Paddy McCourt explained

Paddy McCourt
Fullname:Patrick James McCourt[1]
Birth Date:16 December 1983
Birth Place:Derry, Northern Ireland
Height:5 ft 10 in
Position:Winger
Youthyears1:1998–2000
Youthclubs1:Foyle Harps
Youthyears2:2000–2001
Youthclubs2:Rochdale
Years1:2001–2005
Clubs1:Rochdale
Caps1:80
Goals1:8
Years2:2005
Clubs2:Shamrock Rovers
Caps2:17
Goals2:7
Years3:2005–2008
Clubs3:Derry City
Caps3:60
Goals3:5
Years4:2008–2013
Clubs4:Celtic
Caps4:66
Goals4:9
Years5:2013–2014
Clubs5:Barnsley
Caps5:23
Goals5:2
Years6:2014–2015
Clubs6:Brighton & Hove Albion
Caps6:10
Goals6:0
Years7:2015
Clubs7:Notts County (loan)
Caps7:12
Goals7:1
Years8:2015–2016
Clubs8:Luton Town
Caps8:24
Goals8:1
Years9:2016
Clubs9:Glenavon
Caps9:12
Goals9:1
Years10:2017–2018
Clubs10:Finn Harps
Caps10:48
Goals10:5
Totalcaps:352
Totalgoals:39
Nationalyears1:2002–2005
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland U21
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2009
Nationalteam2:Northern Ireland B
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2002–2015
Nationalteam3:Northern Ireland
Nationalcaps3:18
Nationalgoals3:2

Patrick James McCourt (born 16 December 1983) is a Northern Irish former footballer who played as a winger.

He started his professional career with Third Division club Rochdale in 2001 before moving to League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers in 2005. Later that year he moved to his hometown club, Derry City, where he won the League of Ireland Cup three times in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and the FAI Cup in 2006. At Derry, he gained the nickname "The Derry Pelé"[2] for his skilful play. In 2008 he signed for Scottish Premier League club Celtic; the club he supported as a boy. In a five-season spell there, he won the Scottish Cup in 2011 and 2013 and the SPL title in 2011–12 and 2012–13. Despite being a fan favourite at the club, he failed to gain a regular first-team place and was released in June 2013.

McCourt then signed a one-year contract at Championship club Barnsley, though the club was relegated during the 2013–14 season and McCourt was released. He signed a one-year deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for the following campaign, but featured little and joined League One club Notts County on loan for the final third of the season. He left Brighton and in July 2015 signed for League Two club Luton Town on a two-year contract. He was released by mutual consent halfway through to enable him to return to Northern Ireland, where he signed a one-year contract with NIFL Premiership club Glenavon. He left by mutual agreement in December 2016, and the following March he signed for League of Ireland side Finn Harps, where he retired in 2018.

McCourt made his Northern Ireland international debut in 2002, but did not play again until 2009. He scored his first two goals against the Faroe Islands in 2011.

Early life

McCourt was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, and educated at Steelstown Primary School.[3]

Club career

Rochdale

McCourt began his career with an early move from Derry-based youth club Foyle Harps to English Third Division club Rochdale on a youth contract in 2000. He made his first-team debut in the Football League Trophy on 16 October 2001 and his potential prompted his signing to the Spotland club on a three-and-a-half-year professional contract in December 2001. His first season ended with four goals in 23 appearances, and making 30 appearances in 2002–03. His skillful playing style attracted the attention of Premier League clubs Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City.[4]

In the 2003–04 season, McCourt managed just a handful of starts for the club and had two spells away on trial with First Division clubs Norwich City[5] and Crewe Alexandra, though neither club followed up their initial interest in him. A combination of injuries and loss of form hastened his departure from Rochdale in February 2005.

After Rochdale manager Steve Parkin informed him that he was to be released, McCourt headed for another trial, this time with Scottish Premier League outfit Motherwell. However, after two weeks at Fir Park a move failed to take place.

Shamrock Rovers

In March 2005, McCourt was signed by Roddy Collins, manager of League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers.[5] McCourt scored three goals in his first six appearances for the Dublin club and topped the goalscoring charts by May 2005. As the club ran into financial difficulty, mainly due to the costs surrounding the building of Tallaght Stadium, Rovers were forced to place all players except McCourt on the transfer list. After seven goals in 17 appearances, and following interest from Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers, the club, in dire need of funds, decided to sell McCourt. He was signed by his home-town club, Derry City, for a fee thought to be around £60,000. Despite leaving the club halfway through the season, McCourt was their top goalscorer that season and won the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland Young Player of the Year award.[6]

Derry City

Despite interest from Scottish side Livingston, McCourt signed for Derry City in 2005.[7] In his first few months at the club, McCourt helped Derry City to the League of Ireland Cup and runners-up in the league in 2005. In the 2006 season, he played in Derry's UEFA Cup run, in which the club eventually lost to French giants Paris Saint-Germain, and helped them to win a cup double with victories in both the FAI Cup and League of Ireland Cup finals. McCourt scored four goals in 25 appearances in the 2007 season and won a third League of Ireland Cup medal. His performances interested English club West Bromwich Albion and Derry announced in June 2008 that they had reached an agreement with the newly promoted Premier League club.[8] However, Derry also agreed a fee with Scottish Premier League club Celtic, leaving McCourt to make his choice.

Celtic

The lure of joining Celtic, the club he had supported as a boy, persuaded McCourt to move to Glasgow and, on 19 June 2008, he signed for a fee of £200,000 after agreeing a three-year contract.[9] The manager who signed him, Gordon Strachan, would later claim that McCourt was "as gifted a footballer as I have ever seen."[10]

McCourt made his competitive debut for Celtic on 25 October 2008 in a 4–2 win over Hibernian.[11] In his first season, he featured primarily for the Celtic reserve team, playing in the deciding game on 28 April 2009 against Rangers reserves to clinch the Reserve League title for the eighth season in succession.[12]

On 23 September 2009, McCourt opened his goalscoring account for Celtic with a memorable goal in a League Cup match at Falkirk, in which he beat five defenders before chipping the ball over goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik.[13] He then scored his first Scottish Premier League goal on his first league start three days later against St Mirren,[14] which saw him go past six defenders before beating the goalkeeper. On 24 January 2010, McCourt bagged his second league goal for Celtic against St Johnstone after a mazy run and finish into the top right hand corner, from just inside the penalty box.[15] Premier League newcomers Blackpool expressed an interest in McCourt following his performances throughout the 2009–10 season, prompting Celtic to offer him an improved contract, which he duly signed.[16]

In the first game of the 2010–11 season, McCourt scored the only goal of the game against newly promoted Inverness Caledonian Thistle with a now-typical solo run and shot, beating three defenders and then netting from the edge of the box.[17] He scored his second goal of the season, his first at Celtic Park in Celtic's 3–0 victory over Hearts on 11 September 2010, beating three players before chipping the goalkeeper. On 6 November 2010, McCourt netted the final goal of Celtic's 9–0 demolition of Aberdeen.[18] Later that month, he scored Celtic's 600th home SPL goal in a 2–2 draw with Inverness at Celtic Park, with another jinking run and precise finish.[19] On 29 December 2010, McCourt scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win over Motherwell.[20] On 26 January 2011, McCourt added another SPL goal in a 4–0 win over Hearts.[21] He came on as a substitute in the 2011 Scottish Cup Final on 21 May 2011, a 3–0 win over Motherwell, to win his first silverware in Scotland. In August 2011, it was reported that Liverpool was interested in signing McCourt.[22]

McCourt was mainly used as a late substitute over the course of the next two seasons, failing to score a single goal, though he was part of the Celtic team that won both the 2011–12 and 2012–13 SPL titles, as well as the 2013 Scottish Cup. In the final at Hampden Park, a 3–0 victory over Hibernian, he entered play as a substitute and was handed the captain's armband in what proved to be his final appearance for the club.[23] McCourt left Celtic after his contract expired in June 2013, having played in a total of 88 games, scoring ten goals.[24] On 6 August 2013, he began training with Hibernian to try and win a contract, but no move materialised.[25]

Barnsley

On 22 August 2013, McCourt signed for Championship club Barnsley, managed by his former Rochdale teammate David Flitcroft, on a one-year deal.[26] He made his debut on 21 September 2013 at home to Watford.[27] He played in 23 league games for the club, scoring twice, before being released at the end of the season. One goal, which opened the scoring in Barnsley's 3–2 victory over Middlesbrough, saw McCourt guide the ball into the box and take out six opposition players, before finishing past the goalkeeper from the six-yard line. The goal was shortlisted for the Football League Goal of the Year award, though lost to Franck Moussa's chip for Coventry City against Leyton Orient.[28] [29]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 19 August 2014, McCourt signed a one-year contract with Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion.[30] He found his playing time limited and subsequently joined Notts County on loan on 21 February 2015 until the end of the 2014–15 season.[31] McCourt made 12 appearances for the club and scored once.

In April 2015, Brighton confirmed that McCourt, who made 13 appearances for the club during the 2014–15 season would not be offered a new contract.[32]

Luton Town

On 1 July 2015, McCourt joined League Two club Luton Town on a two-year contract.[33]

McCourt made 25 appearances, scoring one goal during the 2015–16 season, but was released from his contract one year early on 24 May 2016 to enable him to return to Northern Ireland.[34]

Glenavon

McCourt signed a one-year contract with NIFL Premiership club Glenavon on 19 July 2016.[35] He made his home debut on 30 July 2016 as Glenavon earned a 1–0 win over Crusaders to win the NIFL Charity Shield.[36] His league debut came one week later in a 4–0 home win over Carrick Rangers on the opening day of the 2016–17 season, but was substituted in the 43rd-minute due to an injury.[37] On 21 December, McCourt came to a mutual agreement with Glenavon to terminate his contract, after struggling to adapt to part-time football.[38]

Finn Harps

McCourt signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Finn Harps on 21 February 2017.[39] He debuted three days later as a 69th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat at home to Cork City. McCourt scored his first goal for Finn Harps in a 3–2 defeat away to former club Shamrock Rovers on 31 March.[40]

Following a restructure of the League of Ireland divisions, Finn Harps suffered relegation in 2017, despite finishing in the normal play-off places. McCourt committed his future to Harps however, and signed on for the 2018 First Division season.

In June 2018, it was announced that McCourt would retire from playing at the end of the season to take up a role as head of youth structures at Derry City.[41] He pledged to go out on a high and did so by helping Harps to promotion back to the Premier Division for the 2019 season.[42]

International career

McCourt represented Northern Ireland at senior international level.[43] He has also received nine caps for the Northern Ireland under-21s between 2002 and 2005 while playing for Rochdale and played once for the Northern Ireland B team while in the Celtic reserve team.[44]

In April 2002, Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy handed McCourt his senior international debut against Spain in a friendly at Windsor Park, which his team lost 5–0.[45]

He had an almost-seven year wait for his second cap, which came in February 2009 against San Marino in a qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup.[46] Northern Ireland won the game 3–0.[47] Following his breakthrough 2010–11 season at Celtic, McCourt was named in a number of Northern Ireland squads, primarily playing as a substitute.

He scored his first international goals with two solo efforts, as he helped Northern Ireland to a 4–0 victory over the Faroe Islands in a 2012 European Championship qualification match on 10 August 2011.[48] The second goal, which saw him dribble the ball for 40 yards past four players and finish with a close-range chip over the opposition goalkeeper, was described by the Belfast Telegraph as "one of the best ever witnessed" for Northern Ireland.[49]

Style of play

McCourt is known for his technical ability[48] and propensity for scoring "wonder goals".[50] At Derry, he gained the nickname "The Derry Pelé"[2] for his skillful play and is often referred to by his previous clubs' fans as a "cult hero"[50] for his crowd-pleasing displays.[50] [51] [52]

Personal life

McCourt has two older brothers; Harry and Leroy. Harry also played for Derry City and was joint-top scorer in the Irish League during the 1991–92 season while playing for Omagh Town.[53] He also won the 1997–98 Irish League with Cliftonville and now serves as a director at Derry.[54] Leroy has previously worked as a scout for various English and Scottish clubs and is a FIFA registered football agent; his brother Paddy being one of his clients.[55] [56]

On 12 January 2011, bullets were sent in the post to McCourt (i.e. a death threat) from an address in Northern Ireland. Celtic manager Neil Lennon and teammate Niall McGinn were sent similar packages earlier in the same week.[57]

On 23 February 2022, McCourt appeared in court to face charges of sexual assault against him from an alleged incident on 30 January. McCourt denied all charges and was released on bail.[58] On 31 May 2023, McCourt was found guilty by a Derry court of one count of indecent assault.[59] He was given a three-month sentence, suspended for two years, and was placed on the sex offenders registry for five years.[60] Former footballer Patrick McCourt has been cleared of a charge of sexually assaulting a young woman after the prosecution offered no evidence in his appeal against conviction.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rochdale2001–02Third Division244200020294
2002–03Third Division262211010303
2003–04Third Division242201010372
2004–05League Two6000101080
Total808613050949
Shamrock Rovers2005League of Ireland Premier Division1770000177
Derry City2005League of Ireland Premier Division1510020171
2006League of Ireland Premier Division212312030293
2007League of Ireland Premier Division172313120254
2008League of Ireland Premier Division70000070
Total605627150788
Celtic2008–09Scottish Premier League4010000050
2009–10Scottish Premier League92102120143
2010–11Scottish Premier League257302010317
2011–12Scottish Premier League130201020180
2012–13Scottish Premier League150102020200
Total6698071708810
Barnsley2013–14Championship2320000232
Brighton & Hove Albion2014–15Championship1000030130
Notts County (loan)2014–15League One121000000121
Luton Town2015–16League Two241100000251
Glenavon2016–17[61] NIFL Premiership121001021152
Finn Harps2017[62] League of Ireland Premier Division2721000282
2018[63] League of Ireland First Division2130000213
Total4851000495
Career total352392232121207141445

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Northern Ireland200210
200920
201010
201152
201220
201330
201410
201530
Total182

International goals

As of match played 13 November 2015. Northern Ireland score listed first, score column indicates score after each McCourt goal.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
scope=colNo.scope=col data-sort-type=dateDatescope=colVenuescope=colCapscope=colOpponentscope=colScorescope=colResultscope=colCompetitionscope=col
scope=row110 August 2011Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland73–04–0UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying[64]
scope=row24–0

Honours

Club

Derry City

Celtic

Glenavon

2016–17[63]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Book: Barry J. . Hugman . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2005/2006 . 2005 . Queen Anne Press . Harpenden . 978-1-85291-662-6 . 259.
  2. News: 'Derry Pele' McCourt moves to Barnsley . Derry Journal . 22 August 2013 . 17 September 2013.
  3. Web site: From Foyle to fame . The Cian Edge . 16 August 2010 . 7 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150707211801/http://thecianedge.com/index.php?view=article&id=7:paddy-mccourt&format=pdf . 7 July 2015 . dead .
  4. News: West Brom pull out of battle for McCourt as Celtic target Derry winger . Evening Standard. London . 19 June 2008 . 9 August 2016.
  5. Web site: Patrick McCourt – Biography . Flown From the Nest . 9 August 2016.
  6. Web site: Sean . DeLoughry . Ireland – Player of the Year and Other Awards . Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation . 6 January 2016 . 29 March 2016.
  7. Web site: Rubio bids fond farewell to Livi. BBC. 8 July 2005.
  8. Web site: Update on McCourt speculation . Derry City F.C. . 14 June 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080618152817/http://www.derrycityfc.net/season/08/news/displaystory.php?storyid=312 . 18 June 2008 . dead.
  9. News: McCourt seals transfer to Celtic . BBC Sport . 19 June 2008 . 20 June 2008.
  10. News: Gordon Strachan says Celtic made a mistake by letting Paddy McCourt leave . Derry Journal . 18 March 2015 . 2 October 2016.
  11. News: Paddy McCourt eager to get in on the act at Celtic . 28 September 2020 . The Times . 27 October 2008.
  12. News: Neil . Cameron . Rangers Reserves 0 Celtic Reserves 1 . Daily Record . Glasgow . 29 April 2009 . 5 August 2012.
  13. News: Falkirk 0–4 Celtic . BBC Sport . 23 September 2009 . 9 August 2016.
  14. News: Glenn . Gibbons . Paddy McCourt and Shaun Maloney strike to take Celtic past St Mirren . The Guardian . London . 26 September 2009 . 9 August 2016.
  15. News: Mark . Henderson . Fortune favours the Hoops against Saints . Celtic F.C. . 24 January 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100302134519/http://www.celticfc.net/news/stories/news_240110174106.aspx . 2 March 2010 . dead.
  16. News: Celtic offer Blackpool target Paddy McCourt a new deal . BBC Sport . 19 July 2010 . 7 July 2015.
  17. News: Keir . Murray . Inverness CT 0–1 Celtic . BBC Sport . 14 August 2010 . 9 August 2016.
  18. News: Celtic 9–0 Aberdeen . BBC Sport . 6 November 2010 . 7 November 2010.
  19. News: Celtic 2–2 Inverness CT . BBC Sport . 27 November 2010 . 4 December 2010.
  20. News: Celtic 1–0 Motherwell . BBC Sport . 29 December 2010 . 9 August 2016.
  21. Web site: Celtic 4–0 Hearts . Sky Sports . 26 January 2011 . 9 August 2016.
  22. News: Ginnell . Luke . The curious case of Paddy McCourt, one of Northern Ireland and Celtic's most gifted players this century . 28 September 2020 . These Football Times . 25 February 2020.
  23. News: Matthew . Lindsay . Paddy offered a Kris goodbye by Commons . Evening Times . Glasgow . 19 June 2013 . 7 July 2015.
  24. News: Iain . Macfarlane . Paddy McCourt to leave Celtic . Daily Express . London . 16 May 2013 . 9 August 2016.
  25. Web site: Colin . Moffat . Pat McCourt joins training at Hibernian . BBC Sport . 6 August 2013 . 6 August 2013.
  26. Web site: Barnsley sign former Celtic winger Paddy McCourt . BBC Sport . 22 August 2013 . 14 September 2013.
  27. Web site: Barnsley 1–5 Watford . BBC Sport . 21 September 2013 . 2 November 2013.
  28. News: Mitre Goal of the Year Announced . Rotherham United F.C. . 17 March 2014 . 7 July 2015.
  29. News: McCourt Goal in Final 5 . Barnsley F.C. . 1 March 2014 . 7 July 2015.
  30. Web site: Paddy McCourt: Brighton sign Northern Ireland winger . BBC Sport . 19 August 2014 . 20 August 2014.
  31. Web site: Paddy McCourt: Notts County take Brighton winger on loan . BBC Sport . 21 February 2015 . 5 July 2015.
  32. Web site: Hughes and McCourt to leave Brighton . BBC Sport . 27 April 2015 . 24 June 2015.
  33. Web site: Paddy McCourt and Magnus Okuonghae join Luton Town . BBC Sport . 1 July 2015 . 5 July 2015.
  34. News: Paddy McCourt leaves the Hatters . Luton Town F.C. . 24 May 2016 . 24 May 2016.
  35. Web site: Paddy McCourt and Guy Bates agree one-year deals with Glenavon . BBC Sport . 19 July 2016 . 19 July 2016.
  36. Web site: Charity Shield: Ten-man Glenavon defeat Crusaders . BBC Sport . 30 July 2016 . 1 August 2016.
  37. News: Kris . Jack . Millar praises Hamilton for quality of Glenavon squad . Belfast Telegraph . 8 August 2016 . 9 August 2016.
  38. Web site: Pat McCourt to leave Glenavon with immediate effect by mutual agreement . BBC Sport . 21 December 2016 . 21 December 2016.
  39. Web site: Former NI winger Paddy McCourt signs for Finn Harps . BBC Sport . 21 February 2017 . 21 February 2017.
  40. Web site: League Report: Shamrock Rovers 3 – 2 Finn Harps . ExtraTime.com . 29 June 2021 . en.
  41. Web site: Former Celtic star Paddy McCourt set for Derry City return . derryjournal.com . 29 June 2021 . en.
  42. Web site: Daniel McDonnell: 'Entertainment rather than medals will be Paddy McCourt's enduring legacy'. 31 October 2018. Irish Independent. 31 October 2018.
  43. Web site: Paddy McCourt . Irish Football Association . 9 August 2016.
  44. News: Paddy McCourt recalled to Northern Ireland squad . The Scotsman . Edinburgh . 29 September 2009 . 9 August 2016.
  45. News: Mark . McIntosh . Raul mauls McIlroy's makeshift side in Spanish stroll . The Guardian . London . 18 April 2002 . 9 August 2016.
  46. News: McCourt ready for his second cap . Londonderry Sentinel . 9 February 2009 . 9 August 2016.
  47. News: San Marino 0–3 Northern Ireland . BBC Sport . 11 February 2009 . 9 August 2016.
  48. Web site: Lyle . Jackson . N Ireland 4–0 Faroe Islands . BBC Sport . 10 August 2011 . 3 October 2014.
  49. News: Steven . Beacom . Where did it all go wrong for Paddy McCourt? . Belfast Telegraph . 9 August 2013 . 7 July 2015.
  50. Web site: Andy . Muirhead . Opinion: Celtic's Cult Hero Paddy McCourt Should Be Sold . Scotzine . 20 August 2011 . 7 July 2015.
  51. News: McCourt is happy to be back on the samba beat with Reds . The Yorkshire Post . Leeds . 13 November 2013 . 7 July 2015.
  52. News: David . McCarthy . Paddy McCourt is a cult hero at Celtic but no-one is guaranteed a position here, says Neil Lennon . Daily Record . Glasgow . 13 August 2011 . 7 July 2015.
  53. Web site: Northern Ireland – list of top scorers . Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation . 31 July 2015.
  54. News: Derry City to meet with season ticket holders . BBC News . 4 December 2009 . 9 August 2016.
  55. News: McCourt keeping eye on youths . Londonderry Sentinel . 3 July 2012 . 9 August 2016.
  56. News: Anthony . Haggerty . Hibs eye deal for Paddy McCourt as former Celtic winger trains with Easter Road club . Daily Record . Glasgow . 7 August 2013 . 9 August 2016.
  57. News: Bullets in post target Celtic footballer Paddy McCourt . BBC News . 12 January 2011 . 9 August 2016.
  58. Web site: Paddy McCourt: Former footballer appears in court charged with sexual assault. BBC News. 23 February 2022. 23 February 2022.
  59. News: 2023-05-31 . Paddy McCourt: Ex-Celtic footballer guilty of sexual assault . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-06-02.
  60. News: 2023-07-10 . Former Celtic player Paddy McCourt sentenced for sexual assault . en-GB . STV News . 2023-07-10.
  61. Web site: Glens survive Shield scare . ITV News . 21 September 2016 . 17 April 2017.
  62. News: Andrew . Cunneen . Limerick progress past Finn Harps in FAI Cup . RTÉ Sport . 26 August 2017 . 5 November 2017.
  63. Web site: P. McCourt . Soccerway . Perform Group . 23 July 2018.
  64. Web site: McCourt shines as Northern Ireland sink the Faroes . UEFA . 10 August 2011 . 7 July 2015.
  65. Web site: Ian . King . Ireland League Cup 2005 . Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation . 7 October 2005 . 29 March 2016.
  66. Web site: Derry win Eircom League Cup final . BBC Sport . 18 September 2006 . 29 March 2016.
  67. Web site: Derry City 1–0 Bohemians (AET) . RTÉ Sport . 10 October 2007 . 5 November 2017.
  68. Web site: Player of the Month . Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland . 19 December 2015 . 29 March 2016.