Colin Nish

{{About|the Scottish footballer|the Australian rules footballer|Colin Nish (Australian footballer)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Colin Nish

| image = Nish Feb2011.jpg

| image_size = 200

| caption = Nish playing for Hibernian in 2011

| fullname = Colin John Nish{{Hugman|24741|accessdate=3 December 2016}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1981|3|7}}

| birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}

| position = Striker

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1997–1999

| youthclubs1 = Dunfermline Athletic

| years1 = 1999–2003

| caps1 = 22

| goals1 = 0

| clubs1 = Dunfermline Athletic

| years2 = 2000

| caps2 = 13

| goals2 = 5

| clubs2 = → Alloa Athletic (loan)

| years3 = 2000–2001

| caps3 = 10

| goals3 = 3

| clubs3 = → Alloa Athletic (loan)

| years4 = 2002–2003

| caps4 = 15

| goals4 = 7

| clubs4 = → Clyde (loan)

| years5 = 2003–2008

| caps5 = 145

| goals5 = 55

| clubs5 = Kilmarnock

| years6 = 2008–2011

| caps6 = 98

| goals6 = 34

| clubs6 = Hibernian

| years7 = 2011–2013

| caps7 = 19

| goals7 = 8

| clubs7 = Hartlepool United

| years8 = 2012–2013

| caps8 = 24

| goals8 = 8

| clubs8 = → Dundee (loan)

| years9 = 2013–2015

| caps9 = 53

| goals9 = 18

| clubs10 = Portland Timbers

| years10 = 2015–2016

| caps10 = 21

| goals10 = 7

| clubs11 = Dumbarton

| years11 = 2016–2017

| caps11= 17

| goals11 = 7

| clubs13 = Cowdenbeath

| years13 = 2017–2018

| caps13 = 15

| goals13= 5

| totalcaps = 428

| totalgoals = 149

| manageryears1 = 2017–2018

| managerclubs1 = Cowdenbeath

| club-update =

| manageryears2 = 2022–2023

| managerclubs2 = Tranent Juniors

}}

Colin John Nish (born 7 March 1981) is a Scottish former football player, coach and manager. Nish played for Dunfermline Athletic, Alloa Athletic, Clyde, Kilmarnock, Hibernian, Hartlepool United, Dundee, Portland Timbers, Dumbarton and Cowdenbeath. Whilst playing for Cowdenbeath, Nish was appointed player-manager of the Fife club. Following their relegation to Scottish League Two, Nish's contract was terminated.{{cite web |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/scottish-league-1/171364/cowdenbeath-hunt-new-manager-parting-company-colin-nish/ |title=Cowdenbeath on the hunt for new manager after parting company with Colin Nish |work=The Courier |publisher=DC Thomson |date=12 May 2016 |access-date=12 May 2016}} He subsequently managed Tranent Juniors for the 2022–23 season.

Early life

Nish grew up in Musselburgh and was a fan of Hibernian.{{cite news |url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/hibernian/174839-nish-apologises-to-hibernian-fans-for-outburst/ |publisher=STV |access-date=9 May 2010 |date=4 May 2010 |title=Nish apologises to Hibernian fans for outburst |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513052945/http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/hibernian/174839-nish-apologises-to-hibernian-fans-for-outburst/ |archive-date=13 May 2010 |df=dmy-all }}

Playing career

=Dunfermline Athletic=

Nish started his career with Dunfermline, where he made his debut in the 1998–99 season. Nish had two subsequent loan spells with Alloa[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/993600.stm More to follow as Nish moves], BBC Sport, 27 October 2000 and a loan spell at Clyde.

=Kilmarnock=

Nish joined Kilmarnock in 2003 after being released by Dunfermline.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kilmarnock/3049900.stm Killie snap up Hardie], BBC Sport, 7 July 2003 Nish initially signed a six-month deal which ran until Christmas 2003, at which point he agreed a new 18-month contract.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kilmarnock/3307843.stm Nish signs new Killie deal], BBC Sport, 18 December 2003

=Hibernian=

In October 2007 Nish rejected Kilmarnock's offer of a new contract which meant that he was able to talk to other clubs from January 2008, with a view to a Bosman transfer in the summer. Nish signed a pre-contract with boyhood heroes Hibernian and the next day the two clubs agreed a deal to transfer Nish immediately.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kilmarnock/7192752.stm|title=Hibs do deals for Nish and Zarabi|access-date=31 January 2008 | work=BBC Sport| date=31 January 2008}} Nish made his debut for Hibernian on 9 February 2008, in a 1–1 draw to Dundee United.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7233435.stm|title=Dundee United 1–1 Hibernian|access-date=13 February 2008 | work=BBC Sport| date=9 February 2008}} Nish scored his first goal for Hibernian ten minutes into his home debut against Gretna at Easter Road.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7240842.stm|title=Hibernian 4–2 Gretna|access-date=13 February 2008 | work=BBC Sport| date=13 February 2008}}

Towards the end of the 2009–10 season, Nish described the Hibernian fans as "moaners" following an Edinburgh derby defeat. Nish soon apologised for those remarks, calling for unity between players and supporters ahead of an important match against Motherwell. Nish scored a hat-trick in the first half of that match, yet Hibernian only managed a 6–6 draw, in the highest scoring SPL match in league history.{{cite news |url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/175332-dirty-dozen-battle-for-europe-and-break-spl-record/ |title=Dirty Dozen battle for Europe and break SPL record |publisher=STV |date=6 May 2010 |access-date=9 May 2010}} Nish then scored both goals in a 2–0 win at Tannadice Park that secured a UEFA Europa League place for Hibernian.

Early in the 2010–11 season, however, Nish was again the target for criticism from the Hibernian fans, with manager Colin Calderwood expressing his sympathy for the player.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/9235265.stm |title=Hibernian manager Calderwood wants support for Nish |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 November 2010 |access-date=27 November 2010}} Nish was allowed to train with Chinese Super League club Tianjin Teda during January 2011, but Nish then decided to stay at Easter Road.{{cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/football/New-Derek-Adams-ban-as.6750863.jp|title=New Derek Adams ban as Colin Nish faces Hibs exit|first=Gavin|last=McCafferty|work=The Scotsman|date=13 April 2011|access-date=13 April 2011}} The signings of Akpo Sodje and Ricardo Vaz Tê pushed Nish out of the Hibernian starting eleven and he was advised in April 2011 that his contract would not be renewed.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13242007.stm|title=Hibernian to release 10 players|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 April 2011|access-date=29 April 2011}}

=Hartlepool United=

Nish signed for Hartlepool United on a free transfer on 27 June 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11719_7007214,00.html|title=Pools clinch Nish deal|date=27 June 2011| access-date=27 June 2011|work=Sky Sports}} Nish missed a penalty in Hartlepool's League Cup first round penalty shoot-out defeat to Sheffield United.{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10326~59924,00.html |title=Hartlepool vs Sheffield Utd |publisher=Hartlepool United FC |date=9 August 2011 |access-date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911151438/http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10326~59924%2C00.html |archive-date=11 September 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} Nish scored his first goal for Hartlepool in the 1–1 draw against Walsall on 13 August 2011.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/14429796.stm |title=Hartlepool 1 – 1 Walsall |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=13 August 2011 |access-date=19 February 2017}} Nish then scored two goals in a 3–0 win over Bury during the month of September.{{Cite news|date=7 December 2011|access-date=7 December 2011|url=http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/other-sport/ex_hibee_enjoying_life_in_league_one_but_admits_to_unfinished_business_in_spl_1_1993201|title=Ex-Hibee enjoying life in League One but admits to unfinished business in SPL|work=Edinburgh Evening News|publisher=Johnston Press|first=Alex|last=Schweitzer-Thompson}} Nish sustained an injury against Charlton in October 2011 that prevented him from playing for two months, during which time Hartlepool appointed a new manager. Nish did not feature often under the club's new manager Neale Cooper, a former player of Aberdeen and Rangers.

Nish's former club Kilmarnock attempted to sign Nish on loan during August 2012, after Paul Heffernan suffered an injury but were unfortunately unable to secure his services.{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/old-boy-nish-on-shiels-radar-as-kilmarnock-look-for-firepower-1-2462473|title=Old boy Nish on Shiels' radar as Kilmarnock look for firepower|work=sport.scotsman.com|publisher=Johnston Press|date=11 August 2012|access-date=11 August 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19339746|title=Dundee hold talks with Hartlepool striker Colin Nish|first=Jim|last=Spence|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=21 August 2012|access-date=22 August 2012}} Dundee signed Nish on loan until January 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19344168|title=Colin Nish joins Dundee on loan|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=21 August 2012|access-date=22 August 2012}} Nish scored two goals for a struggling Dundee team during his initial loan spell, which was extended until the end of the 2012–13 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20905502|title=Dundee: Striker Colin Nish extends loan deal from Hartlepool United|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=3 January 2013|access-date=3 January 2013}} Hartlepool announced on 7 May 2013 that Nish's contract would not be renewed for the 2013–14 season.{{cite web |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11719/8697891/Six-head-for-Hartlepool-exit |title=Six head for Hartlepool exit |work=Sky Sports |publisher=BSkyB |date=7 May 2013 |access-date=7 May 2013}}

=Dumbarton=

Nish signed for Scottish Championship club Dumbarton in August 2013. As well as playing for the first team, Nish would also be in-charge of Dumbarton's under-19s.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23792449 |title=Dumbarton: Colin Nish signs as player-coach |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=22 August 2013 |access-date=22 August 2013}} Nish scored one goal and created another in his debut for Dumbarton, in a 3–1 win over Morton on 24 August 2013.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/dumbarton-3-1-morton-colin-nish-scores-on-debut-1-3062008 |title=Dumbarton 3 – 1 Morton: Colin Nish scores on debut |work=Scotland on Sunday |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=25 August 2013 |access-date=25 August 2013}} On 26 June 2014 Nish signed a new one-year deal with the Sons following a productive second half to the season which included the goal which took the Sons to their first Scottish Cup quarter final in over 30 years.[http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=1401 Dumbarton FC] Nish departed Dumbarton in January 2015.{{cite web | url=http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=1692 | title=Striker Departs the Rock | publisher=Dumbarton FC | date=25 January 2015 | access-date=6 February 2018}}

=Cowdenbeath=

Nish joined Scottish Championship club Cowdenbeath in January 2015 on an 18-month contract following his release from Dumbarton.[http://www.cowdenbeathfc.com/index.php?act=viewNews&id=1699 Cowdenbeath FC]

Coaching career

On 2 June 2015, Nish was named as the new player-manager of Scottish League One club Cowdenbeath, following the resignation of Jimmy Nicholl.{{cite web | url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/league-1/cowdenbeath-name-colin-nish-as-new-player-manager-1.880771 | title=Cowdenbeath name Colin Nish as new player/manager | publisher=The Courier | date=2 June 2015 | access-date=2 June 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051208/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/league-1/cowdenbeath-name-colin-nish-as-new-player-manager-1.880771 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }} Nish's tenure lasted only one season however, with the club suffering their second successive relegation, this time to Scottish League Two. His contract was terminated in May 2016, less than a year after his appointment.

He then took a position coaching youth players at Hibernian.{{cite news |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/colin-nish-back-at-hibs-as-a-youth-coach-1-4369807 |title=Colin Nish back at Hibs as a youth coach |first=David |last=Hardie |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=18 February 2017 |access-date=19 February 2017}} After a few years of coaching Hibernian youth and reserve teams, Nish became the manager of Lowland League side Tranent Juniors in September 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-01 |title=Tranent appoint former Hibs striker and coach as new manager after resignation of Calum Elliot |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/tranent-appoint-former-hibs-striker-and-coach-colin-nish-as-new-manager-3828212 |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com |language=en}} He subsequently left the club when his contract ended in May 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-07 |title=Tranent Juniors and Colin Nish part company |url=https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/23506264.tranent-juniors-looking-new-manager-colin-nish-departure/ |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=East Lothian Courier |language=en}}

Personal life

In September 2023, Nish was found guilty of assaulting his former partner. Following a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, he was banned from having any contact with the woman for 12 months and was fined £500 with a supplement charge of £20.{{Cite web |date=27 September 2023|title=Former Premiership striker headbutted ex in row over money |url=https://news.stv.tv/east-central/former-hibs-and-kilmarnock-star-colin-nish-guilty-of-assaulting-ex-partner-in-east-lothian|website=STV News |language=en}}

Managerial statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
rowspan=2! width=120\|Team !rowspan=2! width=120\|From !rowspan=2! width=120\|To !colspan="5"\|Record
width=40\|G !width=40\|W !width=40\|D !width=40\|L !width=50\|Win %
align=left\|Cowdenbeath \|align=left\|2 June 2015 \|align=left\|12 May 2016 {{WDL\|43\|13\|7\|23}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

rowspan=2! width=120|Team

!rowspan=2! width=120|From

!rowspan=2! width=120|To

!colspan="5"|Record

width=40|G

!width=40|W

!width=40|D

!width=40|L

!width=50|Win %

align=left|Cowdenbeath

|align=left|2 June 2015