Greig Spence
{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Greig Spence
|image =
|caption =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|7|6|df=y}}
|birth_place = Dunfermline, Scotland
|height = 1.69 m{{Soccerway|greg-spencer/73163}}
|position = Striker
|currentclub = East Stirlingshire
|clubnumber = 9
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts
|youthyears2 =
|youthclubs2 = Rangers
|youthyears3 =
|youthclubs3 = Alloa Athletic
|youthyears4 = 2009–2011
|youthclubs4 = Celtic
|years1 = 2008–2009
|clubs1 = Alloa Athletic
|caps1 = 19
|goals1 = 4
|years2 = 2011–2012
|clubs2 = Celtic
|caps2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2011–2012
|clubs3 = → Hamilton Academical (loan)
|caps3 = 29
|goals3 = 5
|years4 = 2012–2014
|clubs4 = Raith Rovers
|caps4 = 59
|goals4 = 20
|years5 = 2014–2015
|clubs5 = Alloa Athletic
|caps5 = 28
|goals5 = 4
|years6 = 2015–2016
|clubs6 = Cowdenbeath
|caps6 = 36
|goals6 = 17
|years7 = 2016–2017
|clubs7 = Alloa Athletic
|caps7 = 35
|goals7 = 16
|years8 = 2017–2018
|clubs8 = Raith Rovers
|caps8 = 32
|goals8 = 11
|years9 = 2018–2019
|clubs9 = Alloa Athletic
|caps9 = 13
|goals9 = 0
|years10 = 2019–2020
|clubs10 = Arbroath
|caps10 = 19
|goals10 = 0
|years11 = 2020–2021
|clubs11 = Stenhousemuir
|caps11 = 20
|goals11 = 7
|years12 = 2021
|clubs12 = → East Fife (loan)
|caps12 = 9
|goals12 = 0
|years13 = 2021–2022
|clubs13 = Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts
|caps13 =
|goals13 =
|years14 = 2022–2023
|clubs14 = Broomhill
|caps14 = 2
|goals14 = 0
|years15 = 2023–2024
|clubs15 = Stirling Albion
|caps15 = 37
|goals15 = 5
|years16 = 2024–
|clubs16 = East Stirlingshire
|caps16 = 14
|goals16 = 3
|club-update = 14 December 2024
}}
Greig Spence (born 6 July 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for {{Scottish football updater|EStrling}} club East Stirlingshire.
Born in Dunfermline, he started his career at Alloa Athletic, breaking into their first-team at the age of 16. He was then signed by Scottish Premier League club Celtic in 2009. He was loaned to First Division club Hamilton Academical for the 2011–12 season. In July 2012, he signed a one-year contract with Raith Rovers. In June 2014, he returned to Alloa before signing for Cowdenbeath the following season, before once again resigning for Alloa in 2016. After a year with Alloa, Spence moved back to Raith for his second spell, spending a further year in Kirkcaldy. Spence signed on for his fourth spell with Alloa in June 2018. He has since played for Arbroath, Stenhousemuir, East Fife (on loan) and Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts.
Career
Spence spent 10 years at Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-courier-advertiser-perth-and-perthshire-edition/20210729/282235193694979|title=|via=Press Reader}}
Spence played for Rangers youth team as a schoolboy. He then moved on to Alloa Athletic where he broke into the first-team at the age of 16.{{cite news |url=http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1079246 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421033401/http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1079246 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=Spence, 16, has debut to remember |publisher=DC Thomson|work= Press and Journal |date=16 February 2009 |access-date=24 March 2012}}
His first start came against Queens Park on 16 February, he scored Alloa's equaliser in a 2–1 win.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/2009/02/16/dream-day-out-is-still-playing-on-our-minds-86908-21127196/ |title=Dream Day Out Is Still Playing on Our Minds |publisher=Media Scotland|work=Daily Record |date=16 February 2009 |access-date=24 March 2012}} On 4 May, Spence scored Alloa's equaliser against Ayr United, drawing the match ensured that Alloa would not be relegated.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/sfl/2009/05/04/division-2-ayr-united-1-alloa-athletic-1-86908-21331032/ |title=Division 2: Ayr United 1 Alloa Athletic 1 |publisher=Media Scotland|work=Daily Record |date=4 May 2009 |access-date=24 March 2012}} After the match manager Allan Maitland praised Spence for how well he took his goal.{{cite news |url=http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1199205 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421050347/http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1199205 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=Jellema pulls out all the stops |publisher=DC Thomson|work= Press and Journal |date=4 May 2009 |access-date=24 March 2012}} Overall, Spence scored four goals in nineteen appearances for Second Division Alloa during the 2008–09 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/player/greig-spence/411079/ |title=Greig Spence |publisher=Scottish Football League |access-date=12 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830021500/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/player/greig-spence/411079/ |archive-date=30 August 2012 }} Spence only played three times for Alloa during the 2009–10 season as he left the club in August. His only goal came in a 3–2 defeat against Ross County in the Scottish Challenge Cup.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/8166687.stm |title=Ross County 3–2 Alloa Athletic |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 July 2009 |access-date=24 March 2012}}
Scottish Premier League club Celtic signed Spence in August 2009 for a six-figure fee.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/celtic/2009/08/12/alloa-hitkid-greig-spence-on-verge-of-dream-move-to-celtic-86908-21590932/ |title=Alloa hitkid Greig Spence on verge of dream move to Celtic |date=12 August 2009 |work=Daily Record |access-date=12 September 2011|publisher=Media Scotland}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/8203038.stm |title=Celtic sign Alloa striker Spence |date=15 August 2009 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=11 September 2011}} Spence missed the first half of the 2010–11 season through injury but came back to score in the 2011 Scottish Youth Cup Final.{{cite web |url=http://www.celticfc.net/player.php?id=77 |title=Greig Spence |publisher=Celtic FC |access-date=12 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422093324/http://celticfc.net/player.php?id=77 |archive-date=22 April 2012 }}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13218209.stm |title=Celtic U19 2–1 Rangers U19 (aet) |date=27 April 2011 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=12 September 2011}} On 16 July 2011, Spence scored for Celtic's development squad in a 2–1 loss to Partick Thistle.{{cite web |url=http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=1276 |title=Celtic XI go down to Partick Thistle |publisher=Celtic FC |date=16 July 2011 |access-date=11 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719213157/http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=1276 |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}
In August 2011, Spence moved on loan to Scottish First Division side Hamilton Academical. He scored his first goal for Hamilton in a 2–1 Scottish Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Morton on 4 September.{{cite news |url=http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/hamilton-lanarkshire-sport/hamiltonaccies/2011/09/08/on-loan-accies-star-spence-hopes-to-get-in-more-goals-51525-29382263/ |title=On loan Accies star Spence hopes to get in more goals |date=8 September 2011 |first=Andrew |last=McGilvray |work=Hamilton Advertiser |publisher=Media Scotland |access-date=12 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330092548/http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/hamilton-lanarkshire-sport/hamiltonaccies/2011/09/08/on-loan-accies-star-spence-hopes-to-get-in-more-goals-51525-29382263/ |archive-date=30 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} Two weeks later he scored in Hamilton's 2–2 draw against Raith Rovers.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14954321 |title=Hamilton 2–2 Raith Rovers |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 September 2011 |access-date=24 March 2012}} On 3 November, he scored a 'superb' header in Hamilton's 3–2 loss against Ayr United.{{cite news |url=http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/hamilton-lanarkshire-sport/hamiltonaccies/2011/11/03/striker-greig-spence-says-boss-billy-reid-was-right-to-blast-them-51525-29709134/ |title=Striker Greig Spence says boss Billy Reid was right to blast them. |publisher=Media Scotland |work=Hamilton Advertiser |date=3 November 2011 |access-date=24 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055008/http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/hamilton-lanarkshire-sport/hamiltonaccies/2011/11/03/striker-greig-spence-says-boss-billy-reid-was-right-to-blast-them-51525-29709134/ |archive-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=dead }} On 13 January, Spence scored the winner in Hamilton's 1–0 victory over Partick Thistle.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16558299 |title=Hamilton Accies 1–0 Partick Thistle |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 January 2012 |access-date=24 March 2012}} The next week he scored in Hamilton's 2–2 draw with Ayr United.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16628544 |title=Ayr United 2–2 Hamilton Academical |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 January 2012 |access-date=24 March 2012}} On 24 March, Spence scored the first goal in Hamilton's 3–0 win over Queen of the South.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17502739 |title=Hamilton Accies 3–0 Queen of the South |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 March 2012 |access-date=24 March 2012}}
Spence announced on his Twitter account in May 2012 that he was leaving Celtic,{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/greigspence |title=Twitter – Greig Spence |work=@greigspence|via=Twitter}} subsequently training with Raith Rovers in an attempt to win a permanent contract.{{cite web |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/Sport/Football/article/23782/raith-rovers-v-ross-county-new-boss-murray-keen-to-get-up-and-running.html |title=Raith Rovers v Ross County: new boss Murray keen to get up and running |publisher=DC Thomson|work=The Courier |date=10 July 2012 |access-date=14 July 2012 }}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He signed for the club on 18 July 2012.{{cite news |url=http://www.raithrovers.net/4321/rovers-make-important-addition-to-squad.htm |title=Rovers Make Important Addition to Squad |publisher=Raith Rovers FC |date=18 July 2012 |access-date=18 July 2012}} He was part of the Raith Rovers team that won 1–0 against Rangers in the 2014 Scottish Challenge Cup Final.
On 24 June 2014, Spence signed for Alloa Athletic for a second time.{{cite news |url=http://www.alloaathletic.co.uk/BlogView.aspx?pageid=2&ItemID=1060&mid=2 |title=Greig Spence signs |publisher=Alloa Athletic FC |date=24 June 2014 |access-date=24 June 2014 |archive-date=24 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624193857/http://www.alloaathletic.co.uk/BlogView.aspx?pageid=2&mid=2&ItemID=1060 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.alloaadvertiser.com/sport/13535415.alloa-goal-hero-greig-spence-is-over-the-moon-with-his-form-after-derby-win/|title=Alloa goal hero Greig Spence is over the moon with his form after derby win|website=Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser|date=6 August 2014 }} He scored a hat-trick on his first appearance on 26 July 2014, in a Challenge Cup match against Arbroath as Alloa won 4–1.{{cite web |title=Arbroath 1–4 Alloa |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28381952 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 July 2014 |access-date=26 July 2014}} On 3 December 2014, Spence scored twice as Alloa came from 2–0 behind to defeat Rangers 3–2 in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup, the club's first ever win against Rangers.{{cite web |title=Alloa 3–2 Rangers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30021373 |publisher=BBC Sport |last=Moffat |first=Colin |date=3 December 2014 |access-date=3 December 2014}} After one season with The Wasps, Spence signed for Scottish League One side Cowdenbeath. Although Cowdenbeath were relegated to Scottish League Two Spence had a particularly successful season with the club, finishing third top scorer in the league with 17 goals, as well as being nominated for PFA Scotland's League One player of the year award{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36094197 |title=Rangers pair & Hibs duo vie for Scottish Championship award |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 April 2016 |access-date=30 May 2016}} and being included in the PFA Scotland League One team of the year.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36170166 |title=Only two Celtic players in Scottish Premiership team of season |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 April 2016 |access-date=30 May 2016}}
In May 2016, Spence returned for his third spell with Alloa Athletic.{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/spence-returns-to-alloa/ |title=Spence returns to Alloa |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |date=31 May 2016 |access-date=31 May 2016 |archive-date=25 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625081528/http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/spence-returns-to-alloa/ |url-status=dead }} In February 2017, Spence scored the SPFL's 8000th goal (across all four divisions, but not including play-offs), in a 2–0 win at Queen's Park.{{cite web | url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/four-for-livi-spence-nets-landmark-goal/ | title=Four for Livi, Spence nets landmark goal| publisher=SPFL | date=18 February 2017 | access-date=10 April 2017}}{{cite web | url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/weekend-in-numbers-61-84/ | title=Weekend in numbers | publisher=SPFL | date=20 February 2017 | access-date=10 April 2017}}
Spence returned to the east of Scotland in June 2017, signing with his former club Raith Rovers, now in Scottish League One.{{cite web |url=http://www.raithrovers.net/30132/triple-signing-coup-for-smith.htm |title=Triple Signing Coup for Smith |publisher=Raith Rovers FC |date=9 June 2017 |access-date=9 June 2017}} After the club failed to win promotion back to the Scottish Championship, Spence was released by the club in May 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.raithrovers.net/35407/retained-released-list.htm |title=RRFC retained/released list |publisher=Raith Rovers FC |date=15 May 2018 |access-date=15 May 2018 |archive-date=15 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515183923/http://www.raithrovers.net/35407/retained-released-list.htm |url-status=dead }} Spence re-signed for Alloa for his fourth spell in June 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.alloaathletic.co.uk/BlogView.aspx?pageid=2&ItemID=1800&mid=2 |title=Manager adds to squad |publisher=Alloa Athletic FC |date=4 June 2018 |access-date=4 June 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Spence spent just six months with Alloa, before signing an eighteen-month contract with League One leaders Arbroath in January 2019.{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/spence-joins-arbroath |title=Spence joins Abroath |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |date=18 January 2019 |access-date=19 January 2019}} He then moved to Stenhousemuir in January 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51071557 |title=Dundee United sign Dillon Powers from Orlando City and Kieran Freeman from Southampton |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 January 2020 |access-date=11 January 2020}} Spence was loaned to East Fife in April 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://eastfifefc.info/latest-news/909-greig-spence-joins-on-loan-from-stenhousemuir|title=Greig Spence Joins on Loan From Stenhousemuir|website=eastfifefc.info}}
In July 2021 he returned to boyhood club Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/sport/19804658.east-scotland-league-greig-spence-earns-inverkeithing-draw-oakley-united-win/|title=Greig celebrates new deal with last-gasp Swifts leveller|website=Dunfermline Press|date=23 December 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/sport/19948535.east-scotland-league-greig-spences-double-earns-inverkeithing-hillfield-swifts-linlithgow-rose-win/|title=Swifts stun Rose as Oakley snatch last-gasp win at title favourites|website=Dunfermline Press|date=24 February 2022 }}
On 6 January 2023, Spence returned to the SPFL with Scottish League Two club Stirling Albion on an 18-month deal.{{Cite web |last=Admin |first=Site |date=6 January 2023 |title=Signing News |url=https://www.stirlingalbionfc.co.uk/signing-news-2/ |access-date=9 January 2023 |website=SAFC |language=en-GB}}
Career statistics
{{updated|4 November 2019}}{{cite book |editor1-last=Rollin |editor1-first=Glenda |editor2-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011 |publisher=Headline |year=2010 |page=675 |isbn=978-0-7553-6107-6 |name-list-style=amp }}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerbase|id=51732|name=Greig Spence}}
{{2015–16 PFA Scotland Scottish League One Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Greig}}
Category:Footballers from Dunfermline
Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts F.C. players
Category:Alloa Athletic F.C. players
Category:Hamilton Academical F.C. players
Category:Raith Rovers F.C. players
Category:Cowdenbeath F.C. players
Category:Arbroath F.C. players
Category:Stenhousemuir F.C. players
Category:East Fife F.C. players
Category:Broomhill F.C. (Scotland) players
Category:Stirling Albion F.C. players
Category:East Stirlingshire F.C. players
Category:Scottish Football League players