Josh McPake explained

Josh McPake
Full Name:Joshua McPake[1]
Birth Date:31 August 2001
Birth Place:Coatbridge, Scotland
Position:Winger
Currentclub:St Johnstone
Clubnumber:24
Youthclubs1:Rangers
Years1:2019–2023
Clubs1:Rangers
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2019–2020
Clubs2:Dundee (loan)
Caps2:7
Goals2:0
Years3:2020–2021
Clubs3:Greenock Morton (loan)
Caps3:6
Goals3:0
Years4:2021
Clubs4:Harrogate Town (loan)
Caps4:23
Goals4:4
Years5:2021–2022
Clubs5:Morecambe (loan)
Caps5:5
Goals5:0
Years6:2022
Clubs6:Tranmere Rovers (loan)
Caps6:14
Goals6:1
Years7:2022–2023
Clubs7:Queen's Park (loan)
Caps7:27
Goals7:3
Years8:2024
Clubs8:Stirling Albion
Caps8:12
Goals8:4
Club-Update:17:44, 20 June 2024 (UTC)
Nationalyears1:2017–2018
Nationalteam1:Scotland U17
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2015–2017
Nationalteam2:Scotland U18
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019–2020
Nationalteam3:Scotland U19
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:1
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:St Johnstone
Caps9:0
Goals9:0

Joshua McPake (born 31 August 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a winger for club St Johnstone.

McPake started his career at Rangers and has had several loans spells with Dundee, Greenock Morton, Harrogate Town, Morecambe, Tranmere Rovers and Queen's Park respectively. After departing Rangers, McPake played for Stirling Albion on a short-term deal, before joining St Johnstone the following season.

Club career

Rangers

Early career

A youth product of Rangers who was their Academy Player of the Year for 2018–19[2] having won the SPFL Reserve League, the Under-18 League and the Scottish Youth Cup in that season plus the Glasgow Cup in the prior campaign,[2] McPake signed a new contract on 10 July 2019, which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2022.[3] A week later he made his debut in a qualifying match against Gibraltese St Joseph's at Ibrox, coming on as a 67th minute substitute for Greg Docherty.[4]

Loan spells

On 20 August 2019, McPake joined Scottish Championship side Dundee on a loan until the following January.[5] [6] After an ankle injury hindered his progress with the Dark Blues, McPake spent the last few weeks of his loan spell back at Rangers, and officially returned in January.[7]

In September 2020, McPake joined Greenock Morton on loan until January with an option to extend.[8] On 8 January 2021, McPake joined League Two side Harrogate Town on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[9] McPake impressed during his loan spell with Harrogate, making 21 appearances for the club.

On 1 July 2021, McPake signed a new contract with Rangers until summer 2024 and immediately joined newly-promoted League One side Morecambe, with a recall option in January 2022.[10]

On 5 January 2022, McPake joined EFL League Two side Tranmere Rovers on loan for the remainder of 2021–22 season.[11]

On 23 July 2022, McPake joined Scottish Championship side Queen's Park on a season-long loan.[12] He would make his debut for the club the same day in a Scottish League Cup group stage game against Hamilton Academical.[13] McPake would net his first and second goals for the Spiders in a thrashing away victory over Partick Thistle in October.[14]

On 1 September 2023, McPake left Rangers by mutual consent.[15]

Stirling Albion

After training with clubs such as Dunfermline Athletic after being released by Rangers,[16] McPake signed a deal on 23 February 2024 with Scottish League One club Stirling Albion until the end of the season.[17] McPake made his debut the following day against Edinburgh City, and marked his first game as a Bino with a free kick goal in a 4–0 victory.[18]

St Johnstone

On 20 June 2024 following a successful trial period, McPake joined Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone on a two-year deal.[19] McPake made his debut for the Saintees in a victory over Brechin City in the Scottish League Cup group stage.[20]

International career

He has played for Scotland at youth level.[21]

Career statistics

[22]

ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rangers2019–20Scottish Premiership1010
Dundee (loan)2019–20Scottish Championship7000000070
Greenock Morton (loan)2020–21Scottish Championship60004000100
Harrogate Town (loan)2020–21League Two23410244
Morecambe (loan)2021–22League One5000101070
Tranmere Rovers (loan)2021–22League Two141000000141
Queen's Park (loan)2022–23Scottish Championship273101041334
Stirling Albion2023–24Scottish League One12420144
St Johnstone2024–25Scottish Premiership0000200020
Career total941210809111213

Honours

Harrogate Town

2019–20[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EFL – Squad List 2021/22: Tranmere Rovers – Under 21 Contract Players . English Football League . 136 . 9 February 2022.
  2. https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/mcpake-is-academy-poty/ McPake Is Academy POTY
  3. News: McPake Signs Contract Extension . Rangers.co.uk . Rangers Football Club. 10 July 2019.
  4. News: Rangers 6-0 St Joseph's . Jamie . Lyall . BBC Sport . 18 July 2019 .
  5. Web site: Josh joins on loan. 20 August 2019. dundeefc.co.uk. 20 August 2019.
  6. Web site: Josh McPake: Rangers winger joins Dundee on loan . BBC Sport . 20 August 2019 . 20 August 2019.
  7. Web site: Josh returns to Rangers. 13 January 2020. dundeefc.co.uk. 13 January 2020.
  8. Web site: 25 September 2020. Josh McPake signs on-loan deal with 'Ton. 25 September 2020. gmfc.net.
  9. News: Exciting winger Josh McPake joins from Rangers . Harrogate Town FC . 8 January 2021.
  10. Web site: Josh McPake Signs New Deal. Rangers F.C.. 1 July 2021. 1 July 2021.
  11. Web site: Josh McPake joins on loan from Rangers . Tranmere Rovers FC . 5 January 2022 . 5 January 2022.
  12. Web site: Cairns . Ian . 2022-07-23 . Josh McPake signs on Season Long loan . 2022-07-23 . Queen's Park Football Club . en-US.
  13. News: Hamilton Academical v Queen's Park . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2022-07-23.
  14. News: McPake brace helps Queen's Park hammer Thistle . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2022-10-22.
  15. Web site: 2023-09-01 . Rangers confirm Josh McPake contract decision as winger exits Ibrox . 2023-09-03 . HeraldScotland . en.
  16. Web site: Collin . Iain . 2024-01-30 . Dunfermline boss James McPake delighted to snap up Blackpool striker as he runs rule over ex-Rangers winger . 2024-02-23 . The Courier . en-GB.
  17. Web site: Gallacher . Scott . Stirling Albion Sign Josh McPake - SAFC . 2024-02-23 . en-GB.
  18. News: Stirling Albion v Edinburgh City . 2024-02-24 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  19. Web site: Josh McPake signs for Saints . 2024-06-20 . St Johnstone Football Club . en.
  20. Web site: Brechin City vs St. Johnstone: League Cup . 2024-07-13 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  21. https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=233835&lid=13 Joshua McPake
  22. Web site: J. McPake. Soccerway. 1 July 2021.
  23. Web site: Harrogate Town stayed patient to beat spirited underdogs Concord Rangers in the 2019-20 FA Trophy final at Wembley.. BBC. 3 May 2021. 1 July 2021.