Chris Erskine Explained

Chris Erskine
Birth Date:1987 2, df=y
Birth Place:Rutherglen, Scotland
Currentclub:St Cadoc's
Position:Attacking Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Clyde
Youthclubs2:Calderwood Blue Star
Years1:2005–2009
Clubs1:Kilbirnie Ladeside
Years2:2009–2013
Clubs2:Partick Thistle
Caps2:137
Goals2:26
Years3:2013–2016
Clubs3:Dundee United
Caps3:57
Goals3:8
Years4:2014
Clubs4:Partick Thistle (loan)
Caps4:15
Goals4:2
Years5:2016–2019
Clubs5:Partick Thistle
Caps5:82
Goals5:13
Years6:2019–2020
Clubs6:Livingston
Caps6:19
Goals6:1
Years7:2020–2022
Clubs7:East Kilbride
Caps7:11
Goals7:3
Clubs8:Partick Thistle (loan)
Years8:2021
Caps8:2
Goals8:0
Years9:2022–
Clubs9:St Cadoc's
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Club-Update:22:10, 1 January 2022 (UTC)

Chris Erskine (born 8 February 1987) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for West of Scotland League club St Cadoc's.

He is most associated for his various spells with Partick Thistle. He has also previously played for junior side Kilbirnie Ladeside where he began his career, Dundee United, Livingston and East Kilbride.

Early life

Erskine was born in Rutherglen. He was briefly a youth player with Clyde aged around 12 or 13 before joining Calderwood Blue Star, a boys' team in East Kilbride.[1]

Playing career

Erskine joined junior football team Kilbirnie Ladeside at the age of 18. Having spent four years at Kilbirnie while also working as a pipe fitter at Glasgow shipyards,[2] he signed a one-year contract with Partick Thistle at the start of season 2009–10.[3] He made his professional debut against Airdrie United,[4] and in his home debut against Berwick Rangers scored twice in a 5–1 victory.[5] [2] On 9 April 2011, Erskine scored two goals in ten minutes against Falkirk. On 17 March 2012, he made his 100th appearance for Thistle and scored two goals in the 5–0 win at Palmerston Park over Queen of the South.

On 16 April 2013 it was announced that Erskine, along with Thistle teammate Paul Paton, had signed a pre-contract agreement with Dundee United and would join at the start of the 2013–14 season.[6] He scored his first goal for Dundee United in a 4–0 win against St Mirren. On 20 January 2014, Erskine returned to Partick Thistle on loan until the end of the season, after failing to secure a regular place in the Dundee United team.[7] Returning to Dundee United for the 2014–15 season, Erskine scored in their first game of the season, a 3–0 win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.[8]

After signing a pre-contract agreement in January 2016, Erskine rejoined Partick Thistle permanently in June 2016. The first goal of his third spell at the club came on the first day of the 2016–17 Scottish Premiership season, in a 2–0 victory at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. In December 2016 he made his 200th appearance for Thistle.[2] The season ended with the club achieving a top six finish, Erskine making 42 appearances and scoring 9 goals in all competitions.

Erskine was confirmed as Thistle's player of the year for the 2017–18 season, despite having stated he was 'embarrassed' to be nominated after the club's poor performances over the campaign;[9] ultimately they were relegated to the Championship after losing the play-off against Livingston.[10] He left Partick Thistle in January 2019 after falling out of favour with new manager Gary Caldwell,[11] joining Premiership club Livingston in January 2019 for a nominal transfer fee and signing an eighteen-month contract.[12]

Erskine joined his hometown club, East Kilbride of the Lowland League, in July 2020.[13] In March 2021, he began his fourth spell with Partick Thistle, now managed by Ian McCall, joining on loan from East Kilbride until the end of the season.[14] He only made two substitute appearances, suffering a hamstring injury in a game against Forfar Athletic which ruled him out for the remainder of the season. After Thistle won the League One title, Erskine returned to East Kilbride.[15] He left East Kilbride in June 2022 after being unable to agree terms on a new contract,[16] subsequently signing for West of Scotland League club St Cadoc's.[17]

Personal life

His younger brother Liam McLaughlin is also a footballer who has played in the Junior leagues for East Kilbride Thistle.[18]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Partick Thistle2009–10Scottish First Division34110223[19] 0403
2010–11347411000388
2011–12357312020428
2012–1334112021544316
Total137261027310416435
Dundee United2013–14Scottish Premiership81001091
2014–153464131418
2015–161513000181
Total5787141006810
Partick Thistle (loan)2013–14Scottish Premiership15200152
Partick Thistle2016–17Scottish Premiership3652242429
2017–1828520521[20] 0367
2018–19Scottish Championship183004020243
Total8213421343010219
Livingston2018–19Scottish Premiership1011000111
2019–20901030130
Total191203000241
Career total3105023527813437367

Honours

Club

Partick Thistle

Individual

2012–13

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Erskine Bridges the gap to full-time football. 9 November 2015. Scottish Football League. 8 April 2011.
  2. Web site: From the shipyards to the Premiership – Chris Erskine on his 200th appearance for Partick Thistle. Evening Times . 22 December 2016. 3 September 2018.
  3. Web site: Jags sign up Kilbirnie midfielder. BBC Sport. 20 May 2009. 7 November 2013.
  4. News: Debut Match Report. ptfc.co.uk. 25 July 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090728151710/http://www.ptfc.co.uk/matches/seasons/2009-2010/matches/2507_airdrie_united/match_report. 28 July 2009.
  5. News: Home Debut Report . PTFC . 1 August 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090804205824/http://www.ptfc.co.uk/matches/seasons/2009-2010/matches/0108_berwick_rangers/match_report . 4 August 2009 .
  6. Web site: Partick Thistle's Chris Erskine and Paul Paton to join Dundee United. BBC Sport. 16 April 2013. 7 November 2013.
  7. Web site: Partick Thistle: Chris Erskine returns to Firhill on loan . BBC Sport . 20 January 2014 . 20 January 2014.
  8. Web site: Aberdeen 0–3 Dundee Utd. BBC Sport. McLeod. Liam. 10 August 2014. 11 August 2014.
  9. Web site: Partick Thistle's Chris Erskine crowned POTY – after saying he'd be embarrassed to win gong. Daily Record. 23 April 2018. 3 September 2018.
  10. Web site: Partick Thistle 0 – 1 Livingston (agg 1-3): Hopkin's men seal promotion. The Scotsman. 20 May 2018. 3 September 2018.
  11. Web site: Chris Erskine.
  12. News: Livingston: Chris Erskine says Partick Thistle 'will always be my team' as he moves from Firhill . BBC Sport . 15 January 2019 . 15 January 2019.
  13. Web site: McFarlane. Jonathan. Bryce. Liam. 2020-07-14. Transfer news LIVE: All the latest rumours and done deals. 2020-07-14. Daily Record.
  14. Web site: 12 March 2021. Loan News: Steven Bell and Chris Erskine join on loan. live. 12 March 2021. ptfc.co.uk. https://web.archive.org/web/20210313112328/https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/loan-news-steven-bell-and-chris-erskine-join-on-loan/ . 13 March 2021 .
  15. Web site: Loan Update.
  16. News: McGilvray . Andy . Partick Thistle hero Chris Erskine left EK as timing wasn't right, says boss . 3 August 2022 . Daily Record . 4 June 2022.
  17. St Cadoc's Youth Club . St Cadoc's Y.C. . The_Senior_Team . 1534204099402539008 . Welcome to St Cadoc's Chris Erskine . 7 June 2022 . 3 August 2022.
  18. Web site: Dundee United ace Chris Erskine tips brother Liam to follow in his footsteps after shining for East Kilbride Thistle. Daily Record / East Kilbride News . 21 April 2016. 3 September 2018.
  19. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  20. Appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs