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Greig Spence

Greig Spence (born 6 July 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for East Stirlingshire.

Greig Spence
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-07-06) 6 July 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Dunfermline, Scotland
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 East Stirlingshire
Youth career
Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts
Rangers
Falkirk
Alloa Athletic
2009–2011 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Alloa Athletic 19 (4)
2011–2012 Celtic 0 (0)
2011–2012 → Hamilton Academical (loan) 29 (5)
2012–2014 Raith Rovers 59 (20)
2014–2015 Alloa Athletic 28 (4)
2015–2016 Cowdenbeath 36 (17)
2016–2017 Alloa Athletic 35 (16)
2017–2018 Raith Rovers 32 (11)
2018–2019 Alloa Athletic 13 (0)
2019–2020 Arbroath 19 (0)
2020–2021 Stenhousemuir 20 (7)
2021 → East Fife (loan) 9 (0)
2021–2023 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts
2023–2024 Stirling Albion 24 (4)
2024- East Stirlingshire 12 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:38, 31 January 2024 (UTC)

Born in Dunfermline, he started his career at Alloa Athletic, breaking into their first-team at the age of 16. He was then signed by Scottish Premier League club Celtic in 2009. He was loaned to First Division club Hamilton Academical for the 2011–12 season. In July 2012, he signed a one-year contract with Raith Rovers. In June 2014, he returned to Alloa before signing for Cowdenbeath the following season, before once again resigning for Alloa in 2016. After a year with Alloa, Spence moved back to Raith for his second spell, spending a further year in Kirkcaldy. Spence signed on for his fourth spell with Alloa in June 2018. He has since played for Arbroath, Stenhousemuir, East Fife (on loan),Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts and Stirling Albion.

Career

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Spence spent 10 years at Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts.[1]

Spence played for Rangers youth team as a schoolboy.[2] He then moved on to Alloa Athletic where he broke into the first-team at the age of 16.[3]

His first start came against Queens Park on 16 February, he scored Alloa's equaliser in a 2–1 win.[4] On 4 May, Spence scored Alloa's equaliser against Ayr United, drawing the match ensured that Alloa would not be relegated.[5] After the match manager Allan Maitland praised Spence for how well he took his goal.[6] Overall, Spence scored four goals in nineteen appearances for Second Division Alloa during the 2008–09 season.[7] Spence only played three times for Alloa during the 2009–10 season as he left the club in August.[8] His only goal came in a 3–2 defeat against Ross County in the Scottish Challenge Cup.[9]

Scottish Premier League club Celtic signed Spence in August 2009 for a six-figure fee.[2][10] Spence missed the first half of the 2010–11 season through injury but came back to score in the 2011 Scottish Youth Cup Final.[11][12] On 16 July 2011, Spence scored for Celtic's development squad in a 2–1 loss to Partick Thistle.[13]

In August 2011, Spence moved on loan to Scottish First Division side Hamilton Academical. He scored his first goal for Hamilton in a 2–1 Scottish Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Morton on 4 September.[14] Two weeks later he scored in Hamilton's 2–2 draw against Raith Rovers.[15] On 3 November, he scored a 'superb' header in Hamilton's 3–2 loss against Ayr United.[16] On 13 January, Spence scored the winner in Hamilton's 1–0 victory over Partick Thistle.[17] The next week he scored in Hamilton's 2–2 draw with Ayr United.[18] On 24 March, Spence scored the first goal in Hamilton's 3–0 win over Queen of the South.[19]

Spence announced on his Twitter account in May 2012 that he was leaving Celtic,[20] subsequently training with Raith Rovers in an attempt to win a permanent contract.[21] He signed for the club on 18 July 2012.[22] He was part of the Raith Rovers team that won 1–0 against Rangers in the 2014 Scottish Challenge Cup Final.[23]

On 24 June 2014, Spence signed for Alloa Athletic for a second time.[24][25] He scored a hat-trick on his first appearance on 26 July 2014, in a Challenge Cup match against Arbroath as Alloa won 4–1.[26] On 3 December 2014, Spence scored twice as Alloa came from 2–0 behind to defeat Rangers 3–2 in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup, the club's first ever win against Rangers.[27] After one season with The Wasps, Spence signed for Scottish League One side Cowdenbeath. Although Cowdenbeath were relegated to Scottish League Two Spence had a particularly successful season with the club, finishing third top scorer in the league with 17 goals, as well as being nominated for PFA Scotland's League One player of the year award[28] and being included in the PFA Scotland League One team of the year.[29]

In May 2016, Spence returned for his third spell with Alloa Athletic.[30] In February 2017, Spence scored the SPFL's 8000th goal (across all four divisions, but not including play-offs), in a 2–0 win at Queen's Park.[31][32]

Spence returned to the east of Scotland in June 2017, signing with his former club Raith Rovers, now in Scottish League One.[33] After the club failed to win promotion back to the Scottish Championship, Spence was released by the club in May 2018.[34] Spence re-signed for Alloa for his fourth spell in June 2018.[35]

Spence spent just six months with Alloa, before signing an eighteen-month contract with League One leaders Arbroath in January 2019.[36] He then moved to Stenhousemuir in January 2020.[37] Spence was loaned to East Fife in April 2021.[38]

In July 2021 he returned to boyhood club Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts.[1][39][40]

On 6 January 2023, Spence returned to the SPFL with Scottish League Two club Stirling Albion on an 18-month deal.[41]

Career statistics

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As of 4 November 2019[42][7]
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Alloa Athletic 2008–09[43][44] Scottish Second Division 18 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 19 4
2009–10[8] Scottish Second Division 1 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 1 3 1
Total 19 4 0 0 2 0 1 1 22 5
Celtic 2009–10[8] Scottish Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2010–11[45] Scottish Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011–12[46] Scottish Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hamilton Academical (loan) 2011–12[46] Scottish First Division 29 5 2 0 0 0 3[a] 1 34 6
Raith Rovers 2012–13[47] Scottish First Division 32 11 4 2 3 1 2[a] 1 41 15
2013–14[48] Scottish Championship 27 9 4 0 1 1 5[a] 2 37 12
Total 59 20 8 2 4 2 7 3 78 27
Alloa Athletic 2014–15[49] Scottish Championship 28 4 1 0 2 2 7[b] 7 38 13
Cowdenbeath 2015–16[50] Scottish League One 36 17 3 1 1 0 3[c] 1 43 19
Alloa Athletic 2016–17[51] Scottish League One 35 16 2 1 6 3 7[d] 6 50 26
Raith Rovers 2017–18[52] Scottish League One 32 11 1 0 4 1 6[e] 1 43 13
Alloa Athletic 2018–19[53] Scottish Championship 13 0 1 1 4 2 2[a] 0 20 3
Arbroath 2018–19[53] Scottish League One 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
2019–20[54] Scottish Championship 8 0 0 0 4 2 2[a] 0 14 2
Total 19 0 0 0 4 2 2 0 21 2
Career total 270 77 18 5 27 12 38 20 353 114
  1. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Five appearances and seven goals in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two appearances in the Scottish Championship play-offs
  3. ^ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two appearances in the Scottish League One play-offs
  4. ^ Three appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and four appearances and three goals in tue Scottish Championship play-offs
  5. ^ Two appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and four appearances and one goal in the Scottish Championship play-offs

Honours

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Raith Rovers

References

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  1. ^ a b https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-courier-advertiser-perth-and-perthshire-edition/20210729/282235193694979 – via Press Reader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ a b "Alloa hitkid Greig Spence on verge of dream move to Celtic". Daily Record. Media Scotland. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  3. ^ "Spence, 16, has debut to remember". Press and Journal. DC Thomson. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Dream Day Out Is Still Playing on Our Minds". Daily Record. Media Scotland. 16 February 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Division 2: Ayr United 1 Alloa Athletic 1". Daily Record. Media Scotland. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Jellema pulls out all the stops". Press and Journal. DC Thomson. 4 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Greig Spence". Scottish Football League. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  8. ^ a b c "Games played by Greig Spence in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Ross County 3–2 Alloa Athletic". BBC Sport. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Celtic sign Alloa striker Spence". BBC Sport. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  11. ^ "Greig Spence". Celtic FC. Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  12. ^ "Celtic U19 2–1 Rangers U19 (aet)". BBC Sport. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  13. ^ "Celtic XI go down to Partick Thistle". Celtic FC. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  14. ^ McGilvray, Andrew (8 September 2011). "On loan Accies star Spence hopes to get in more goals". Hamilton Advertiser. Media Scotland. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  15. ^ "Hamilton 2–2 Raith Rovers". BBC Sport. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  16. ^ "Striker Greig Spence says boss Billy Reid was right to blast them". Hamilton Advertiser. Media Scotland. 3 November 2011. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  17. ^ "Hamilton Accies 1–0 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Ayr United 2–2 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  19. ^ "Hamilton Accies 3–0 Queen of the South". BBC Sport. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  20. ^ "Twitter – Greig Spence". @greigspence – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "Raith Rovers v Ross County: new boss Murray keen to get up and running". The Courier. DC Thomson. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  22. ^ "Rovers Make Important Addition to Squad". Raith Rovers FC. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  23. ^ a b "Ramsden Cup: Raith Rovers 1-0 Rangers (aet)". BBC Sport. 6 April 2014.
  24. ^ "Greig Spence signs". Alloa Athletic FC. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  25. ^ "Alloa goal hero Greig Spence is over the moon with his form after derby win". Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser. 6 August 2014.
  26. ^ "Arbroath 1–4 Alloa". BBC Sport. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  27. ^ Moffat, Colin (3 December 2014). "Alloa 3–2 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  28. ^ "Rangers pair & Hibs duo vie for Scottish Championship award". BBC Sport. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  29. ^ "Only two Celtic players in Scottish Premiership team of season". BBC Sport. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  30. ^ "Spence returns to Alloa". Scottish Professional Football League. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  31. ^ "Four for Livi, Spence nets landmark goal". SPFL. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  32. ^ "Weekend in numbers". SPFL. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  33. ^ "Triple Signing Coup for Smith". Raith Rovers FC. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  34. ^ "RRFC retained/released list". Raith Rovers FC. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  35. ^ "Manager adds to squad". Alloa Athletic FC. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  36. ^ "Spence joins Abroath". Scottish Professional Football League. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  37. ^ "Dundee United sign Dillon Powers from Orlando City and Kieran Freeman from Southampton". BBC Sport. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  38. ^ "Greig Spence Joins on Loan From Stenhousemuir". eastfifefc.info.
  39. ^ "Greig celebrates new deal with last-gasp Swifts leveller". Dunfermline Press. 23 December 2021.
  40. ^ "Swifts stun Rose as Oakley snatch last-gasp win at title favourites". Dunfermline Press. 24 February 2022.
  41. ^ Admin, Site (6 January 2023). "Signing News". SAFC. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  42. ^ Rollin, Glenda & Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. Headline. p. 675. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.
  43. ^ "Games played by Greig Spence in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  44. ^ "Alloa 3 2 Ayr". BBC Sport. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  45. ^ "Games played by Greig Spence in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  46. ^ a b "Games played by Greig Spence in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  47. ^ "Games played by Greig Spence in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  48. ^ "Games played by Greig Spence in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  49. ^ "Games played by Greig Spence in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  50. ^ "Games played by Greig Spence in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  51. ^ "Games played by Greig Spence in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  52. ^ "Games played by Greig Spence in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  53. ^ a b "Games played by Greig Spence in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  54. ^ "Games played by Greig Spence in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
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