Alan McCormack

For the Irish Olympic cyclist, see Alan McCormack (cyclist).
Alan McCormack
Personal information
Full nameAlan McCormack
Date of birth10 January 1984
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing positionDefensive midfielder, right back, centre back
Club information
Current team
Brentford
Number12
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2002–2007Preston North End11(0)
2003→ Leyton Orient (loan)10(0)
2005→ Southend United (loan)7(2)
2005–2006→ Motherwell (loan)24(2)
2006→ Southend United (loan)8(1)
2007–2010Southend United130(15)
2010–2011Charlton Athletic24(1)
2011–2013Swindon Town80(2)
2013–Brentford57(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 November 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).

Alan McCormack (born 10 January 1984, in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or right back for Brentford. He began his career at Preston North End, later playing for Southend United, Charlton Athletic and Swindon Town before signing for Brentford in 2013.

Playing career

Preston North End

McCormack was born in Dublin. He signed for Division One side Preston North End in 2002, after impressing on trial. Handed the number 27 shirt, McCormack and made his debut on 6 March 2004 in a league match against Burnley, when he replaced Dickson Etuhu after 55 minutes.[1] He made his first Preston start in the following game against Sunderland, lasting 79 minutes before being substituted for Jeff Smith during a 3–3 draw.[2] McCormack made three more appearances before the end of the 2003–04 season, taking his total appearances for the campaign to five.[3] McCormack made four appearances at the beginning of the 2004–05 season,[4] but was made available for transfer in September 2004 and didn't feature in the first team at all after November.[5]

After spending the entire 2005–06 season away on loan,[6] McCormack made his first Preston appearance in nearly two years when he replaced Kelvin Wilson after 41 minutes of a 1–1 Championship home draw with Queens Park Rangers on 19 August 2006.[7] He played two further games in September 2006, with the latter match against Stoke City on 30 September being his final Preston appearance.[8] With his contract up at the end of the 2006–07 season, McCormack handed in a transfer request in November 2006 and left the club on 1 January 2007.[9] He made a total of 12 appearances for the club.[10] Looking back in August 2012 on his time with the Lilywhites, McCormack said "I had a great few years there and I learnt a hell of a lot – enough to help me go on and continue my career in the professional game in England. I've got a lot of time and a lot of credit for that, I look back and I never have a bad word to say about it. I've got nothing but good things to say about the club, I'll always have fond memories of the place".[11]

Leyton Orient (loan)

McCormack signed on a one-month loan for Division Three side Leyton Orient on 29 August 2003[12] and made his professional debut in a 4–1 home defeat to Cheltenham Town the following day, replacing Billy Jones at half time.[13] McCormack received the first red card of his career in a 0–0 draw with Lincoln City on 13 September, leaving the proceedings after committing two bookable offences.[14] In late September, caretaker manager Martin Ling extended McCormack's loan until 1 November.[15] He was sent off again in a 1–1 draw with Northampton Town on 25 October.[16] McCormack made 11 appearances (amassing six yellow cards and two reds) before returning to Preston in November after his loan expired.

Southend United (loan)

McCormack signed on loan for League Two side Southend United on 16 March 2005[17][18] and wearing the number 28 shirt, he made his debut with a start in a 3–0 victory over Cheltenham Town on 15 March.[19] In April, the loan was extended until the end of the 2004/05 season.[20] McCormack was an 81st minute substitute for Mark Gower during the 2005 Football League Trophy Final against Wrexham at the Millennium Stadium on 10 April, though he was denied the first silverware of his career after Wrexham won 2–0 after extra time.[21] McCormack scored the first senior goals of his career with a brace in a 2–1 away victory over Macclesfield Town on 19 April.[22] McCormack left the club at the end of the season when his loan expired, having made 8 appearances and scored two goals.[4]

Motherwell (loan)

McCormack spent the entire 2005–06 season on loan at Scottish Premier League side Motherwell.[6] He made 28 appearances in all competitions, scored two goals and collected twelve yellow cards and one red.[23]

Southend United (return on loan and permanent transfer)

McCormack returned to Southend United on loan on 18 November 2006, initially until 1 January 2007, with a view to a permanent move.[24] Successive promotions from League Two and League One in 2004–05 and 2005–06 saw Southend competing in the Championship for the 2006–07 season. McCormack scored the first goal of his second Southend stint against Southampton in a 2–1 league victory on 9 December.[25] After an impressive spell, assistant manager Paul Brush confirmed on 11 December that McCormack would make his move to Southend permanent in January 2007.[26] On 2 January, McCormack signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Shrimpers.[17] He scored his first goal since signing permanently against Leicester City on 3 March 2007, coming off the bench to level the scores at 2–2 in injury time.[27] On 9 April, he scored an 88th minute goal in a 3–2 away victory over his previous employers, Preston North End[28] (his strike was voted goal of the season), though it was not enough to save Southend from relegation to League One. McCormack made 26 appearances and scored three goals during the 2006–07 season.[29]

During the 2007–08 season, McCormack formed a formidable centre midfield partnership with Nicky Bailey. The pair managed 20 goals between them, with McCormack bagging 9, which included a run of five goals in seven games in September 2007.[30] McCormack was influential in Southend's sixth-place finish, though their season ended with a playoff semi-final defeat to Doncaster Rovers. In June 2008, he signed a new three-year contract.[31] McCormack suffered a knee injury during the 2008–09 pre-season which kept him out of action for eight weeks.[32] After his return, he went on to make 38 appearances during the season, scoring two goals.[33] He played the full 90 minutes in a memorable 1–1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup third round on 3 January 2009.[34] He missed the replay, which Southend lost 4–1.[35] McCormack made 43 appearances and scored three goals during the 2009–10 season,[36] though his final season at Southend finished on a sour note as the club suffered relegation to League Two. On 24 June 2010, McCormack had his contract terminated by mutual consent.[37] Over the course of his two spells with the Shrimpers, McCormack made 166 appearances and scored 19 goals.[10]

Charlton Athletic

McCormack remained in League One and signed a two-year deal with Charlton Athletic on 6 July 2010.[38] His time at The Valley got off to a good start, scoring against former club Leyton Orient on his second appearance,[39] though it turned out to be his only goal for Charlton. He made 31 appearances over the course of the 2010–11 season,[40] as Charlton slumped to a mid-table finish. McCormack's contract was terminated by mutual consent in July 2011.[41] Looking back in August 2014 on his time with the Addicks, McCormack said "it wasn’t a great year and I didn’t play particularly well. It was a bit hostile. There was a lot of stuff on the internet sent to me, so it wasn’t a pretty time and I don’t look back at it with fond memories".[42]

Swindon Town

After a spell training with Swindon Town, McCormack signed a two year deal with the League Two club on 21 July 2011.[17][43] He was moved from his natural midfield position to the defence and formed a centre back partnership with Aden Flint. He enjoyed a successful first season with the club, making 51 appearances, scoring two goals[44] and winning the League Two title and Swindon's Player Of The Season award.[45] He was a losing finalist in the Football League Trophy for the second time in his career, after Swindon were beaten 2–0 by Chesterfield in the 2012 final. Under the management of Paolo Di Canio, McCormack had a good 2012–13 season back in League One, being named captain,[11] making 47 appearances[46] and helping Swindon to a 6th place finish which saw them qualify for the playoffs, though they would eventually be defeated on penalties by Brentford in the semi-finals. He was released by the club after the season, after failing to agree a new contract.[47] McCormack made 98 appearances and scored two goals during his two seasons with the Robins.[10] After leaving the club, he stated his reason for departing as being because "the first offer I got from Swindon disappointed me, I just felt that I was worth more to the club than a one-year offer. When they sent me the offer I was really gutted and disappointed and that really let me know in my head that maybe it was time to move on to another club".[48]

Brentford

On 24 June 2013, McCormack signed a two-year deal at Brentford,[49] who had remained in League One after suffering defeat in the 2013 League One playoff final. He began the 2013–14 season in his natural midfield position, before being moved to right back by Uwe Rösler in October to replace out-of-form Shaleum Logan. McCormack scored his first Brentford goal in an FA Cup first round tie against local neighbours Staines Town on 9 November, opening the scoring with a penalty in a 5–0 victory.[50] The unavailability of Jonathan Douglas and Adam Forshaw meant that McCormack returned to central midfield for a 2–0 win over Port Vale on 11 January 2014.[51] He scored his first goal for the Bees on 22 March, lobbing Coventry City goalkeeper Joe Murphy to score Brentford's third in a 3–1 victory at Griffin Park.[52] A near ever-present under Uwe Rösler and his successor Mark Warburton, McCormack celebrated promotion to the Championship after a 1–0 victory over former club Preston North End on 18 April.[53] After the final game of the season against Stevenage on 3 May, McCormack said "I am ecstatic. On Good Friday, against Preston, it was the best feeling of the season. Today, knowing we were up, it was a matter of getting three points and enjoying the ceremony. It is hard to sum up the feeling and emotions".[54] He finished the 2013–14 season with 45 appearances and two goals[55] and won the club's Supporters' Player of the Year award and was named as the right back in the League One Team of the Season.[56][57]

McCormack's first appearance of the 2014–15 season came on the opening day against former club Charlton Athletic, playing right back in the 1–1 draw.[58] After starting in each of the Bees' first seven league games, McCormack signed a new two-year deal, with the option of a third year, which will keep him at Griffin Park until at least June 2016.[59] McCormack celebrated the signing by scoring his first goal of the season with the Bees' second in a 2–0 win over Leeds United on 27 September.[60] McCormack's status as an ever-present in league matches came to an end after suffering an ankle ligament injury after 70 minutes of a 3–1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers on 25 October.[61] He returned to light training in January 2015 and made his first team return as a 74th minute substitute for Toumani Diagouraga during a 3–1 victory over Bournemouth on 21 February.[62][63]

Coaching career

McCormack began taking his coaching badges in late September 2014 and hinted that he is interested in entering coaching and management after his playing career is over.[64]

Honours

As a player

Swindon Town

Brentford

As an individual

References

  1. ↑ "Gamecast: Burnley v Preston North End – English League Championship". Espn Fc. 2004-03-06. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  2. ↑ "Gamecast: Sunderland v Preston North End – English League Championship". Espn Fc. 2004-03-10. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  3. ↑ "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2003/2004". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2004/2005". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  5. ↑ "Unofficial Preston NE – Midfielder Alan McCormack stays at The Shrimpers". Thefootballnetwork.net. 2005-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Custom byline text:  From the archive (2005-07-30). "McCormack checks in at Fir Park after Davies' recommendation". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  7. ↑ "Gamecast: Preston North End v Queens Park Rangers – English League Championship". Espn Fc. 2006-08-19. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  8. ↑ "Gamecast: Stoke City v Preston North End – English League Championship". Espn Fc. 2006-09-30. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  9. ↑ "McCormack is back out on loan – Lancashire Evening Post". Lep.co.uk. 2006-11-18. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Age 30". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "McCormack Returns To Where It All Began". Pnefc.net. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  12. ↑ "Transfers". Leytonorient.com. 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  13. ↑ "Match: Leyton Orient v Cheltenham Town – English League Two". Espn Fc. 2003-08-30. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  14. ↑ "Match: Lincoln City v Leyton Orient – English League Two – ESPN FC". Soccernet.espn.go.com. 2003-09-13. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  15. ↑ "Orient extend McCormack loan | Football News". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  16. ↑ "Match: Leyton Orient v Northampton Town – English League Two – ESPN FC". Soccernet.espn.go.com. 2003-10-25. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Alan McCormack – Brentford – Player Profile – Sky Sports Football". SkySports. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "BBC Sport – Football – Southend midfielder Alan McCormack ends year on high". BBC News. 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  19. ↑ "Match: Cheltenham Town v Southend United – English League Two". Espn Fc. 2005-03-19. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  20. ↑ "Blues extend Macca loan for further month (From Echo)". Echo-news.co.uk. 2005-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  21. ↑ "Latest News". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  22. ↑ "Match: Macclesfield Town v Southend United – English League Two". Espn Fc. 2005-04-19. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  23. ↑ "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2005/2006". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  24. ↑ "Southend land McCormack | Football News". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  25. ↑ "Gamecast: Southend United v Southampton – English League Championship". Espn Fc. 2006-12-09. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  26. ↑ "McCormack set to be permanent fixture (From Echo)". Echo-news.co.uk. 2006-12-11. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  27. ↑ "Gamecast: Southend United v Leicester City – English League Championship". Espn Fc. 2007-03-03. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  28. ↑ "Gamecast: Preston North End v Southend United – English League Championship". Espn Fc. 2007-04-09. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  29. ↑ "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2006/2007". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  30. ↑ "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2007/2008". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  31. ↑ "BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Southend | McCormack signs new Southend deal". BBC News. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  32. ↑ "Southend United midfielder Alan McCormack is seeking a return to the starting line-up (From Echo)". Echo-news.co.uk. 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  33. ↑ "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2008/2009". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  34. ↑ "BBC SPORT | Football | FA Cup | Chelsea 1–1 Southend". BBC News. 2009-01-03. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  35. ↑ Lyon, Sam (2009-01-14). "BBC SPORT | Football | FA Cup | Southend 1–4 Chelsea". BBC News. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  36. ↑ "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2009/2010". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  37. ↑ "BBC Sport – Football – Adam Barrett and Alan McCormack leave Southend United". BBC News. 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  38. ↑ Hoad, Alex (2010-07-07). "Charlton Athletic sign Alan McCormack and Gary Doherty as Frazer Richardson goes to Southampton". Kentonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  39. ↑ "BBC Sport – Football – Leyton Orient 1–3 Charlton". BBC News. 2010-08-13. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  40. ↑ "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2010/2011". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  41. ↑ "Swindon Town – McCormack has Town talks". Swindon.vitalfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  42. ↑ Jacob Murtagh (9 August 2014). "Brentford star vows to silence Charlton boo-boys after Valley hell". getwestlondon. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  43. ↑ "BBC Sport – Swindon Town sign Alan McCormack on a two-year deal". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  44. ↑ "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2011/2012". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  45. ↑ "McCormack scoops Player of the Year award (From This Is Swindon Town FC)". Thisisswindontownfc.co.uk. 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  46. ↑ "Alan McCormack | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2012/2013". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  47. ↑ "BBC Sport – Alan McCormack: Swindon Town captain to join Brentford". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  48. ↑ Exclusive By Sam Morshead (2013-06-27). "ALAN MCCORMACK EXCLUSIVE: Why I had to leave the County Ground (From Swindon Advertiser)". Swindonadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  49. ↑ "Bees Sign Alan Mccormack". Brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  50. ↑ "BBC Sport – Brentford 5–0 Staines Town". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  51. ↑ "BBC Sport – Brentford 2–0 Port Vale". Bbc.com. 2014-01-11. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  52. ↑ "BBC Sport – Brentford 3–1 Coventry City". Bbc.co.uk. 2014-03-22. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  53. ↑ "BBC Sport – Brentford 1–0 Preston North End". Bbc.co.uk. 2014-04-18. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  54. ↑ Chris Wickham. "Brentford defender Alan McCormack reflects on winning promotion from Sky Bet League One". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  55. ↑ "Alan McCormack – Football Stats – Brentford – Season 2013/2014 – Soccer Base". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  56. ↑ Chris Wickham. "Awards shared at Brentford FC Player of the Year Ball". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Chris Wickham. "Alan McCormack and Adam Forshaw of Brentford named League One Team of the Year with Jake Bidwell a substitute". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  58. ↑ Ciaran Brett. "Brentford vs Charlton Athletic, Sky Bet Championship August 9". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  59. ↑ Mark Chapman. "Alan McCormack signs a new two-year Brentford contract to stay at Griffin Park until 2016". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  60. ↑ "BBC Sport – Brentford 2–0 Leeds United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  61. ↑ BFC. "Alan McCormack Injury Update". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  62. ↑ Jacob Murtagh (8 January 2015). "Brentford midfielder ruled out of Rotherham United clash". getwestlondon. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  63. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31466057
  64. ↑ Tim Street (24 September 2014). "McCormack wants to stay a Bee beyond playing days". getwestlondon. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  65. ↑ "Latest Sky Bet League 1 News". Retrieved 8 January 2015.

External links