Michael Tidser

Michael Tidser (born 15 January 1990) is a Scottish former footballer, who currently manages Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic.

Michael Tidser

Personal information
Full name	Michael Tidser[1]
Date of birth	(1990-01-15) 15 January 1990 (age 35)
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Dunfermline Athletic (manager)
Youth career
2005–2009	Celtic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2010	Östersunds	0	(0)
2010–2013	Greenock Morton	103	(9)
2013–2015	Rotherham United	11	(0)
2014	→ Ross County (loan)	16	(0)
2014–2015	→ Oldham Athletic (loan)	5	(0)
2015–2019	Greenock Morton	102	(9)
2019–2020	Falkirk	9	(0)
2020–2025	Kelty Hearts	105	(6)
International career
2007	Scotland U18	3	(1)
2008	Scotland U19	3	(0)
Managerial career
2023–2025	Kelty Hearts
2025–	Dunfermline Athletic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:49, 17 January 2025 (UTC)

Tidser began his career with Celtic, before spending a short spell in Sweden with Östersunds FK. Tidser then returned to Scotland to spend three seasons at Greenock Morton, where he made well over 100 appearances. Tidser then moved to English club Rotherham United. After spells on loan with Ross County and Oldham Athletic, Tidser returned to Morton in 2015. After leaving Morton in 2019 he had a short spell with Falkirk.

He is a former Scotland U19 international and features in the 2012–13 First Division team of the year as Morton finished second in the league.

Club career

Born in Glasgow, Tidser started his career with Celtic and was captain of the Under 19's before being released.^[3] He then signed a short-term contract with Swedish side Östersunds FK.^[4]

Morton

After his contract expired with Östersunds, he signed an 18-month deal with Greenock Morton.^[5]

Tidser would make an impressive start for the club, which resulted winning Young Player of the Month for March 2010^[6] and has been watched by Rangers coach Kenny McDowall.^[7]

In 2010/11 season, Tidser scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–0 win over Partick Thistle.^[8] His impressive performance continued with Scottish Premier League's Kilmarnock and League One side Huddersfield Town, but no avail.^[9] Then, on 12 February 2011, Tidser then sent off after a second bookable offence, in a 1–0 loss against Falkirk.^[10] After the match, Manager Allan Moore said he was disappointed with Tidser's action.^[11] In April 2011, Tidser signed a new three-year deal with Morton.^[12]

In 2011/12 season, Tidser started the season well, scoring his first goal of the season, before providing an assist for Peter MacDonald to score a winning goal, in a 2–1 win over Livingston on 13 August 2011. A week later, on 23 August 2011, he scored again and setting up a goal for MacDonald, in the second round of the Scottish League Cup, in a 4–3 loss against St Mirren. However, his early season was overshadowed with a knee problem.^[13][14] Following an operation, it was announced that he will be out for two-months, he was expected to come back in December.^[15] Soon in mid-November, Tidser resumed training.^[16] Upon recovering from injury, Tidser spoke to the Greenock Telegraph describing his sidelined from injury as "torture" and hard to make a return.^[17] In January 2012, after Stuart McCaffrey was ruled out for the season, Tidser was made Morton's team captain just after his 22nd birthday.^[18] On 20 March 2012, he scored his second goal of the season, in a 2–0 win over Falkirk.

In 2012–13 season, Tidser had a good season with the club, having made a good display to compete with Partick Thistle to get promoted to Scottish Premier League, which Morton finished second. On 6 October 2012 Tidser provided a double assist for Kevin Rutkiewicz and Mark McLaughlin, in a 3–1 win over Partick. It wasn't until 29 December 2012 when Tidser scored twice, in a 4–2 win over Dunfermline Athletic. That was followed up on 26 January 2013 when he scored in a 1–0 win over Raith Rovers. His next goal came on 23 February 2013 when he, again, scored against Dunfermline Athletic, with the same result on 29 December 2012. On 16 March 2013, Tidser scored his final goal of the season, in a 3–0 win over Dumbarton. During the season, he also made a good display by making assists. He also scored five times in the Scottish Cup, including a brace against Albion Rovers and Turriff United, which was scored in the Scottish Cup replay. However, Tidser suffered a groin injury, that ruled him out for the rest of the season.^[19]

After a great season, Tidser was nominated for the 2012–13 First Division Player of the Year.^[20] It got better for Tidser when he won the supporters' club awards.^[21] In June 2013, Tidser was the subject of a £50k bid from Rotherham United, which was rejected by Morton chairman Douglas Rae at first.^[22] Soon the bid was made again, but this time it was accepted five days later.^[23]

Rotherham United

Tidser officially signed for Rotherham United on 3 July 2013.^[24] The following week, on 9 July 2013, Tidser played against his former club Morton; when brought on, as a late substitute, he was given a standing ovation by Morton's fans.^[25]

After featuring on the bench in the first two matches of the opening game of the 2013–14 season, Tidser finally made his debut after coming on as a late substitute in a 2–1 win over Crawley Town. However his start at Rotherham United didn't go as planned for him as his appearances had "mostly have been off the bench".^[26]

On 3 January 2014, Tidser joined Ross County on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season, in order to help the club retain their Scottish Premiership status next season.^[27][28] Tidser made his Ross County debut the next day, coming on as a substitute in the second half, in a 1–0 win over St Johnstone.^[29] Tidser's playing time increased, playing in midfielder position and assisted twice in two games against Hibernian on 15 February 2014 and St Mirren on 22 February 2014. However, his knee injury put Tidser out for the remainder of the season.^[30] Tidser made 16 appearances for Ross County and returned to his parent club at the end of the season.^[31]

After making his return to Rotherham United, Tidser made his first appearance in a year for the club, in a 1–0 win over Fleetwood Town in the first round of the League Cup.^[32] Tidser made two more appearances for the club, against Watford in the league^[33] and another League Cup appearance against Swansea City.^[34] But on 1 September 2014, in the last hour of Deadline Day, Tidser signed for Oldham Athletic on loan until January 2015.^[35] Tidser made his Oldham Athletic debut in the second round of Football League Trophy, which they beat Barnsley 4–2 on penalty shoot-out.^[36] However, Tidser struggled for the first team at the club and made seven appearances in all competitions.^[37]

He was released in January 2015 after two years at Rotherham United, and was quickly on the radar of former club Morton.^[38][39]

Return to Morton

In January 2015, Tidser returned to Morton on a two-and-a-half-year deal.^[40] He was unable, however, to play until the 2015–16 season due to FIFA transfer regulations.^[41] Because of this, Tidser played in the club's reserve matches, in order to maintain his fitness throughout the season.^[42]

His 2015–16 season with Morton was limited to very few appearances before finally being ruled out all together in March after suffering a suspected hernia.^[43]

In June 2017, Tidser signed a two-year extension with the club.^[44]

Falkirk

Tidser signed for Falkirk on 10 June 2019^[45] and played for the club during the 2019–20 season, which was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kelty Hearts

Kelty Hearts signed Tidser in 2020.

In April 2023, Kelty Hearts announced that Tidser would become their new manager.^[46]

International career

Tidser made three appearances for both the Scotland under-18 and under-19 sides, scoring once for the under-18's against Turkey.^[47]

Career statistics

As of match played 17 January 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Greenock Morton	2009–10[48]	Scottish First Division	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
	2010–11[49]		34	1	3	0	1	0	0	0	38	1
	2011–12[50]		25	2	2	0	2	1	1[a]	0	30	3
	2012–13[51]		31	6	3	3	2	1	1[a]	1	37	11
	Total		103	9	8	3	5	2	2	1	118	15
Rotherham United	2013–14[52]	League One	10	0	2	0	2	0	2[b]	0	16	0
	2014–15[53]	Championship	1	0	0	0	2	0	–		3	0
	Total		11	0	2	0	4	0	2	0	19	0
Ross County (loan)	2013–14[52]	Scottish Premiership	16	0	0	0	0	0	—		16	0
Oldham Athletic (loan)	2014–15[53]	League One	5	0	0	0	—		2[b]	0	7	0
Greenock Morton	2015–16[54]	Scottish Championship	16	0	1	0	2	1	0	0	19	1
	2016–17[55]		28	1	2	2	5	0	3[c]	0	38	3
	2017–18[56]		28	3	3	0	4	0	1[a]	0	36	3
	2018–19[57]		30	5	3	0	4	3	0	0	37	8
	Total		102	9	9	2	15	4	4	0	130	15
Falkirk	2019–20[58]	Scottish League One	9	0	1	0	4	0	0	0	14	0
Kelty Hearts	2020–21[59]	Lowland League	12	0	1	0	4	1	4[d]	1	21	2
	2021–22[60]	Scottish League Two	33	2	5	0	4	0	1	1	43	3
	2022–23[61]	Scottish League One	31	1	1	0	4	0	4[a]	0	40	1
	2023–24[62]		29	3	1	0	4	0	0	0	34	3
	2024-25[63]		10	0	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	11	0
	Kelty Hearts Total		115	6	8	0	16	1	10	2	149	9
Career total			361	24	28	5	44	7	20	3	453	39

1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
2. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
3. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Premiership play-offs
4. Two appearances in the Pyramid Playoffs Semi Final and two in the Scottish League Two Playoffs.

Managerial record

As of match played 22 February 2025

Team	From	To	Record
G	W	D	L	Win %
Kelty Hearts	17 May 2023	16 January 2025	71	26	16	29	036.62
Dunfermline Athletic	17 January 2025	Present	8	3	2	3	037.50
Total			79	29	18	32	036.71

Honours

Club

Kelty Hearts

• Lowland League: 2019–20, 2020–21

Scottish League Two 2021-22

Individual

Greenock Morton

• SFL Young Player of the Month – March 2010^[6]
• First Division Player of the Year nominee – 2012–13^[20]
• First Division Team of the Year – 2012–13^[64]

References

1. "Michael Tidser". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
2. Michael Tidser at Soccerway
3. Fisher, Stewart (17 January 2010). "Having fallen foul of a cull at Celtic, Morton's Carlo Monti and Michael Tidser aren't looking back in anger". The Herald. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
4. "Makel appointed Ostersund coach". BBC Sport. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
5. "New signing confirmed". gmfc.net. 13 January 2009. Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
6. "IRN-BRU Phenomenal Awards for March announced". Scottish Football League. 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
7. "Tuesday's Scottish gossip". BBC Sport. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
8. "Morton 2–0 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
9. "Friday's Scottish gossip". BBC Sport. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
10. "Falkirk 1–0 Morton". BBC Sport. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
11. "Moore: Tids only has self to blame". Greenock Telegraph. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
12. Mitchell, Jonathan (15 April 2011). "Tidser Agrees 3-year Ton Deal". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
13. "Tidser doubtful for Bairns clash". Greenock Telegraph. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
14. "Nervous wait on injuries". Greenock Telegraph. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
15. "Darren: I can fill gap left by Tids". Greenock Telegraph. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
16. "Fouad's foot break agony". Greenock Telegraph. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
17. "Tidser looking for return to action". Greenock Telegraph. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
18. Tait, Chris (20 January 2012). "Tidser named new Morton captain". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
19. "Missing training is a pain for Tidser". Greenock Telegraph. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
20. Mitchell, Jonathan (26 April 2013). "Tidser: Delighted to be nominated". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
21. "Terrace Talk: Fans' view". Greenock Telegraph. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
22. Mitchell, Jonathan (21 June 2013). "£50k bid for Tidser rejected". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
23. Mitchell, Jonathan (26 June 2013). "Tidser set for Rotherham talks". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
24. Mitchell, Jonathan (3 July 2013). "BREAKING NEWS: Tidser signs for Rotherham". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
25. "Greenock Morton 0–0 Rotherham United FT". Sheffield Telegraph. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
26. "Double boost for County". BT Sports. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
27. "Triple Signing". rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
28. "Tidser backs Ross County to win survival battle". The Highland News. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
29. "Ross County 2–0 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 4 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
30. "Scottish Premiership briefing". Sporting Life. 2 May 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
31. "Summer shake-up on cards at Ross County". Highland News. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
32. "Rotherham United 1–0 (aet) Fleetwood Town". BBC Sport. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
33. "Rotherham United 0 – 2 Watford". BBC Sport. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
34. "Swansea City 1–0 Rotherham United". BBC Sport. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
35. "Latics Land Player on Deadline Day". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
36. "Oldham Athletic 2–2 (aet) (4–2 penalty shoot-out) Barnsley". BBC Sport. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
37. "Loans Return To Parent Clubs". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 6 January 2015. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
38. Mitchell, Jonathan (13 January 2015). "Morton in bid for Tidser". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
39. "Millers agree Tidser release". Rotherham United F.C. 9 January 2015. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
40. Mitchell, Jonathan (22 January 2015). "Tidser seals Morton return". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
41. -Mitchell, Jonathan (23 January 2015). "Tidser transfer hits red tape". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
42. "Tidser stays sharp in Morton Under-20s". Greenock Telegraph. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
43. Mitchell, Jonathan (14 March 2016). "Injured Morton star's season could be over". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
44. Mitchell, Jonathan (8 June 2017). "Tidser signs two-year contract". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
45. "Michael Tidser Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. 10 June 2019.
46. "Kelty Hearts Enter New Chapter in its History". Kelty Hearts FC. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
47. "Michael Tidser". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
48. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
49. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
50. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
51. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
52. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
53. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
54. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
55. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
56. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
57. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
58. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
59. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
60. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
61. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
62. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
63. "Games played by Michael Tidser in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
64. Mitchell, Jonathan (3 May 2013). "Moore: Players should put uncertainty behind them". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 3 May 2013.

External links

• Michael Tidser at Soccerbase