Steven Saunders Explained

Steven Saunders
Fullname:Steven Saunders
Birth Date:30 March 1991
Birth Place:Rutherglen, Scotland
Height:1.88m
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:2007–2008
Youthclubs1:Queen's Park
Years1:2008–2013
Clubs1:Motherwell
Caps1:56
Goals1:2
Years2:2013–2015
Clubs2:Ross County
Caps2:19
Goals2:1
Years3:2015–2016
Clubs3:Dumbarton
Caps3:25
Goals3:4
Years4:2016–2018
Clubs4:The New Saints
Caps4:39
Goals4:4
Years5:2018–2019
Clubs5:Livingston
Caps5:3
Goals5:0
Years6:2019–2020
Clubs6:Partick Thistle
Caps6:28
Goals6:2
Years7:2020
Clubs7:Gartcairn
Years8:2020–2022
Clubs8:East Kilbride
Nationalyears1:2009–2010[1]
Nationalyears2:2010–2012[2]
Nationalyears3:2010[3]
Nationalteam1:Scotland U19
Nationalteam2:Scotland U21
Nationalteam3:Scotland
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:12:00, 4 December 2020 (UTC)
Ntupdate:16 November 2010

Steven Saunders (born 30 March 1991) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a defender for Motherwell, Ross County, Dumbarton, The New Saints, Livingston and Partick Thistle at club level, and also represented Scotland once.

Club career

Motherwell

After spending time with Queen's Park as a youth player, Saunders started his professional career with Motherwell. He made his debut as a substitute in a Scottish Premier League match against Aberdeen on 29 November 2008. After the match, manager Mark McGhee said that he was "delighted" with Saunders' performance.[4] Saunders then started the following two games against Kilmarnock and Hamilton Academical, playing at right back, and he was again praised by McGhee for his performance in the first of those games.[5]

In the 2009–10 season, under new manager Jim Gannon, Saunders established himself as a regular starter in his preferred position of centre back. He scored his first goal for the club on Saturday 24 April 2010 against Hearts.[6] Under Gannon's successor, Craig Brown, Saunders became a regular starter at right back.

On 10 August 2011, whilst playing for the Scotland under-21s, Saunders suffered an achilles tendon injury that ruled him out for most of the 2011–12 season.[7] On 8 April 2012, Saunders made his first-team comeback as a late substitute in a 1–1 draw against Hibernian.[8] Saunders was released by Motherwell at the end of the 2012–13 season, after another lengthy injury lay-off restricted him to just one further appearance.[9]

Ross County

On 8 July 2013, Saunders signed a one-year deal with Ross County.[10] He made his debut for the club on 3 August 2013, in a 2–1 defeat against Celtic in the opening game of the 2013–14 season.[11] On 17 November 2013, he scored his first Ross County goal against St Mirren, but he was then sent off later in the match.[12]

Saunders signed a new one-year contract with Ross County on 19 May 2014.[13] He was one of 14 players released by the club at the end of the season.[14]

Dumbarton

After being released by Ross County, Saunders signed a short-term contract with Scottish Championship side Dumbarton in September 2015.[15] [16] He scored his first two goals for the club within two minutes of each other in a 3–3 draw with Raith on 21 November 2015.[17] He extended his deal until the end of the season in January 2016.[18]

The New Saints

Saunders signed a two-year deal with Welsh Premier League club The New Saints on 8 June 2016, alongside Dumbarton teammate Jon Routledge.[19] He left the club in May 2018.[20]

Livingston

On 31 May 2018, Saunders returned to Scotland to sign a two-year deal with Livingston.[21] He only made five appearances for the Lions before departing in January 2019.[22]

Partick Thistle

Saunders signed an 18-month contract with Partick Thistle in January 2019;[22] he chose the number 43 squad number.[23] He scored his first goal for Thistle in a 4–1 victory against Stranraer in the 2018–19 Scottish Cup.[24] Saunders scored his first league goal for The Jags opening the scoring in an eventual 2–1 home defeat to Dundee United in August 2019.[25]

In August 2020, with the lower leagues yet to commence due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland (which also caused the cancellation of the previous campaign, with Partick controversially relegated to Scottish League One),[26] Saunders announced his retirement from full-time football to pursue a career as a financial advisor.[27]

East Kilbride

Saunders had a short spell with Gartcairn before signing with East Kilbride on 4 December 2020.[28]

International career

On 15 November 2010, Saunders was called up to the Scotland Squad for the first time, and made his debut the following evening in a 3–0 win over the Faroe Islands, replacing Phil Bardsley at right back in the 70th minute.[29]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherEuropeTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Motherwell2008–09300000000030
2009–1025110200040321
2010–1125120300060361
2011–12200000000020
2012–13100000000010
Total562305000100742
Ross County2013–1412110000000131
2014–15700000000070
Total19110000000201
Dumbarton2015–1625420000000274
The New Saints2016–1729430102110365
2017–1810010000040150
Total39440102150515
Livingston2018–19300020000050
Partick Thistle2018–1912041000000161
2019–2016220412000243
Total28260412000404
Career total169131601214115023716

Honours

The New Saints

2016–17, 2017–18

2016–17, 2017–18

Individual

Notes and References

  1. https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=39987&lid=9 Steven Saunders – U19 Squad
  2. https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=39987&lid=5 Steven Saunders – U21 Squad
  3. https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=39987&lid=1 Steven Saunders – A Squad
  4. http://www.eatsleepsport.com/motherwell/mcghee-points-positives-820806.html McGhee points to positives
  5. http://www.wishawpress.co.uk/wishaw-sport/football/motherwell-fc/2008/12/17/saunders-debut-is-ray-of-light-on-dull-night-at-fir-park-76495-22491149/ Saunders' debut is ray of light on dull night at Fir Park
  6. News: Hearts 0–2 Motherwell. BBC Sport. 24 April 2010.
  7. News: Motherwell's Steven Saunders to miss rest of season. BBC Sport. 10 August 2011.
  8. News: Hibernian 1 – 1 Motherwell. BBC Sport. 8 April 2012.
  9. News: Forthcoming squad changes . Motherwell FC . 20 May 2013.
  10. Web site: Ross County sign ex-Motherwell defender Steven Saunders. BBC Sport. 8 July 2013. 13 November 2013.
  11. Web site: Celtic 2-1 Ross County. BBC Sport. Crawford. Kenny. 3 August 2013. 27 May 2014.
  12. Web site: St Mirren 2-1 Ross County. BBC Sport. 17 November 2013. 27 May 2014.
  13. Web site: Ross County duo sign new deals while Evangelos Oikonomou departs. STV Sport. 19 May 2014. 27 May 2014.
  14. Web site: Ross County to release 14 players at end of season . BBC Sport. 20 May 2015 . 29 June 2015.
  15. Web site: Steven Saunders signs short-term deal at Dumbarton . The Scotsman . 29 September 2015 . 29 September 2015.
  16. Web site: Dumbarton Football Club – Saunders Signs. dumbartonfootballclub.com.
  17. Web site: Dumbarton 3-3 Raith Rovers. 21 November 2015. BBC Sport.
  18. Web site: Dumbarton Football Club – Saunders Signs New Deal. dumbartonfootballclub.com.
  19. Web site: Saints Sign Scottish Saunders. 8 June 2016.
  20. Web site: Rawlinson heads departures from Saints . . 23 May 2018 . 27 May 2018.
  21. Web site: Second new signing completed. 31 May 2018. Livingston F.C. . 29 August 2019.
  22. Web site: Partick Thistle sign Livingston defender Steven Saunders & Celtic keeper Conor Hazard on loan . BBC Sport . 3 January 2019 . 3 January 2019.
  23. https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/signing-news-steven-saunders-is-a-jag/ Signing News: Steven Saunders is a Jag
  24. Web site: Partick Thistle 4–1 Stranraer . Kheredine . Idessane . BBC Sport . 19 January 2019 . 22 February 2019.
  25. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49201585 Partick Thistle 1-2 Dundee United
  26. Web site: Hearts & Partick Thistle relegations confirmed by arbitration panel . BBC Sport . 28 July 2020 . 16 August 2020.
  27. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/steven-saunders-calls-time-career-22526719 Steven Saunders calls time on career aged 29 as former Scotland cap gets ready for white-collar life
  28. Web site: FC. East Kilbride. Saunders joins up at K-Park. 2020-12-04. eastkilbridefootballclub.co.uk.
  29. Web site: Scotland 3–0 Faroe Islands . BBC Sport . 16 November 2010 .
  30. Web site: 2016/17 Dafabet WPL Team of the Season . Welsh Premier League . 17 May 2017 . 5 June 2018.