Richard Tait (footballer)

For the British journalist, see Richard Tait.

Richard Tait
Tait in 2010
Personal information
Full name Richard Neil Peter Tait[1]
Date of birth (1989-12-02) 2 December 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Galashiels, Scotland
Position(s) Centre-back, full-back
Youth career
Curzon Ashton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Curzon Ashton
2008–2009 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
2009 → Tamworth (loan) 4 (1)
2009–2013 Tamworth 157 (6)
2013–2015 Cambridge United 72 (0)
2015–2016 Grimsby Town 37 (0)
2016–2020 Motherwell 103 (3)
2020–2023 St. Mirren 72 (2)
Total 445+ (12+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richard Neil Peter Tait (born 2 December 1989) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a full-back.

He played professionally for Nottingham Forest, Cambridge United, Grimsby Town, Motherwell and St. Mirren. He has also played non-league football for Curzon Ashton and Tamworth.

Playing career

Early years

Born in Galashiels, Tait began his career with Ashton-under-Lyne side Curzon Ashton. In January 2008, Tait was signed on a youth contract by Nottingham Forest.[2] On 28 March 2009, Tait joined Conference North side Tamworth on loan.[3] At the end of the 2008–09 Tait was released by Forest.[4]

Tamworth

Tait was snapped up by Conference North side Tamworth following the successful loan.[5] He appeared regularly for the side, and helped Tamworth gain promotion from the Conference North as champions in the 2008–09 season.[6]

He signed a new deal in February 2012.[7]

Cambridge United

On 8 May 2013 Tait joined Cambridge United.[8] He appeared in 35 league matches during the season, helping the club return to League Two, being a part of the team that won promotion by winning the 2014 Conference Premier play-off final.[9] On 8 August 2014 Tait played in Cambridge's first match back in League Two, starting in a 1–0 home win against Plymouth Argyle.[10] At the end of the 2014–15 season the club did not offer him a new deal when his contract expired.[11][12]

Grimsby Town

On 30 June 2015, Tait signed for Conference National side Grimsby Town.[13]

Tait played in Grimsby's 3–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers in the 2016 National League play-off final at Wembley, seeing Grimsby promoted to League Two after a six-year absence from the Football League.[14][15]

Motherwell

On 23 June 2016, Tait signed for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell, agreeing a three-year contract.[16] He scored his first goal for Motherwell on 29 October 2016, in a 4–1 win over Ross County.[17] In his last season at Motherwell he helped the Steelmen finish third in the Scottish Premiership which got them into the Europa League qualifiers.

St. Mirren

On 18 June 2020, Tait signed for Scottish Premiership club St. Mirren, on a two-year deal.[18]

Tait announced his retirement from professional football following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season.[19]

Career statistics

As of 27 May 2023[20][21]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Curzon Ashton 2007–08 NPL Division One North 0 0 0 0 – 0 0 0 0
Nottingham Forest 2007–08 League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2008–09 Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tamworth (loan) 2008–09 Conference North 4 1 0 0 – 0 0 4 1
Tamworth 2009–10 Conference Premier 41 3 0 0 – 0 0 41 3
2010–11 41 1 4 0 – 1[a] 0 46 1
2011–12 41 1 4 0 – 1[a] 0 46 1
2012–13 34 1 1 0 – 3[a] 0 38 1
Total 157 7 9 0 0 0 5[a] 0 171 7
Cambridge United 2013–14 Conference Premier 35 0 3 0 – 5 0 43 0
2014–15 League Two 37 0 6 0 1 0 1[b] 0 45 0
Total 72 0 9 0 1 0 6 0 88 0
Grimsby Town 2015–16 National League 37 0 4 0 – 10[c] 0 51 0
Motherwell 2016–17 Scottish Premiership 25 1 1 0 5 0 – 31 1
2017–18 34 1 5 0 7 1 – 46 2
2018–19 38 1 1 0 6 1 – 45 2
2019–20 14 0 2 0 4 0 – 20 0
Total 111 3 9 0 22 2 0 0 142 5
St Mirren 2020–21 Scottish Premiership 33 1 3 0 7 1 – 43 2
2021–22 27 0 2 0 1 0 – 30 0
2022–23 12 1 0 0 2 0 – 14 1
Total 72 2 5 0 10 1 0 0 87 3
Career total 453 12 36 0 33 3 21 0 543 15
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  3. ^ Seven appearances in FA Trophy, three in National League play-offs

Honours

Club

Tamworth
Cambridge United
Grimsby Town

References

  1. ^ "The Football League Retained List". The Football League. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Taits' dream switch". Manchester Evening News. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Lambs bolster squad ahead of a tough week". Tamworth F.C. 28 March 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  4. ^ "Sinclair and Newbold leave Forest". BBC Sport. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Five more sign up, as reserve team boss departs for pastures new". Tamworth F.C. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  6. ^ "Wright secures Tamworth promotion". BBC Sport. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Defender Richard Tait signs new Tamworth deal". BBC Sport. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Sam-Yorke and Tait Sign Up". Cambridge United F.C. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Cambridge United return to Football League with win over Gateshead". The Guardian. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Cambridge 1–0 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Richard Tait leaves Cambridge United". Cambridge News. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  12. ^ "U's retained list confirmed". Cambridge United. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Tait Becomes Number Five". Grimsby Town F.C. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Forest Green 1–3 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Grimsby secure promotion back to Football League at Wembley". Sky Sports. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  16. ^ "'Well announce a trio of signings". Motherwell F.C. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  17. ^ "Motherwell win their first league game in four against Ross County". STV News. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  18. ^ "St Mirren: Richard Tait adds experience to Buddies' defence". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Ex-Motherwell & St Mirren player Richard Tait announces retirement". July 2023.
  20. ^ Richard Tait at Soccerbase
  21. ^ Richard Tait at Soccerway
  22. ^ Lavery, Glenn (23 March 2014). "Donaldson at the double for Cambridge in FA Trophy Final". The FA. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  23. ^ Alan Smith (22 May 2016). "Scott McManus strikes for Halifax to beat Grimsby in FA Trophy final". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
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