Colin Stewart (footballer)

Colin Stewart
Personal information
Full name Colin James Stewart
Date of birth (1980-01-10) 10 January 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Rangers (1st Team Goalkeeper Coach)
Youth career
Dreghorn Boys Club
Kilmarnock
1996–1999 Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2003 Kilmarnock 1 (0)
2000 → Clydebank (loan) 4 (0)
2000 → Alloa Athletic (loan) 16 (0)
2000–2001 → Queen's Park (loan) 13 (0)
2001 → Hamilton Academical (loan) 2 (0)
2001 → Stranraer (loan) 1 (0)
2002 → Queen's Park (loan) 16 (0)
2003–2005 Ross County 37 (0)
2005–2006 Partick Thistle 12 (0)
2006 Grindavik 1 (0)
2006–2008 Livingston 40 (0)
2008–2012 Greenock Morton 77 (0)
2013 Stranraer (trialist) 3 (0)
2013 Cowdenbeath 5 (0)
2013 Airdrieonians 3 (0)
2013–2014 Raith Rovers 2 (0)
Total 230 (0)
International career
2001 Scotland U21 1 (0)
Managerial career
2012–2013 Al-Khor SC (goalkeeping coach)
2014 Kilwinning Rangers (co-manager)
2015–2017 Rangers (Head of Academy goalkeeping)
2017– Rangers (Goalkeeping coach)
2021 Rangers (joint-caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Colin James Stewart (born 10 January 1980) is a Scottish former professional goalkeeper, who was co-manager at Kilwinning Rangers in the Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region. He is currently goalkeeping coach at Scottish Premiership club Rangers.

Stewart gained one U21 international cap for Scotland.

Early life

Stewart is the son of former Scotland goalkeeper Jim Stewart.[1] Stewart was born in England when his father was playing for Middlesbrough. The Stewarts returned to Scotland later on that year, when Jim signed for Rangers.[citation needed]

Playing career

Club

Stewart started his career with Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock, but could not win the place as their starting goalkeeper. He was loaned out to a number of lower division clubs, namely Clydebank, Alloa Athletic, Queen's Park and Hamilton Academical. Since 2003 he has played more regularly, mainly at the First Division level. Stewart was first choice goalkeeper throughout the second half of season 2006–07 for First Division side Livingston, where he played the last dozen or so games after ousting Mariusz Liberda from the number one jersey. After being released by Livingston's new owners, Stewart signed for Division One rivals Morton in May 2008.[2]

Stewart was originally expected to be the first choice goalkeeper for season 2008–09, however after a shaky début against Clyde at Broadwood on 2 August 2008,[3] he was dropped for the former St Johnstone goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert, who was listed as a trialist on the substitutes bench for that game. After this he spent most of his début season in the stand, with manager Davie Irons preferring to list youth players Kieran Cannon and Ryan McWilliams as the back-up goalkeepers to Cuthbert. Despite having a year left on his contract with Morton, he was told in May 2009 that he was free to find another club.[4]

Since then he turned himself into the club's first choice goalkeeper, and signed a new contract in June 2010.[5] He was released by the club in May 2012 and claimed that the signing of Alan Combe in March, after he sustained a broken toe, forced him to leave the club to find regular football elsewhere.[6]

Stewart became a goalkeeping coach in Qatar, with Al-Khor Sports Club in August 2013.[7] Stewart returned to Scotland during February 2013, playing three trial matches for Stranraer before signing for Cowdenbeath. After leaving Central Park, Stewart signed for Airdrieonians after a free transfer on 8 June 2013 and signed a one-year contract.[8] On 27 August 2013, after the club's League Cup second round defeat at home to Livingston, Stewart had to be restrained by stewards as he argued with a fan as he headed up the tunnel at full-time. On 30 August 2013, Stewart departed the club by mutual consent.[9][10]

On 9 November 2013, it was announced that Stewart had signed for Raith Rovers.[11]

International

Stewart made one appearance for the Scotland u21 side keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Latvia.[12] Stewart now coaches the goalkeepers for the Scotland U15 side.[13]

Coaching career

Stewart was appointed as co-manager of Junior club Kilwinning Rangers in February 2014 alongside former Queen of the South and Ayr United player Chris Strain.[14]

Stewart joined the Rangers F.C. Academy becoming the head of Academy goalkeeping, before being promoted to first-team goalkeeping coach by Graeme Murty in 2017.[15]

Personal life

Stewart is married to women's football star Julie Fleeting. They have three daughters named Ella, Sophia and Matilda.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Tait, Chris (10 May 2012). "Stewart: I had to leave Ton". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Keeper Stewart heads for Morton". BBC Sport. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  3. ^ "Clyde 1–1 Morton". BBC Sport. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  4. ^ Graham, Roger (15 May 2009). "No movement yet on players at Cappielow". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Player News - Colin Stewart". gmfc.net. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 7 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  6. ^ Steele, Russell (8 May 2012). "Players axed at Morton". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  7. ^ Macdonald, Kenny (2 December 2012). "It's brotherly glove as ex-Morton keeper Colin Stewart enlists help of goalie brothers to run academy". Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Airdrie sign up shot stopper". Scottish Football League. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Airdrieonians 0 Livingston 2 match review - Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser". www.acadvertiser.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Squad Movement". www.airdriefc.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013.
  11. ^ "Murray Strengthens Squad". Raith Rovers FC. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Late goal gives Scots victory". BBC Sport. 5 October 2001. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  13. ^ "Colin Stewart signs". Cowdenbeath F.C. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  14. ^ Wilson, Fraser (27 February 2014). "Kilwinning appoint Strain and Stewart". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  15. ^ "Colin Stewart". Rangers F.C. Retrieved 27 September 2021.