| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John James Ross | ||
| Date of birth | 5 June 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Falkirk, Scotland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1992–1993 | Dundee | ||
| 1993–1995 | Forfar Athletic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1995–1999 | Camelon Juniors | 0 | (0) |
| 1999–2004 | Clyde | 159 | (9) |
| 2004–2005 | Hartlepool United | 23 | (0) |
| 2005–2008 | Falkirk | 76 | (2) |
| 2008–2010 | St. Mirren | 64 | (1) |
| 2010 | Hamilton Academical | 2 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Dunfermline Athletic | 0 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2009 | Scotland B | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 February 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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John James "Jack" Ross (born 5 June 1976) is a former Scottish professional footballer who played in defence and midfield.
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Ross had spells as a youth player at Dundee and Forfar Athletic. He then moved to Camelon Juniors, where he featured in their 1996 Scottish Junior Cup run, before losing in the final.
He joined Clyde in 1999, playing in many different positions before settling in the right midfield role. He was made captain of the team when Ian Spittal was the team coach.
Ross then signed a pre-contractual agreement with Hartlepool United.[1] However, Ross was injured after suffering ankle ligament damage and spent a large part of his time on the sidelines.[2] Hartlepool funded his rehabilitation and also allowed him to return home. However, Ross refused to return to Hartlepool, train or play for the club and asked Hartlepool's chairman Ken Hodcroft to tear up his contract claiming his was homesick. Hartlepool refused and asked for compensation and a refund of agent fees.[3][4] Ross left without consent and later went on sick and claimed that he would not return to Hartlepool even if "they were in the Champions League". He also criticised Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper for feeling let down by his actions, stating that "maybe the manager thinks I have let him down but that's nothing compared with how I feel about him". On 31 July 2005, Hartlepool agreed to terminate his contract after finally receiving compensation, which included a refund of the fees paid to Ross's agent.[3]
Ross transferred to his home town club, Falkirk, in 2005 and was a regular in the team.
Falkirk manager John Hughes warned Ross when he stalled on signing a new contract.[5]
On 30 April 2008 it was announced that Ross had signed a pre-contract agreement with current Scottish Premier League rivals St Mirren and joined them at the end of the season on a two year deal.[6] Ross scored his first goal for St Mirren against Dundee United at Tannadice Park on 24 January 2009.
Having been released by St Mirren at the end of the 2009–10 season, Ross joined fellow Scottish Premier League club Hamilton Academical on a one year contract.[7] His contract with Hamilton Academical was cancelled after only three games.[8]
A few weeks later Ross signed for Dunfermline until the end of the 2010–11 season.[9] Unfortunately he sustained a knee injury in training which led to his eventual retirement from football without having played a game for the Pars.[10]
Ross was included in the Scotland B squad for the match against Northern Ireland B in May 2009. He came on at the start of the second half, replacing St. Mirren team mate Scott Cuthbert.
During his spell outside professional footballing and attended university in between, he achieved an MA Honours degree in Economics from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh in 1998.
Ross was the inaugural chairman of PFA Scotland players' union, heading a management committee consisting of players representing the views of those within the dressing room.
He also writes a weekly blog for the BBC Sport Scotland website.