	1
	2012–13	33	3	1	0	2	0	5	1	41	4
	2013–14	33	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	35	0
	2014–15	36	3	2	0	3	0	0	0	41	3
	Total	118	7	5	0	8	0	8	1	139	8
Ayr United (loan)	2010–11	17	4	4	1	0	0	4	0	25	5
Career total		135	11	9	1	8	0	12	1	164	13

Honours

Partick Thistle

• Scottish First Division: 1

2012–13

• Scottish Football League Young Player of the Month:

January 2013

References

1. "Partick Thistle Profile". Partick Thistle. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
2. "Partick V Clyde". Partick Thistle. 24 July 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
3. "Partick Thistle 1–2 Stirling Albion". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
4. "Partick Thistle 1–0 Cowdenbeath". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
5. "Hamilton 2–2 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
6. "Partick Thistle 3–0 Dumbarton". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
7. "Partick Thistle ace passes driving test 48 hours after 'leg-breaking' tackle". Daily Record. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
8. "Partick Thistle Ace Stuart Bannigan Relieved To Avoid Serious Injury After Shock Challenge". The Glaswgian. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
9. "Partick Thistle 2 Livingston 0: Jags produce inspired second-half performance to stay top". Daily Record. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
10. "Partick Thistle 3 Raith Rovers 2: Jackie McNamara far from happy despite win". Daily Record. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
11. "Player of the Year Awards". Partick Thistle F.C. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
12. "Partick Thistle Boss Alan Archibald Set To Retire From First Team Playing Duties As Jags Head For SPL". The Glaswegian. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
13. "Partick Thistle: Stuart Bannigan signs new contract". BBC Sport. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
14. "Butcher voted Manager of Month". SPFL.co.uk. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
15. "Stuart Bannigan Signs Contract Extension". Partick Thistle FC. 14 May 2014.
16. "Opportunity knocks for loan-kid Stu". Evening Times. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
17. "Dumbarton V Ayr". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
18. "Bannigan Loan Extended". Partick Thistle. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
19. "Ayr United seal promotion to the First Division". Stv. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
20. "Partick Thistle duo included in Scotland Under-21 squad". Daily Record. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
21. "Greece Under-21 1 Scotland Under-21 1: Scots fight back from a goal down to earn a draw". Daily Record. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
22. "Soccerway Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 June 2013.

External links

• Stuart Bannigan career statistics at Soccerbase