Iain Russell

For other people with similar names, see Ian Russell.

Iain Thomas Russell (born 14 November 1982) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Iain Russell

Russell with Greenock Morton in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Iain Thomas Russell
Date of birth	(1982-11-14) 14 November 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth	Dumfries, Scotland
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Annan Athletic
	Rangers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2003	Motherwell	5	(0)
2003	→ Dumbarton (loan)	11	(3)
2003–2006	Dumbarton	92	(28)
2006–2007	Brechin City	36	(25)
2007–2010	Greenock Morton	60	(11)
2009	→ Alloa Athletic (loan)	6	(1)
2010	→ Stirling Albion (loan)	10	(7)
2010–2013	Livingston	93	(44)
2013–2016	Queen of the South	97	(32)
2016–2017	Airdrieonians	32	(18)
2018–2019	Dumbarton	23	(1)
2019–2021	Pollok	0	(0)
2020–2021	→ Cowdenbeath (loan)	14	(2)
Total		479	(172)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Russell came through the youth teams at Annan Athletic and Rangers before making a few appearances for Motherwell. Since leaving the Well, Russell has also played for Brechin City, Greenock Morton, Alloa Athletic and Stirling Albion (both loan spells), Livingston, Queen of the South, and Airdrieonians.

Background

Russell was born in Dumfries and grew up nearby in Annan. Russell is the grandson of the former Airdrieonians, Rangers and Scotland internationalist, Ian McMillan.^[2]

Career

Motherwell and Dumbarton

Russell started his career at Rangers,^[3] although he did not feature for the first team, and first played in the first team for Motherwell and then Dumbarton. He played over 100 games for Dumbarton and was the club's player of the year in 2005.

Brechin City

Russell struggled with a hamstring injury throughout the opening period of his Brechin City career, but two goals against Stranraer on 28 October 2006 at Glebe Park saw him open his account. He was the season's top scorer with 15 goals to his name.

Russell was working his way through a quantity surveying degree at Glasgow Caledonian University whilst at Brechin. Since signing on full-time at Morton it has been put on hold.^[4] In February 2007, Russell signed a new contract with Brechin.^[5]

Greenock Morton, Alloa Athletic and Stirling Albion

Russell left for Greenock Morton in August 2007 for an undisclosed fee (believed to be £40,000).^[6] He scored nine goals in all competitions in his first season with Morton, finishing two goals behind top goalscorer Peter Weatherson.

In September 2009, Russell was loaned out to Second Division side Alloa Athletic.^[7] After returning for Alloa, he was sent out on loan again, this time to the Wasps rivals Stirling Albion.^[8]

Writing in world football magazine Inside Futbol in March 2010, Russell called for the Scottish Premier League to look at an 18 team top division in order to "move forward to keep fans interested".^[9] On 20 April 2010, Russell scored the winner in a 2–1 victory over Clyde to relegate the Bully Wee.^[10] Despite his contribution to the championship win, Russell did not play enough games to win a Championship medal, but manager Allan Moore gave him his medal in gratitude for his efforts.^[11]

After his manager at Stirling, took over at Cappielow, Russell was offered a year's extension to his deal which had run out in May 2010.^[12] Russell declined the offer.

Livingston

Russell signed a two-year deal with Livingston in June 2010^[13] Russell signed a one-year contract extension with Livingston in May 2012.^[14] Russell left Livingston in May 2013 after the end of his contract.^[15] In his 3 years at the club he made 93 league appearances and scored 44 goals.

Queen of the South

Russell signed for Queen of the South on 21 May 2013.^[16] Queens ended the season in fourth place in the Scottish football second tier for a first ever taste of play off football. Queens were eliminated 4-3 after extra time in the second leg away at Falkirk. Queens finished in the fourth place play off place again in 2014/15. League opposition included Hibs, Rangers and the season's runaway divisional winners, Hearts. Hibs and Rangers were both beaten twice by Queens. The 3-0 home win v Rangers was the best of the bunch. Rangers brought Queens` play off campaign to an end with a 3-2 aggregate QoS defeat. Russell spent three seasons with the Dumfries side making over 100 first team appearances.^[17]

Airdrieonians

Russell next signed for Airdrieonians on 21 May 2016. Russell is the grandson of Airdrie legend and Honorary President Ian McMillan.^[18] During his one season at the Diamonds, Russell scored a hat-trick of penalties on 22 October 2016, in a 4-1 win over Queen's Park. Russell's three penalties were scored in the 9th, 28th and 74th minutes respectively.^[19][20]

Dumbarton (second spell)

After announcing his retirement in June 2017, Russell reconsidered his decision and signed a deal with part-time Scottish Championship club Dumbarton on 12 January 2018 until the end of the 2017-18 season, having previously played with the Sons from 2003 until 2006.^[21]

On 23 January 2018, Russell scored the winning goal on his first start following his return to the club, in a 3-2 Scottish Cup fourth round win away to Peterhead.^[22] After scoring twice as a trialist in pre-season with the Sons, he signed a new one-year deal in July 2018.^[23]

Pollok

On 21 June 2019, Russell put pen to paper for Pollok on what was to be his first experience of the Junior Game.^[24]

On 17 July 2019 He made his first appearance for the club in a friendly against rivals Arthurlie.

Russell was loaned to Cowdenbeath in the autumn of 2020. He made his debut for Cowden in a League Cup match against Raith Rovers on 14 November.^[25]

Cowdenbeath

On 19 December 2020, Russell scored his two hundredth career goal against Brechin in a two nil victory for the Blue Brazil.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Scottish Cup		Scottish League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Motherwell	2002–03[26]	Scottish Premier League	5	0	0	0	0	0	—		5	0
Dumbarton (loan)	2002–03[26]	Scottish Second Division	11	3	—		—		—		11	3
Dumbarton	2003–04[27]	Scottish Second Division	31	9	0	0	1	0	1[a]	0	33	9
	2004–05[28]		31	11	3	1	1	1	1[a]	0	36	13
	2005–06[29]		30	8	1	1	1	0	1[a]	0	33	9
	Total		92	28	4	2	3	1	3	0	102	31
Brechin City	2006–07[30]	Scottish Second Division	32	21	3	1	1	0	3[b]	1	39	23
	2007–08[31]		4	4	0	0	1	0	1[a]	2	6	6
	Total		36	25	3	1	2	0	4	3	45	29
Greenock Morton	2007–08[31]	Scottish First Division	30	8	4	1	—		—		34	9
	2008–09[32]		25	3	1	0	3	4	2[a]	0	31	7
	2009–10[33]		5	0	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	6	0
	Total		60	11	5	1	3	4	3	0	71	16
Alloa Athletic (loan)	2009–10[34]	Scottish Second Division	6	1	0	0	0	0	—		6	1
Stirling Albion (loan)	2009–10[33]	Scottish Second Division	10	7	0	0	0	0	—		10	7
Livingston	2010–11[35]	Scottish Second Division	34	21	0	0	0	0	0	0	34	21
	2011–12[36]	Scottish First Division	26	8	1	0	1	2	3[a]	2	31	12
	2012–13[37]		33	15	0	0	3	3	0	0	36	18
	Total		93	44	1	0	4	5	3	2	101	51
Queen of the South	2013–14[38]	Scottish Championship	34	13	3	1	3	0	3[c]	0	43	14
	2014–15[39]		32	8	3	1	2	3	3[d]	1	40	13
	2015–16[40]		31	11	1	0	2	0	1[a]	0	35	11
	Total		97	32	7	2	7	3	7	1	118	38
Airdrieonians	2016–17[41]	Scottish League One	32	18	1	0	4	1	4[e]	1	41	20
Dumbarton	2017–18[42]	Scottish Championship	7	0	2	1	—		5	0	14	1
	2018–19[43]	Scottish League One	16	1	0	0	3	0	2	1	21	2
	Total		23	1	2	1	3	0	7	1	35	3
Cowdenbeath (loan)	2020–21[43]	Scottish League Two	14	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	16	2
Career total			479	172	24	7	27	14	31	8	561	201

1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
2. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup, two appearances and a goal in the First Division play-offs
3. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Premiership play-offs
4. One appearance and a goal in the Scottish Challenge Cup; two appearances in the Premiership play-offs
5. Two appearances and a goal in the Scottish Challenge Cup; two appearances in the Championship play-offs

Honours

Stirling Albion

• Scottish Football League Second Division, 2009–10

Livingston

• Scottish Football League Second Division, 2010–11

See also

• Greenock Morton F.C. season 2008-09 | 09-10

Notes

1. Iain Russell at Soccerway
2. "'A dream come true': Iain Russell's delight after signing for Airdrieonians". 25 May 2016.
3. "Iain Russell". Brechin City F.C. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
4. "1. First Team :: Iain Russell's profile". Greenock Morton F.C. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
5. "Brechin secure trio on new deals". BBC Sport. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
6. "Morton sign Russell and Gardyne". BBC Sport. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
7. "Iain Russell joins Alloa Athletic on loan". Greenock Morton F.C. 11 September 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
8. "Player News". Greenock Morton F.C. 26 March 2010. Archived from the original on 31 March 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
9. "Scottish Premier League Must Lead the Way in Restructuring". insidefutbol.com. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
10. "Clyde 1–2 Stirling Albion". BBC Sport. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
11. "MOORE deserves a medal". inverclydenow.com. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
12. "Russell offered a new contract". Greenock Telegraph. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
13. "Russell becomes second summer signing". Livingston F.C. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
14. "Beanie staying put". Livingston F.C. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
15. "Player departures". Livingston F.C. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
16. "Iain Russell". Archived from the original on 24 September 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
17. Club History qosfc.com
18. "Iain Russell joins the Diamonds". Airdrieonians F.C. 23 May 2016. Archived from the original on 26 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
19. "Airdrieonians 4 Queen's Park 1: Russell's hat-trick of penalties lifts Diamonds". 22 October 2016.
20. "Airdrieonians v Queen's Park". BBC Sport.
21. "Breaking news: Iain Russell is a Sons player again". Dumbarton FC. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
22. Davie, Scott (23 January 2018). "Peterhead 2-3 Dumbarton". BBC Sport.
23. Galloway, Andy (7 July 2018). "SIGNING NEWS: BEANY COMES BACK". Dumbarton Football Club.
24. "Welcome to Pollok... Iain Russell". Pollok Football Club. 21 June 2019.
25. Stark, Jim (17 November 2020). "Raith Rovers beat Cowdenbeath in Betfred Cup". Central Fife Times. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
26. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
27. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
28. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
29. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
30. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
31. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
32. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
33. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
34. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
35. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
36. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
37. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
38. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
39. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
40. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
41. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
42. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
43. "Games played by Iain Russell in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.

External links

• Iain Russell at Soccerbase
• Iain Russell at Soccerbase (loan spell at Alloa)