Richard Tait (footballer)
Richard Neil Peter Tait (born 2 December 1989) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right back for Scottish Premiership club St Mirren.
![]() Tait in 2010 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Richard Neil Peter Tait[1] | ||
Date of birth | 2 December 1989 | ||
Place of birth | Galashiels, Scotland | ||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
Position(s) | Centre back, Right back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | St Mirren | ||
Number | 2 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2007–2008 | Curzon Ashton | ||
2008–2009 | Nottingham Forest | 0 | (0) |
2009 | → Tamworth (loan) | 4 | (1) |
2009–2013 | Tamworth | 157 | (6) |
2013–2015 | Cambridge United | 72 | (0) |
2015–2016 | Grimsby Town | 37 | (0) |
2016–2020 | Motherwell | 111 | (3) |
2020– | St. Mirren | 3 | (1) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:10, 15 August 2020 (UTC) |
Playing career
Early years
Born in Galashiels, Tait began his professional career with Ashton-under-Lyne side Curzon Ashton. In January 2008, Tait was signed on a youth contract by Nottingham Forest.[2] On 28 March 2009, Tait joined Conference North side Tamworth on loan.[3] At the end of the 2008–09 Tait was released by Forest.[4]
Tamworth
Tait was snapped up by Conference North side Tamworth following the successful loan.[5] He appeared regularly for the side, and helped Tamworth gain promotion from the Conference North as champions in the 2008–09 season.[6]
He signed a new deal in February 2012.[7]
Cambridge United
On 8 May 2013 Tait joined Cambridge United.[8] He appeared in 35 league matches during the season, helping the club return to League Two, being a part of the team that won promotion by winning the 2014 Conference Premier play-off Final.[9] On 8 August 2014 Tait played in Cambridge's first match back in League Two, starting in a 1–0 home win against Plymouth Argyle.[10] At the end of the 2014–15 season the club did not offer him a new deal when his contract expired.[11][12]
Grimsby Town
On 30 June 2015, Tait signed for Conference National side Grimsby Town.[13]
Tait played in Grimsby's 3–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers in the 2016 National League play-off Final at Wembley, seeing Grimsby promoted to League Two after a six-year absence from the Football League.[14][15]
Motherwell
On 23 June 2016, Tait signed for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell, agreeing a three-year contract.[16] He scored his first goal for Motherwell on 29 October 2016, in a 4–1 win over Ross County.[17] In his last season at Motherwell he helped the Steelmen finish third in the Scottish Premiership which got them into the Europa League qualifiers.
St. Mirren
On 18 June 2020, Tait signed for Scottish Premiership club St. Mirren, on a two-year deal.[18]
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Curzon Ashton | 2007–08 | NPL Division One North | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Nottingham Forest | 2007–08 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2008–09 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Tamworth (loan) | 2008–09 | Conference North | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
Tamworth | 2009–10 | Conference Premier | 41 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 41 | 3 | |
2010–11 | 41 | 1 | 4 | 0 | – | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 46 | 1 | |||
2011–12 | 41 | 1 | 4 | 0 | – | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 46 | 1 | |||
2012–13 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 3[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 38 | 1 | |||
Total | 157 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 171 | 7 | ||
Cambridge United | 2013–14 | Conference Premier | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
2014–15 | League Two | 37 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
Total | 72 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 88 | 0 | ||
Grimsby Town | 2015–16 | National League | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 10[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 51 | 0 | |
Motherwell | 2016–17 | Scottish Premiership | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | 31 | 1 | |
2017–18 | 34 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | – | 46 | 2 | |||
2018–19 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | – | 45 | 2 | |||
2019–20 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 20 | 0 | |||
Total | 111 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 142 | 5 | ||
St Mirren | 2020-21 | Scottish Premiership | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 9 | 2 | |
Career total | 389 | 11 | 31 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 465 | 14 |
- Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
- Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
- Seven appearances in FA Trophy, three in National League play-offs
Honours
References
- "The Football League Retained List". The Football League. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- "Taits' dream switch". Manchester Evening News. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- "Lambs bolster squad ahead of a tough week". Tamworth F.C. 28 March 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
- "Sinclair and Newbold leave Forest". BBC Sport. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- "Five more sign up, as reserve team boss departs for pastures new". Tamworth F.C. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
- "Wright secures Tamworth promotion". BBC Sport. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- "Defender Richard Tait signs new Tamworth deal". BBC Sport. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- "Sam-Yorke and Tait Sign Up". Cambridge United F.C. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- "Cambridge United return to Football League with win over Gateshead". The Guardian. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- "Cambridge 1–0 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- "Richard Tait leaves Cambridge United". Cambridge News. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- "U's retained list confirmed". Cambridge United. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- "Tait Becomes Number Five". Grimsby Town F.C. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- "Forest Green 1–3 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- "Grimsby secure promotion back to Football League at Wembley". Sky Sports. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- "'Well announce a trio of signings". Motherwell F.C. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- "Motherwell win their first league game in four against Ross County". STV News. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- "St Mirren: Richard Tait adds experience to Buddies' defence". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- Richard Tait at Soccerbase
- Richard Tait at Soccerway
- Lavery, Glenn (23 March 2014). "Donaldson at the double for Cambridge in FA Trophy Final". The FA. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richard Tait. |
- Richard Tait at Soccerbase
- Richard Tait at Soccerway