Gary Harkins

Gary Harkins
Personal information
Full name Gary Harkins
Date of birth (1985-01-02) 2 January 1985
Place of birth Greenock, Scotland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Ayr United
Number 12
Youth career
Celtic
2001–2003 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
2004 → Huddersfield Town (loan) 3 (0)
2005 → Bury (loan) 5 (0)
2005 → Blackpool (loan) 4 (1)
2006–2007 Grimsby Town 17 (0)
2007–2009 Partick Thistle 71 (16)
2009–2011 Dundee 76 (22)
2011–2013 Kilmarnock 46 (3)
2013 Dundee 14 (2)
2013–2014 St Mirren 15 (1)
2014 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 23 (5)
2014–2016 Dundee 58 (8)
2016− Ayr United 0 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:16, 17 July 2016 (UTC).


Gary Harkins (born 2 January 1985) is a Scottish professional footballer who is currently playing for Ayr United. He has also previously played for Blackburn Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Bury, Blackpool, Grimsby Town, Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Oldham Athletic.

Career

Blackburn Rovers

Gary Harkins started out as a schoolboy player with Celtic before joining Blackburn Rovers as a YTS player when he was 16.[1] He became a trainee in August 2003 but although he appeared in the academy and reserve teams he did not play a first team competitive game for the club.[1][2] Harkins joined Huddersfield Town on loan in March 2004,[1][3] where he made only three appearances before returning to Blackburn in June.[4] The arrival of Mark Hughes as manager of Blackburn in September 2004 saw Harkins called up to play with the first team in a number of pre-season friendlies with Hughes apparently seeing potential in his future as a centre back.[5] He joined Bury in February 2005,[6] for whom he played five times in a month-long spell,[7][8] and in November 2005, Harkins joined Blackpool on loan for one month,[9] where he made six appearances, scoring two goals.[10]

Grimsby Town

In July 2006, Harkins joined Grimsby Town on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract.[11] He made his debut on 5 August 2006 in the club's 3–2 victory over Boston United and made 20 appearances in total for Grimsby in the 2006–07 season.[12] His spell at Grimsby was an unhappy one, with homesickness and a falling out with manager Alan Buckley, who joined the club in November 2006, playing parts,[13][14] and at the end of the 2006–07 season, Buckley allowed Harkins to look for another club.[15] Instead, Harkins was released by the club, several weeks later after being allowed to leave.[16]

Partick Thistle

Harkins then moved to his native Scotland and after a trial signed a one-year contract with Scottish First Division club Partick Thistle in July 2007.[13][17]

While he started out at Thistle playing as a defender, his move into midfield let him play in a more attacking role.[18] Harkins made 39 appearances in the 2007–08 season, scoring three goals,[19] and 40 appearances in the 2008–09 season, scoring 11 goals.[20] Harkins signed a one-year contract with the club in April.[21] In the 2008–09 season, he was Thistle's top goalscorer with 11 goals,[22] and was nominated for the First Division Player of the Year award. During the 2008–09 season, Harkins was awarded the Scottish Football League Player of the Month on February.[23] At the end of 2008–09 season, Harkins was offered a new contract with the club,[24] but Harkins reportedly rejected a contract, something that was denied by Ian McCall.[25]

Dundee

After a protracted effort in which Dundee had two offers turned down, Dundee signed Harkins in July 2009, for a fee of £150,000 plus future fees.[22][26]

Harkins made 42 appearances for Dundee in the 2009–10 season, scoring 17 goals.[27] He won the Irn-Bru Phenomenal Player of the Month for August 2009 in the Scottish Football League,[28] and was nominated for Scotland's Player of the Year for the Scottish Football League Division One.[29] Though making 42 appearance and scoring 17 goals, Harkins admitted to struggling with the price tag earlier in the season.[30]

At the start of the 2010–11 season, Harkins was appointed as captain after being given the armband by manager Gordon Chisholm.[31] Having being appointed as captain, Harkins says he will try his best to become a captain.[32] He made a further 38 appearances, scoring five goals, in a troubled 2010–11 season for Dundee in which the club was penalised 25 points by the Scottish Football League in November 2010 after going into administration.[33][34][35] Harkins admitted, seeing Dundee in administration, as the darkest day of his career.[36]

At the end of the season, Harkins was nominated for Scottish Football League Player of the Year in the First Division.[37]

Kilmarnock

In June 2011 Harkins left Dundee to sign for Kilmarnock for an undisclosed fee, exercising an option to leave agreed when Dundee went into administration in the previous November.[38][39] Harkins made his first appearance for the Ayrshire side on 24 July, in a 1–1 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice. Harkins scored his first goal for Kilmarnock in a 5–0 win over Queen of the South in the Scottish League Cup 3rd round, scoring only 90 seconds into the match. On 18 March, he played in the 2012 Scottish League Cup Final which Kilmarnock won after beating Celtic 1–0. Harkins would be often used in first team ins and out in his first season, but couldn't produce his performance, like he did before his move to Kilmarnock, due to ankle injury.[40]

In 2012–13 season, Harkins goal's became difficult for him to come by and only score two goals. During January 2013, it was reported that Harkins could return to Dundee. This was initially denied by manager Kenny Shiels, who claimed that Harkins was "one of the best players in the SPL".[41]

Dundee (second spell)

On 25 January 2013, it was confirmed that Harkins had rejoined Dundee for an undisclosed fee.[42] As part of the deal the clubs agreed that he would not play when the two clubs met the following weekend at Dens Park.[42] Harkins's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came on 30 January 2013, in a 1–0 loss against Hearts. Then, on 6 April 2013, on the last game of the season before it split, Harkins scored twice, in a 2–0 win against his former club, to keep the club ensure of avoiding relegation.[43] However, Dundee was then relegated after a draw with Aberdeen on 5 May 2013.[44] Following their relegation, Harkins future is uncertain after desire to play in the higher level[45] Harkins announces he is to leave Dundee, citing the club's failure takeover ownership.[46]

St Mirren

Harkins had agreed a two-year contract with St Mirren in June 2013.[47] His debut was the opening game of the season, in a 3–0 loss against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[48] In the next game, Harkins scored his first goal for the club, against his former club, Kilmarnock in a 1–1 draw.[49] During the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup Replay, Harkins scored his second goal in a 3–0 win over Queen of the South that ensured St Mirren would play in the fifth round.[50] Following the match, Harkins vowed to keep his first team place.[51] Harkins was criticised by Danny Lennon for not "working hard enough off the ball to succeed at St Mirren".[52]

Oldham Athletic (loan)

Following an unsuccessful spell at St Mirren, Harkins joined Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of season 2013–14.[53] Harkins scored his first goals for the club in a 5–4 win for Oldham against Peterborough after coming back from being 3–0 down at half–time. Harkins scored the first Oldham goal to make it 3–1, bundling the ball into the back of the net after a knockdown from Jonson Clarke-Harris, he then was involved in all of Oldham's goals, excelling on the left hand side of the pitch, he scored his second goal of the game with a penalty to make it 4–4 in the closing minutes of the game and then had the final say in the game, delivering the corner from which Genseric Kusunga scored with to make it 5–4 in the 96th minute of the game. Harkins deservedly won man of the match for his performance and he gained many plaudits post-match.[54]

During his time at the club Harkins became a fans favourite. Upon the end of his loan and his return to his parent club he had made 24 appearances and scored 5 goals.[55] After Harkins loan spell at Oldham Athletic came to an end, St Mirren announced on 27 June 2014 that the midfielder had his contract with the club cancelled by mutual consent.[56]

Dundee (third spell)

Harkins signed a two-year contract with Dundee in June 2014.[57] In the pre-season friendly, Harkins scored in their pre-season fixture against Manchester City, which Dundee went on to win 2–0.[58]

He scored his first goal of his third spell at the club with a penalty as Dundee drew 1–1 with Kilmarnock on 9 August 2014.[59] In a next game against Partick Thistle on 16 August 2014, Harkins took a penalty spot, only to be saved by Paul Gallacher, following Scott Fox sending off, which both side drew 1–1.[60] Harkins scored two goals in two games against Aberdeen[61] and Motherwell.[62] His goal celebration against Motherwell went viral after Harkins did a wrestling move on Jim McAlister, which met with approval from wrestler Randy Orton, himself.[63] Harkins then received a red card after a second bookable offense, in a 2–1 loss against Hamilton Academical on 13 December 2014.[64] Harkins then scored his third goal of the season, in a 3–3 draw against Aberdeen on 17 January 2015.[65] Towards the end of the 2014–15 season, Harkins suffered a shin injury, which saw him miss one game[66] and a knee injury that caused him to miss eight matches.[67] Despite the injuries, Harkins made his thirty-one appearance and scoring four times in all competitions.

Ayr United

On 12 August 2016, it was confirmed that Harkins had signed a two-year contract as a player/coach with newly promoted Scottish Championship side Ayr United.[68]

Career statistics

As of 17 July 2016[2][69]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other[70] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Blackburn Rovers 2003–04 0000000000
2004–05 0000000000
2005–06 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Huddersfield Town (loan) 2003–04 3000000030
Bury (loan) 2004–05 5000000050
Blackpool (loan) 2005–06 5100001162
Grimsby Town 2006–07 170200010200
Partick Thistle 2007–08 29160312[71]1403
2008–09 34821313[72]14211
Total 6398162528214
Dundee 2009–10 34153141424519
2010–11 365102020415
Total 70204161628624
Kilmarnock 2011–12 301104200353
2012–13 162100000172
Total 463204200525
Dundee 2012–13 142000000142
St Mirren 2013–14 151111000172
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2013–14 235100000245
Dundee 2014–15 284102000314
2015–16 304411000355
2016–17 0000000000
Total 588513000669
Ayr United 2016–17 0000000000
Career total 3194923420513537563

Personal life

Harkins was born in Greenock[73] and attended St Columba's High School, Gourock, where he played in a wide variety of positions and for varied teams before bagging his move to Blackburn. His brother Paul is also a footballer playing in Scottish League Two for Elgin City. In 2012, after a scan for ligament damage, Harkins revealed that doctors had told him he had been playing with a broken ankle for four years.[74]

Honours

Dundee
Kilmarnock

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Harkins Premier signing". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 24 March 2004. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Gary Harkins". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Hudderfield sign Harkins". BBC Sport. 25 March 2004. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Games played by Gary Harkins in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  5. ↑ Smith, Andrew (18 March 2012). "Interview: Gary Harkins, Kilmarnock midfielder". Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 18 March 2012. Initially, Harkins started out at Blackburn as a defensive midfielder but “even Mark Hughes ended up playing me at centre-half in a few pre-season games”.
  6. ↑ "Bury sign Harkins on month's loan". BBC Sport. 8 February 2005. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  7. ↑ "Shakers want Fitzgerald to stay". BBC Sport. 10 March 2005. Retrieved 22 March 2012. Blackburn midfielder Gary Harkin has not had his loan extended after making five appearances during a month-long spell at Gigg Lane.
  8. ↑ "Games played by Gary Harkins in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  9. ↑ "Blackpool recruit Harkins on loan". BBC Sport. 16 November 2005. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  10. ↑ "Games played by Gary Harkins in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Racing Post.
  11. ↑ "Grimsby swoop for veteran Beagrie". BBC Sport. 11 July 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2012. Grimsby Town have signed veteran winger Peter Beagrie and former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Gary Harkins [...] Harkins, 21, has signed a two-year deal at Blundell Park.
  12. ↑ "Games played by Gary Harkins in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Harkins wins contract at Firhill". BBC Sport. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2012. I'm delighted to get back up the road to Scotland and to get back to enjoying my football again. I hadn't been happy since moving to Grimsby and was a bit homesick.
  14. ↑ Waddell, Gordon (18 March 2012). "Kilmarnock star Gary Harkins is happy to show what he can do after years on the defensive". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 March 2012. I had a really tough time at Grimsby – the name says it all, really! I just had to get out, even though I had a year left on my contract. I didn’t do myself any favours and didn’t get on well with the manager – it was a big growing-up experience for me. The manager who signed me, Graham Rodger, got sacked after a few months then Alan Buckley came in and I just didn’t get on with him.
  15. ↑ "Grimsby let Harkins pursue move". BBC Sport. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  16. ↑ "Mariners release defender". Sky Sports. 29 July 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Partick Thistle sign defender Harkins". Glasgow Herald. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  18. ↑ Fisher, Stewart (18 March 2012). "Kilmarnock's Gary Harkins hopes to get creative in cup battle". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  19. ↑ "Games played by Gary Harkins in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  20. ↑ "Games played by Gary Harkins in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  21. ↑ "New deals for Partick Thistle duo". BBC Sport. 18 April 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  22. 1 2 Wilson, Fraser (2 July 2009). "Gary Harkins Exits Firhill In £150,000 Move To Dundee". Glaswegian. Retrieved 26 March 2012. Harkins finished last season as top scorer for the Jags with 11 goals.
  23. ↑ "IRN BRU PHENOMENAL PLAYER & MANAGER OF THE MONTH AWARDS FEBRUARY 2009". Scottish Football League. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "Gary Harkins set to follow boss Ian McCall and pledge future to Partick Thistle". Daily Record. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "Partick Thistle boss Ian McCall slams Gary Harkins contract snub claims". Daily Record. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  26. ↑ "Dundee capture Thistle's Harkins". BBC Sport. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  27. ↑ "Games played by Gary Harkins in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  28. ↑ "August prize for Dundee's Harkins". BBC Sport. 6 September 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  29. ↑ "Rangers quartet vie for Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  30. ↑ "Price was weighing me down". The Scottish Sun. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  31. ↑ "Gary Harkins at the front of the queue for Dundee captain's armband". Daily Record. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  32. ↑ "Dundee skipper Gary Harkins vows to nag team mates onto glory". Daily Record. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Gary Harkins in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  34. ↑ "Dundee hit with 25-point penalty". BBC Sport. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  35. ↑ McDaid, David (4 November 2010). "Dundee can avoid relegation – Gary Harkins". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  36. ↑ "Watching Dundee go into administration has been darkest day of my career, says Gary Harkins". Daily Record. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  37. ↑ "Scotland's player of the year awards nominees announced". BBC Sport. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  38. ↑ "Dundee's Gary Harkins signs for Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  39. ↑ "HARKINS LEAVES". Dundee FC. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  40. ↑ "Kilmarnock's Gary Harkins suffers broken ankle in training". BBC Sport. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  41. ↑ "Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels dismisses talk of Harkins departure". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  42. 1 2 "Midfielder Gary Harkins leaves Kilmarnock for Dundee". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  43. ↑ "Kilmarnock 1 Dundee 2: Harkins returns to haunt old club and condemn Killie to the bottom six". Daily Record. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  44. ↑ "Dundee 1 Aberdeen 1: Dundee relegated from SPL after failing to beat Aberdeen at Dens Park". Daily Record. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  45. ↑ "Dundee: Gary Harkins unsure over future". BBC Sport. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  46. ↑ "Gary Harkins leaves Dundee, blaming collapsed Texan investment for his departure". Daily Record. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  47. ↑ "Midfielder Gary Harkins signs for St Mirren". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  48. ↑ "Inverness CT 3–0 St Mirren". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  49. ↑ "St Mirren 1 Kilmarnock 1: Kris Boyd sees red as Buddies make their point". Daily Record. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  50. ↑ "St Mirren 3 Queen of the South 0: Gary Harkins returns in style as Saints secure Scottish Cup progress". Daily Record. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  51. ↑ "Gary Harkins imagines keeping St Mirren spot". The Scotsman. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  52. ↑ "Gary Harkins' lack of work rate prompted departure from St Mirren". STV. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  53. ↑ "Oldham sign David Worrall, Gary Harkins and Adam Lockwood". BBC Sport. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  54. ↑ "Oldham Athletic 5–4 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  55. ↑ "Loanees Return To Parent Clubs". Oldham Athletic Official Website. 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  56. ↑ "Gary Harkins". www.saintmirren.net. St Mirren official website. 27 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  57. ↑ Dundee re-sign midfielder Gary Harkins on two-year deal, BBC Sport.
  58. ↑ "Dundee 2-0 Manchester City: Pellegrini's side lose first friendly".
  59. ↑ McLeod, Liam (9 August 2014). "Dundee 1–1 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  60. ↑ "Dundee 1 – 1 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  61. ↑ "Dundee 2 – 3 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  62. ↑ "Motherwell 1 – 3 Dundee". BBC Sport. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  63. ↑ "WWE star Randy Orton tweets approval of Dundee's 'RKO out of nowhere' celebration". The Independent. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  64. ↑ "Hamilton Academical 2 – 1 Dundee". BBC Sport. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  65. ↑ "Aberdeen 3 = 3 Dundee". BBC Sport. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  66. ↑ "Dundee's Iain Davidson ruled out for at least two weeks". The Courier. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  67. ↑ "Dundee's Jim McAlister recovering after hernia operation". The Courier. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  68. ↑ "Gary Harkins signs". Ayr United FC. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  69. ↑ Gary Harkins profile at Soccerway
  70. ↑ Includes matches in the Football League Trophy and Scottish Challenge Cup
  71. ↑ Includes 1 challenge cup game not recorded on Soccerbase or Soccerway. "Ayr Utd 2–1 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 18 September 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  72. ↑ Includes 2 challenge cup games not recorded on Soccerbase or Soccerway."Partick Thistle 2–1 Queen's Park". BBC Sport. 26 July 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2016. & "Livingston 0–2 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  73. ↑ "Dundee FC's Gary Harkins doesn't mind stick from Greenock boo boys". Paul Barnes. BBC. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  74. ↑ "Kilmarnock star Gary Harkins: Docs told me I have been playing with a broken ankle.. for four YEARS". Daily Record. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
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