Tom Cairney
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Cairney is a footballer who plays for Hull City
as a midfielder
. Born in England, he has played for Scotland at under-19
and under-21
level.
, Nottinghamshire
, Cairney was released from the Leeds United
youth system
at the age of 16 after being told he was too small. He had been with the club since the age of seven. Hull City
gave Cairney a chance when they signed him to a youth contract in 2007. Cairney was named as Hull's Young Player of the Year for the 2008–09
season. He played for Hull against Tottenham Hotspur
in the final of the pre-season Asia Trophy
in Beijing
on 31 July 2009. His made his first team debut against Southend United
in the League Cup
on 25 August 2009, when he opened the scoring as Hull won 3–1. He went on to make his Premier League debut on 30 January 2010 in a 2–2 draw against fellow relegation candidates Wolverhampton Wanderers
. He scored his first league goal for Hull in a 5–1 defeat against Everton
on 7 March.
Cairney along with Mark Cullen
signed a new 3-and-a-half year contract with the club on 31 March 2009, committing himself until 2012.
Though much was expected of Cairney following Hull's relegation he only made 23 league appearances during the 2010–11 season, scoring one goal, with Nigel Pearson opting for work-rate and strength rather than technical ability.
father and an English
mother, meaning he is eligible to play for Scotland and England at international level. He has represented the Scotland national under-19 team
. Despite having played for Scotland at youth level, Cairney is still eligible to play for the England national team
, and his Hull City captain George Boateng
described him as being potentially a "huge asset to the national team of England". However, Cairney committed himself to Scotland and made his debut for the Scotland under 21 side against Sweden on 11 August.
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...
as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. Born in England, he has played for Scotland at under-19
Scotland national under-19 football team
The Scotland national under-19 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national football team for players of 19 years of age or under at the start of a European Under-19 Football Championship campaign....
and 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.
Club career
Born in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, Cairney was released from the 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...
youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
at the age of 16 after being told he was too small. He had been with the club since the age of seven. 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...
gave Cairney a chance when they signed him to a youth contract in 2007. Cairney was named as Hull's Young Player of the Year for the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season. He played for Hull against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in the final of the pre-season Asia Trophy
Premier League Asia Trophy
The Premier League Asia Trophy is a friendly four-team pre-season football tournament held in Asia every two years. The competition is contested by three Premier League football clubs and the home team...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
on 31 July 2009. His made his first team debut against Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
on 25 August 2009, when he opened the scoring as Hull won 3–1. He went on to make his Premier League debut on 30 January 2010 in a 2–2 draw against fellow relegation candidates Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. He scored his first league goal for Hull in a 5–1 defeat against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
on 7 March.
Cairney along with Mark Cullen
Mark Cullen (footballer)
Mark Cullen is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Bury, on loan from Hull City.-Career:Born in Ashington, Northumberland, Cullen joined the Hull City youth system on a two-year scholarship in June 2008. He made his first team debut as a 67th minute substitute in a 4–1 defeat against...
signed a new 3-and-a-half year contract with the club on 31 March 2009, committing himself until 2012.
Though much was expected of Cairney following Hull's relegation he only made 23 league appearances during the 2010–11 season, scoring one goal, with Nigel Pearson opting for work-rate and strength rather than technical ability.
International career
He has a ScottishScottish 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,...
father and an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
mother, meaning he is eligible to play for Scotland and England at international level. He has represented the Scotland national under-19 team
Scotland national under-19 football team
The Scotland national under-19 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national football team for players of 19 years of age or under at the start of a European Under-19 Football Championship campaign....
. Despite having played for Scotland at youth level, Cairney is still eligible to play for the England national team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, and his Hull City captain George Boateng
George Boateng
George Boateng is a Dutch footballer who plays as a midfielder for Nottingham Forest in The Championship.-Club career:...
described him as being potentially a "huge asset to the national team of England". However, Cairney committed himself to Scotland and made his debut for the Scotland under 21 side against Sweden on 11 August.
External links
- Tom Cairney profile at the Hull City website