Malcolm Christie
Encyclopedia
Malcom Neil "Malcolm" Christie (born 11 April 1979) is an English footballer who is a free agent. He has previously played for Nuneaton Borough, Derby County
, Middlesbrough
and Leeds United and has earned 11 England under-21
caps
.
, Lincolnshire
, Christie first played football as a youth in the Peterborough
area, and started his career at Northborough, moving onto non-League
clubs Deeping Rangers
and Nuneaton Borough. Whilst playing in non-League football he was also a supermarket shelf stacker.
Christie's big break came in October 1998 when he was purchased by Derby County
manager Jim Smith
. By 2000, Christie had established himself as a first team player at Derby County
.
He spent one more season with Derby after they were relegated from the FA Premier League before Middlesbrough
signed him and Chris Riggott
on loan for a combined £3 million (possibly rising to £5m) in February 2003. His chances were limited at his new club due to several long term injuries. In 2006, although unable to play due to injury, Christie was invited back to Nuneaton Borough as guest of honour for their FA Cup
third round tie against Middlesbrough. Nuneaton went on to shock their visitors by producing a 1–1 draw, and earning a replay at the Riverside Stadium
.
On 25 November 2006, after returning from his injuries, manager Gareth Southgate
gave Christie a start against Aston Villa
at Villa Park. Christie scored on his return in the 43rd minute in a match which finished 1–1.
Middlesbrough subsequently released Christie when his contract expired in June 2007. He started a trial period with Hull City
on 11 September 2007. However, he was not offered a contract at the end of his two-month trial. Also, in midseason, Malcolm rejected a contract offer from Nigel Clough
, then manager of Burton Albion
.
In January 2008, he began a trial with Leeds United
, but picked up an injury which scuppered any deal. In September, he began using the training facilities at Leeds United in a bid to gain full fitness with the blessing of Leeds' manager Gary McAllister
; although, at the time, the offer was considered to be a courtesy, and not intended to be a trial
On 13 October 2008, however, he was cleared to play in a reserves fixture for Leeds against Scunthorpe United
. On 10 November 2008, McAllister began to open up contract talks with Christie after regaining his fitness. He made his Leeds debut on 17 November 2008 against Northampton Town
in the first round of the FA Cup.
Christie scored his first goal for Leeds on 28 December, in the 3–1 victory away from home, against Stockport County
. He left the club of his own accord on 29 January 2009.
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
and Leeds United and has earned 11 England under-21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
.
Career
Born in StamfordStamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, Christie first played football as a youth in the Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
area, and started his career at Northborough, moving onto non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
clubs Deeping Rangers
Deeping Rangers F.C.
Deeping Rangers F.C. is a football club based in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, England. They were established in 1964 and originally played at Maxey Road until 1982, but did not move to Outgang Road until 1985; the move was due to a rent dispute with the land owner...
and Nuneaton Borough. Whilst playing in non-League football he was also a supermarket shelf stacker.
Christie's big break came in October 1998 when he was purchased by Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
manager Jim Smith
Jim Smith (footballer)
James Michael "Jim" Smith is a retired English footballer and manager. As a player, he made 249 appearances in the Fourth Division of The Football League, representing Aldershot, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Colchester United, and played for three-and-a-half years for Boston United of the...
. By 2000, Christie had established himself as a first team player at Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
He spent one more season with Derby after they were relegated from the FA Premier League before Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
signed him and Chris Riggott
Chris Riggott
Christopher Mark "Chris" Riggott is an English footballer. He is a defender and has recently re-signed for his first professional club Derby County after spending the 2011-2012 pre-season with the squad....
on loan for a combined £3 million (possibly rising to £5m) in February 2003. His chances were limited at his new club due to several long term injuries. In 2006, although unable to play due to injury, Christie was invited back to Nuneaton Borough as guest of honour for their FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
third round tie against Middlesbrough. Nuneaton went on to shock their visitors by producing a 1–1 draw, and earning a replay at the Riverside Stadium
Riverside Stadium
The Riverside Stadium is a football stadium in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Middlesbrough F.C. since it opened in 1995...
.
On 25 November 2006, after returning from his injuries, manager Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate in Crawley, West Sussex is a retired English footballer and ex-manager. He is known as the "Penalty Misser of '96." He served as manager of Middlesbrough from June 2006, until he was dismissed in October 2009...
gave Christie a start against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
at Villa Park. Christie scored on his return in the 43rd minute in a match which finished 1–1.
Middlesbrough subsequently released Christie when his contract expired in June 2007. He started a trial period with Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
on 11 September 2007. However, he was not offered a contract at the end of his two-month trial. Also, in midseason, Malcolm rejected a contract offer from Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
, then manager of Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
.
In January 2008, he began a trial with Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, but picked up an injury which scuppered any deal. In September, he began using the training facilities at Leeds United in a bid to gain full fitness with the blessing of Leeds' manager Gary McAllister
Gary McAllister
Gary McAllister MBE is a Scottish former professional footballer.McAllister played primarily as a midfielder, in a successful career spanning over nineteen years. He started his career at local side Motherwell before moving south of the border to Leicester City at the age of 20...
; although, at the time, the offer was considered to be a courtesy, and not intended to be a trial
On 13 October 2008, however, he was cleared to play in a reserves fixture for Leeds against Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
. On 10 November 2008, McAllister began to open up contract talks with Christie after regaining his fitness. He made his Leeds debut on 17 November 2008 against Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in the first round of the FA Cup.
Christie scored his first goal for Leeds on 28 December, in the 3–1 victory away from home, against Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
. He left the club of his own accord on 29 January 2009.