Stephen McPhee
Encyclopedia
Stephen McPhee is a Scottish
former footballer. In a ten year career he has played for clubs in Scotland, England and Portugal. And has been capped for his country at under-21
level. A forward, he scored 55 goals in 249 games in all competitions.
Starting his career at Coventry City
, following a loan to St. Mirren
in 2001, he signed with Port Vale
later in the year. He made his name at Vale, playing the majority of his career appearances at a three year spell at the club. Leaving the club for Beira-Mar of Portugal, in 2005 he made a big money move to Hull City
. Two years later he moved on to Blackpool
. He retired in 2010 after being dogged with injury problems since his time in Portugal.
, McPhee began his career in England at Coventry City
in 2000, but did not make a senior appearance for the "Sky Blues", who were then in the Premier League. In 2001 Coventry sent him on loan to Scottish Premier League
club St. Mirren
, who had hoped to sign Ronaldinho
, but instead settled for the young hopeful McPhee. He played seven games for the "Saints" and won the April 2001 SPL Young Player of the Month Award.
on a free transfer in July 2001 and would soon show himself to be arguably Brian Horton
's best signing at the club. He scored on his debut against Notts County
and finished the season as the club's top scorer with 14 goals in 51 games, including one in the 2001 Potteries derby
. Paul Jewell
's Wigan Athletic
made a bid for McPhee that was accepted by his club, however the deal fell through as the Scotsman's agent
rejected Wigan's contract offer. The 2002–03
season was one largely devoid of goals for the striker, his strike against Oldham Athletic
in October ended a run of 21 games without a goal, but only two goals followed in the remaining 34 matches.
In the 2003–04
season he scored 27 goals to help Vale finish seventh in League One
, this was the second highest goal tally for a Port Vale player in 66 years. For this feat he was named player of the year
at Vale Park
, but as the team had not secured promotion
McPhee rejected a new contract. A British club would have to negotiate a fee with the "Valiants" before talking to McPhee, however a foreign club would be free to sign him without dealing with Vale.
Rumours linking McPhee with Portuguese
side Beira-Mar were denied by the club and chairman Bill Bratt
stated "this is news to us". The following week the cash-strapped club rejected a £100,000 bid from Leeds United
"out of hand", branding it as an offer "not even worth considering".
Beira-Mar were managed at the time by Mick Wadsworth
, who was sacked four games after McPhee signed. McPhee was used in various positions and scored five goals in 31 appearances, but despite this Beira-Mar were relegated from the Portuguese top flight in bottom place. Despite the club's poor season his consistent performances attracted interest from other clubs
He suffered a knee injury in only his fourth league appearance for City, and missed the rest of the 2005–06 season and the start of the 2006–07 season. He eventually returned to action in December 2006 away at Plymouth Argyle
, which was also manager Phil Brown's first match in charge of the club. He ended up missing most of the rest of the season again through injury.
for an undisclosed fee, penning a two-and-a-half-year contract. The fee was £215,000, with the potential to rise to £300,000, depending on appearances. The next month McPhee was named in the Championship
's "Team of the Week", alongside teammate Kaspars Gorkšs
. On 4 April 2009, he played his last professional game, replacing Keith Southern
61 minutes into a 1–0 defeat by Plymouth Argyle
at Bloomfield Road
.
On 26 May 2010, less than a week after Blackpool were promoted to the Premier League, McPhee announced his retirement from football. He had struggled for the previous 18 months with a knee injury, which kept him sidelined for the whole of the previous season.
offered McPhee a coaching role at the club, an offer that the Scot accepted. He left his post thirteen months later, citing dissatisfaction at his wage level.
|2000–01||St. Mirren
(loan)||Scottish Premier League
||7||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||7||0
|-
|-
|2001–02
||Port Vale
||Second Division
||44||11||2||0||2||2||51||14
|-
|2002–03
||Port Vale
||Second Division
||40||3||1||0||1||0||45||3
|-
|2003–04
||Port Vale
||Second Division
||46||25||3||1||1||0||51||27
|-
|-
|2004–05||Beira-Mar||Primeira Liga||31||5||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||31||5
|-
|-
|2005–06||Hull City
||Championship
||4||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||4||0
|-
|2006–07||Hull City
||Championship
||12||0||2||0||colspan="2"|-||14||0
|-
|2007–08||Hull City
||Championship
||19||2||0||0||3||1||22||3
|-
|2007–08||Blackpool
||Championship
||19||3||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||19||3
|-
|2008–09||Blackpool
||Championship
||5||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||5||0
|-
7||0||0||0||0||0||7||0
31||5||0||0||0||0||31||5
189||44||8||1||7||3||211||50
227||49||8||1||7||3||249||55
Notes:
cap
in October 2001 against Latvia under-21s
.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
former footballer. In a ten year career he has played for clubs in Scotland, England and Portugal. And has been capped for his country at under-21
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
level. A forward, he scored 55 goals in 249 games in all competitions.
Starting his career at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, following a loan to St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
in 2001, he signed with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
later in the year. He made his name at Vale, playing the majority of his career appearances at a three year spell at the club. Leaving the club for Beira-Mar of Portugal, in 2005 he made a big money move to 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...
. Two years later he moved on to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
. He retired in 2010 after being dogged with injury problems since his time in Portugal.
Early career
Born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, McPhee began his career in England at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in 2000, but did not make a senior appearance for the "Sky Blues", who were then in the Premier League. In 2001 Coventry sent him on loan to Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
, who had hoped to sign Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira , commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Flamengo and the Brazilian national team as an attacking midfielder or forward. He is a two-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, awarded to the best player over the year...
, but instead settled for the young hopeful McPhee. He played seven games for the "Saints" and won the April 2001 SPL Young Player of the Month Award.
Port Vale
McPhee signed for Port ValePort Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
on a free transfer in July 2001 and would soon show himself to be arguably Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
's best signing at the club. He scored on his debut against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
and finished the season as the club's top scorer with 14 goals in 51 games, including one in the 2001 Potteries derby
Potteries derby
The Potteries derby is the football local derby in Stoke-on-Trent between Port Vale and Stoke City. The fans of each club both consider the other to be their main rivals; this has led to a heated atmosphere at these matches, especially with the rise of football hooliganism and the 'Naughty Forty'...
. Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
's Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
made a bid for McPhee that was accepted by his club, however the deal fell through as the Scotsman's agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
rejected Wigan's contract offer. The 2002–03
2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2002–03 season was Port Vale's ninety-first season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in the Second Division. Another poor season, Brian Horton's side avoided relegation with a seventeenth place finish...
season was one largely devoid of goals for the striker, his strike against Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in October ended a run of 21 games without a goal, but only two goals followed in the remaining 34 matches.
In the 2003–04
2003–04 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2003–04 season was Port Vale's ninety-second season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in the Second Division. Brian Horton resigned in February, and was replaced by Martin Foyle. Vale fought for promotion, but finished outside the play-off zone on goal difference...
season he scored 27 goals to help Vale finish seventh in League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
, this was the second highest goal tally for a Port Vale player in 66 years. For this feat he was named player of the year
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
, but as the team had not secured promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
McPhee rejected a new contract. A British club would have to negotiate a fee with the "Valiants" before talking to McPhee, however a foreign club would be free to sign him without dealing with Vale.
Rumours linking McPhee with Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
side Beira-Mar were denied by the club and chairman Bill Bratt
Bill Bratt
William Amos "Bill" Bratt MBE is the former chairman of Port Vale Football Club, who served the club in this post from 2003 to 2011....
stated "this is news to us". The following week the cash-strapped club rejected a £100,000 bid from 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...
"out of hand", branding it as an offer "not even worth considering".
Beira-Mar
Later that month his agent negotiated a move to Beira-Mar meaning Vale lost the player for nothing. McPhee said the move not about money, but about "bettering himself"; meanwhile his agent reportedly labelled Port Vale a "two-bob operation".Beira-Mar were managed at the time by Mick Wadsworth
Mick Wadsworth
Michael "Mick" Wadsworth is an English football coach and former player, who is currently the Manager at Football League One club Hartlepool United.-Playing career:...
, who was sacked four games after McPhee signed. McPhee was used in various positions and scored five goals in 31 appearances, but despite this Beira-Mar were relegated from the Portuguese top flight in bottom place. Despite the club's poor season his consistent performances attracted interest from other clubs
Hull City
McPhee joined Hull City on 19 May 2005 for a fee widely reported to be £220,000. However, the club website stated, "The Scottish striker joined the Championship-bound Tigers in a new club record deal with the McPhee fee reported in excess of £400,000 when Stephen was signed from Beira Mar in May 2005."He suffered a knee injury in only his fourth league appearance for City, and missed the rest of the 2005–06 season and the start of the 2006–07 season. He eventually returned to action in December 2006 away at Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, which was also manager Phil Brown's first match in charge of the club. He ended up missing most of the rest of the season again through injury.
Blackpool
On 7 January 2008, McPhee moved to BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
for an undisclosed fee, penning a two-and-a-half-year contract. The fee was £215,000, with the potential to rise to £300,000, depending on appearances. The next month McPhee was named in the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
's "Team of the Week", alongside teammate Kaspars Gorkšs
Kaspars Gorkšs
Kaspars Gorkšs is a Latvian footballer who plays for Reading as a defender. He is also a regular with the Latvia national team.-Club career:...
. On 4 April 2009, he played his last professional game, replacing Keith Southern
Keith Southern
Keith William Southern is an English professional footballer who plays for Blackpool. He is a central midfielder and is the longest-serving player currently at Bloomfield Road.-Early career: Everton and loan move to Blackpool:...
61 minutes into a 1–0 defeat by Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
.
On 26 May 2010, less than a week after Blackpool were promoted to the Premier League, McPhee announced his retirement from football. He had struggled for the previous 18 months with a knee injury, which kept him sidelined for the whole of the previous season.
Post-retirement career
In July 2010, Blackpool manager Ian HollowayIan Holloway
Ian Scott Holloway is an English football manager and former player. He became the manager of Blackpool in May 2009. Holloway is well-known amongst football fans for his off-the-wall interviews, with a wide selection of quotes and soundbites being printed. Holloway's playing career spanned 18...
offered McPhee a coaching role at the club, an offer that the Scot accepted. He left his post thirteen months later, citing dissatisfaction at his wage level.
Club career statistics
|-|2000–01||St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
(loan)||Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
||7||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||7||0
|-
|-
|2001–02
2001–02 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2001–02 season was Port Vale's ninetieth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in the Second Division. On the pitch Vale finished in mid-table, whilst exiting both the FA Cup and the League Cup at the Second Round, and the League Trophy at the Area...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
||44||11||2||0||2||2||51||14
|-
|2002–03
2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2002–03 season was Port Vale's ninety-first season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in the Second Division. Another poor season, Brian Horton's side avoided relegation with a seventeenth place finish...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
||40||3||1||0||1||0||45||3
|-
|2003–04
2003–04 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2003–04 season was Port Vale's ninety-second season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in the Second Division. Brian Horton resigned in February, and was replaced by Martin Foyle. Vale fought for promotion, but finished outside the play-off zone on goal difference...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
||46||25||3||1||1||0||51||27
|-
|-
|2004–05||Beira-Mar||Primeira Liga||31||5||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||31||5
|-
|-
|2005–06||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...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||4||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||4||0
|-
|2006–07||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...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||12||0||2||0||colspan="2"|-||14||0
|-
|2007–08||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...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||19||2||0||0||3||1||22||3
|-
|2007–08||Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||19||3||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||19||3
|-
|2008–09||Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||5||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||5||0
|-
7||0||0||0||0||0||7||0
31||5||0||0||0||0||31||5
189||44||8||1||7||3||211||50
227||49||8||1||7||3||249||55
Notes:
- All Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
results are included in totals
International career
McPhee won his first Scotland under-21Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
cap
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...
in October 2001 against Latvia under-21s
Latvia national under-21 football team
The Latvia national under-21 football team represents the under-21s of Latvia and is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body of football in Latvia. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
.
Honours
Individual- SPLScottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
Young Player of the Month Award: April 2001 - Port Vale F.C. Player of the YearPort Vale F.C. Player of the YearThe Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
: 2004 - Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
team of the week member: 25 February 2008 - ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
play-off final winner: 2009–102009–10 in English footballThe 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...