David Wotherspoon (footballer, born 1990)

David Wotherspoon (born 16 January 1990) is a Scottish-born Canadian professional footballer who plays for St Johnstone, as a midfielder. Wotherspoon started his career with Hibernian and has also represented Scotland at youth international levels, up to and including the under-21 level. He has been capped by Canada at full international level.

David Wotherspoon
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-01-16) 16 January 1990[1]
Place of birth Perth, Scotland
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder[1]
Club information
Current team
 St Johnstone
Number 10
Youth career
0000–2007 Celtic
2007–2009 Hibernian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2013 Hibernian 132 (7)
2013– St Johnstone 226 (20)
National team‡
2007 Scotland U18 3 (0)
2008–2009 Scotland U19 5 (0)
2009–2012 Scotland U21 16 (2)
2018– Canada 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 March 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2019

Club career

Early career

Wotherspoon was part of Celtic's youth setup, but moved to Hibernian in the belief that he would have more opportunity to break into senior football.[2][3]

Hibernian

He was part of the Hibernian youth side that won both the Scottish Youth Cup and the Scottish league in the 2008–09 season, with Wotherspoon contributing eight goals from midfield.[4][5]

Wotherspoon made his senior debut in the 2–1 home win over St Mirren at the start of the 2009–10 season, scoring Hibs' first goal.[6] After establishing himself in the Hibs first team as a right back, Wotherspoon signed a contract with Hibs until 2013.[7]

During the 2010–11 season Wotherspoon was more often used as a right midfielder, and in early 2011 he scored two goals against St Mirren and St Johnstone to help his team go on a six-match unbeaten run. He had previously not scored in 63 matches and said that he wanted to start scoring more goals for Hibs.[8]

Wotherspoon's form improved in the early part of the 2012–13 season. He scored a late winning goal in the Scottish Cup tie against holders and Edinburgh derby rivals Hearts.[9] A decline in Hibs' fortunes during the season was mirrored by Wotherspoon personally, who lost his place in the side.[10] He left Hibs at the end of his contract in the 2013 close season.

St Johnstone

Wotherspoon signed a two-year contract with his hometown club St Johnstone on 2 July 2013.[10] On 10 July 2013, Wotherspoon scored a goal from a free-kick from 21 yards in a pre-season friendly against Cowdenbeath. This was his first appearance and his first goal for St Johnstone.[11] He scored his first league goal for the club with a free kick in a 4–0 win against Ross County on 17 August, and had a penalty kick saved in the same game.[12] Wotherspoon helped the club win the 2013–14 Scottish Cup.[13] He signed a new two-year contract with St Johnstone in January 2015.[13]

In February 2019, Wotherspoon extended his contract with St Johnstone for another two years.[14] On 26 October 2019, he made his 250th appearance for the club, and marked the occasion by scoring twice as St Johnstone won 3–2 against Hamilton Academical.[15]

International career

Scotland

Wotherspoon represented Scotland at under–18[16] and under–19[17][18] levels before he made his first team debut for Hibs. He was called into the under–21 squad soon after he made his senior club debut,[18][19] and he made his first appearance at that level in a 4–0 win against Azerbaijan in November 2009.[20] He scored his first goal for the team, a late equaliser in a 1–1 draw against Sweden, in August 2010.[21] His second goal was the match-winner in a 2–1 victory against the Netherlands in November 2011.[22]

Canada

Wotherspoon is eligible to play for Canada, as his mother was born there.[23] He was selected for the Canada squad in March 2018 for a friendly against New Zealand without ever having been to Canada.[24]

He was again called up for a pair of CONCACAF Nations League A matches against Cuba in September 2019.[25]

Style of play

Although he started out as a right back for Hibs, Wotherspoon has also played as a right-sided or attacking midfielder. His primary position is as a central midfielder and at the start of the 2011–12 season he expressed his desire to play there more often.[26] Although he also said that he was willing to play anywhere to be in the first team.[26] Manager Pat Fenlon experimented with a 4–2–3–1 formation, using Wotherspoon as a central creative player, during the 2012–13 pre-season.[27] These tactics were abandoned after a 3–0 defeat against Dundee United, with Wotherspoon then being used as a right midfielder in a more orthodox 4–4–2 shape.[27]

Personal life

Wotherspoon, who is from Bridge of Earn, was a St Johnstone supporter in his childhood.[28] His mother was born in Canada.[23]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 7 March 2020 [29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hibernian 2009–10[30] Scottish Premier League 3314[lower-roman 1]020—391
2010–11[31] 35220102[lower-alpha 1]0402
2011–12[32] 3004130—371
2012–13[33] 3443010—384
Total 132713170201548
St Johnstone 2013–14[34] Scottish Premiership 38150304[lower-alpha 1]0501
2014–15[35] 35120104[lower-alpha 1]0421
2015–16[36] 35910301[lower-alpha 1]0409
2016–17[37] 3312031—382
2017–18[38] 35320102[lower-alpha 1]0403
2018–19[39] 2922040—352
2019–20[40] 2133010—253
Total 2262017016111027021
Career total 3582730123113042429
  1. Appearances in the Europa League
  1. Soccerbase did not record an appearance made by Wotherspoon against Brechin City on 26 August 2009.

International
As of match played 11 September 2019[41]
Canada national team
YearAppsGoals
201810
201910
Total20

References
  1. "David Wotherspoon". Hibernian F.C. official website. Archived from the original on 4 November 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  2. "Hibs hand first team chance to seven starlets". Daily Record. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  3. Cameron, Neil (8 October 2009). "I had to quit Celtic to live my football dream, admits Hibs star David Wotherspoon". Daily Record. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  4. Hardie, David (29 April 2009). "Wotherspoon has a Hibs double on his mind". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  5. "Hibs Lift Scottish FA Youth Cup". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. 29 April 2009.
  6. Hardie, David (15 August 2009). "Hibernian 2 – 1 St Mirren: Late Benjelloun strike gets Hibs off to winning SPL start". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  7. "Wotherspoon extends stay at Hibs". BBC Sport. 18 December 2009.
  8. "Hibs: David Wotherspoon hopeful two goals in six matches will lead to further net gains". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  9. Moffat, Colin (2 December 2012). "Hibernian 1–0 Hearts". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  10. "St Johnstone sign David Wotherspoon from Hibernian". BBC Sport. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  11. "Wotherspoon goal enough to secure win at Cowdenbeath". St Johnstone FC. 11 July 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  12. Crawford, Kenny (17 August 2013). "Tommy Wright wants clarity over Stevie May's future". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  13. "St Johnstone: David Wotherspoon commits to club until 2017". BBC Sport. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  14. "St Johnstone: David Wotherspoon signs contract extension". BBC Sport. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  15. "St Johnstone 3 Hamilton 2 as Callum Hendry hits late winner to break Saints' Premiership duck". Daily Record. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  16. "David Wotherspoon – U18 Squad". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  17. "David Wotherspoon – U19 Squad". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  18. Dempster, Martin (7 October 2009). "Young gun David is in with more than a shout". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  19. "Scots call Forbes and Wotherspoon". BBC Sport. 29 September 2009.
  20. "David Wotherspoon – U21 Squad". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  21. Wright, Angus (12 August 2010). "Late strike draws better picture for Scotland Under-21s". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  22. Lindsay, Clive (14 November 2011). "Netherlands U21 1–2 Scotland U21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  23. https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/st-johnstone/729430/david-wotherspoon-fighting-to-get-back-into-the-st-johnstone-first-team/
  24. "St Johnstone's David Wotherspoon is called up by Canada after switch from Scotland". BBC Sport. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  25. Davidson, Neal (28 August 2019). "TFC's Richie Laryea, Cavalry FC's Marco Carducci called up for Canada games against Cuba". Hamilton Spectator.
  26. "David Wotherspoon wants central Hibs role". BBC Sport. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  27. McLauchlin, Brian (27 August 2012). "David Wotherspoon eyes regular run for Hibs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  28. Hardie, David (18 September 2009). "Hibs' Wotherspoon aims to beat boyhood heroes Saints". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  29. "David Wotherspoon". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  30. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  31. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  32. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  33. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  34. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  35. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  36. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  37. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  38. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  39. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  40. "Games played by David Wotherspoon in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  41. "David Wotherspoon profile". Canada Soccer. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
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