Jason McClelland
{{short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jason McClelland
| image = Jason McClelland.jpg
| caption = McClelland with St Patrick's Athletic in 2022.
| image_size =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1997|05|03}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| currentclub = St Patrick's Athletic
| clubnumber = 11
| height =
| position = Winger
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Shamrock Rovers{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/player/888842377|title=Jason McClelland | Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie}}
| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Templeogue United
| youthyears3 = | youthclubs3 = Peamount United
| youthyears4 = | youthclubs4 = Crumlin United
| youthyears5 = 2014–2015 | youthclubs5 = Shamrock Rovers
| youthyears6 = 2015–2016 | youthclubs6 = UCD
| years1 = 2015 | clubs1 = Shamrock Rovers | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015–2019 | clubs2 = UCD | caps2 = 106 | goals2 = 20
| years3 = 2020– | clubs3 = St Patrick's Athletic | caps3 = 120 | goals3 = 9
| nationalyears1 = 2015 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U19
| nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 23:54, 23 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Jason McClelland (born 5 March 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for League of Ireland Premier Division club, St Patrick's Athletic, having previously played for UCD for 5 seasons.
Club career
=Early career=
McClelland started off playing football with Shamrock Rovers at an early age. He moved on to Templeogue United and also enjoyed spells at Peamount United & Crumlin United before returning to Shamrock Rovers where he played with their Under 19's side in the 2014–15 season. He made his first senior appearance on 28 April 2015 when he came off the bench for the final 5 minutes of a 3–1 win away to Athlone Town in the Leinster Senior Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/27433/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2015 Leinster Senior Cup Quarter Finals - Athlone Town -v- Shamrock Rovers|website=www.extratime.ie}} That proved to be his only senior appearance for Rovers as he moved on to UCD in July 2015, playing for their Under 19's side.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/player/11119700/jason_mcclelland/|title=Extratime.ie - Jason McClelland|website=www.extratime.ie}}
=UCD=
McClelland made his first senior appearance for UCD on 19 July 2015 in a friendly against Liverpool at the UCD Bowl.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/27913/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2015 Domestic Friendlies - UCD -v- Liverpool XI|website=www.extratime.ie}} With the UCD first team fatigued following their UEFA Europa League campaign, it allowed McClelland a chance to make his first career senior appearance in a league game on 31 July 2015 when he came off the bench in a 3–0 win away to Cabinteely.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/27551/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2015 League of Ireland First Division - Cabinteely -v- UCD|website=www.extratime.ie}} He was an unused substitute in 7 other first team games that season as he continued to play with the under 19's.{{Cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/jason-mcclelland/411610/|title=Republic of Ireland - J. McClelland - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=ie.soccerway.com}} The 2016 season was McClelland's first season as a full first team player. His first career goal came on 3 June 2016 when he scored a 64th-minute goal in a 2–0 win at home to Shelbourne.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/28666/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2016 League of Ireland First Division - UCD -v- Shelbourne|website=www.extratime.ie}} He would again be the enemy of Shelbourne the following month when he scored an 84th-minute winner in a 2–1 win for UCD at Tolka Park.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/28698/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2016 League of Ireland First Division - Shelbourne -v- UCD|website=www.extratime.ie}} His final goal of the season came on 30 September 2016 when he scored in an 8–1 demolition of Waterford at the RSC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/28713/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2016 League of Ireland First Division - Waterford -v- UCD|website=www.extratime.ie}} He finished the season with 20 appearances and 3 goals. The 2017 season saw UCD finish in third place in the league, with McClelland appearing 28 times in all competitions, scoring 7 goals. He was part of the side that won the Collingwood Cup, beating QUB in the final in February 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/ucd-win-the-collingwood-cup|title=UCD win the Collingwood Cup | Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie}} On 7 May 2018, he scored his first career hat-trick as his side thumped Wexford 8–0 at Ferrycarrig Park.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/33141/1/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2018 League of Ireland First Division - Wexford -v- UCD|website=www.extratime.ie}} On 28 September 2018, he played the full 90 minutes away to League of Ireland Premier Division Champions Dundalk in the FAI Cup Semi Finals as his side were denied a place in the Aviva Stadium by a narrow 1–0 scoreline.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/35064/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2018 FAI Cup Semi Finals - Dundalk -v- UCD|website=www.extratime.ie}} That was the club's final game of the season in a year which saw McClelland score 10 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions and also receive the first silverware of his career as his side gained promotion by winning the 2018 League of Ireland First Division.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/ucd-top-of-the-class-as-they-make-return-to-premier-division-1.3629820|title=UCD top of the class as they make return to Premier Division|first=Emmet Malone at UCD|last=Bowl|newspaper=The Irish Times}} 2019 saw McClelland's first taste of League of Ireland Premier Division action. On 5 July he scored the winner in a crucial 1–0 victory over relegation fighting rivals Finn Harps.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/35744/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2019 League of Ireland Premier Division - UCD -v- Finn Harps|website=www.extratime.ie}} The season proved to be a difficult one for UCD as they finished bottom of the league and were relegated back to the First Division. The season did however provide a lot of experience at top tier level for McClelland, as he made 42 appearances in all competitions, scoring 4 goals.
=St Patrick's Athletic=
On 8 November 2019 it was announced that McClelland had signed for St Patrick's Athletic, becoming manager Stephen O'Donnell's first ever signing for the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8582|title=Mcclelland Joins For 2020 Season|website=www.stpatsfc.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/sport/st-patricks-athletic-sign-ex-17228082|title=St Pat's sign ex-UCD winger McClelland|first=Paul|last=O'Hehir|date=8 November 2019|website=dublinlive}} Upon signing, he spoke of his excitement at signing his first professional contract and his ambitions for the season ahead being to help the club get back to UEFA Europa League qualification.{{Cite web|url=https://www.todayfm.com/sport/st-pats-recruit-winger-jay-mcclelland-2020-season-923111|title=St. Pat's recruit winger Jay McClelland for 2020 season|first=Richie|last=McCormack|website=TodayFM}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/jay-mcclelland-aiming-europe-first-20844384|title=Jay McClelland aiming for Europe first season with St Pat's|first=Paul|last=O'Hehir|date=8 November 2019|website=irishmirror}} He made his competitive debut on 14 February 2020, making the starting eleven as his side lost 1–0 against Waterford in the opening game of the season at Richmond Park.{{cite web| url = https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/match/st-patricks-athletic-vs-waterford/id-029BGR9JRG000000VUM100GLVVI8BE0R| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200217122229/https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/match/st-patricks-athletic-vs-waterford/id-029BGR9JRG000000VUM100GLVVI8BE0R| archive-date = 2020-02-17| title = SSE Airtricity League}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/39905/2/|title = League Report: St. Patrick's Athletic 0 - 1 Waterford}} He played in 16 of the club's 19 league and cup games over the course of the shortened season due to the Coronavirus pandemic, as his side missed out on European football on the final day of the season, finishing in 6th place.{{Cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/jason-mcclelland/411610/|title = Republic of Ireland - J. McClelland - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway}} McClelland's first goal for the club came on 2 July 2021, scoring from 25 yards in a 3–2 loss to Bohemians at Dalymount Park with his side down to 9 men at the time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/bohemians-st-patricks-athletic-report-5483945-Jul2021/|title=Stunning Wilson free kick and Kelly's 12th of the season help Bohs overcome Pat's|first=Paul|last=Fennessy|website=The42|date=2 July 2021 }} His first home goal at Richmond Park for the club came in a 6–0 win over Bray Wanderers in the FAI Cup on 23 July 2021, scoring a diving header to give his side a 2 goal lead going into half-time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/match-reports/st-pats-6-bray-0-24606301|title = St Pat's see off Bray in most dominant performance of season|date = 23 July 2021}} On 1 November 2021, McClelland scored his first home league goal for the club when he finished a Jak Hickman cross from 5 yards to double his side's lead in the Dublin City derby against Bohemians on 1 November 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/st-pats-v-bohs-5589415-Nov2021/|title=Bohs fight back from two down to earn potentially vital point away to Saints|first=Dave|last=Donnelly|website=The42|date=November 2021 }} On 28 November 2021 McClelland scored his penalty in the 2021 FAI Cup Final penalty shootout, as his side defeated rivals Bohemians 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time in front of a record FAI Cup Final crowd of 37,126 at the Aviva Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/1128/1263634-benson-spot-on-as-saints-beat-bohs-to-lift-the-fai-cup/|title=Benson spot on as Saints beat Bohs to lift the FAI Cup|first=Ed|last=Leahy|date=28 November 2021|via=www.rte.ie}} On 18 December 2021, McClelland signed a new contract with the club for the 2022 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=9049|title=McClelland Signs New Contract|website=www.stpatsfc.com}} On 11 February 2022, he made came off the bench in the 2022 President of Ireland's Cup against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium, as his side lost 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/shamrock-rovers-st-pats-report-3-5681143-Feb2022/|title=Memorable return for Jack Byrne as Shamrock Rovers beat Pat's on penalties|first=Paul|last=Fennessy|website=The42|date=11 February 2022 }} On 18 February 2022, he scored his side's third goal in a 3–0 win away to Shelbourne in the first league game of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0218/1281692-saints-sweep-past-shels-to-open-season-in-style/|title=Saints sweep past Shels to open season in style|first=Johnny|last=Ward|date=18 February 2022|via=www.rte.ie}} On 12 November 2023, McClelland came off the bench in the 2023 FAI Cup Final, in a 3–1 win over Bohemians in front of a record breaking FAI Cup Final crowd of 43,881 at the Aviva Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/1112/1416080-fai-cup-final-bohemians-v-st-pats-updates/|title=FAI Cup final recap: Bohemians 1-3 St Pat's|first=James|last=Fenton|date=12 November 2023|via=www.rte.ie}} On 27 November 2023, it was announced that McClelland has signed a contract extension with Pats, taking him into a 5th season with the club.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=9510|title=McClelland Extends Saints Contract|website=www.stpatsfc.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/32286/jay-mcclelland-signs-new-contract-the-saints/|title=Jay McClelland signs new contract with the Saints|first=Tommy|last=Healy|website=extratime.com}} On 11 August 2024, he scored his first goal of the 2024 season, opening the scoring in a 1–1 draw away to Galway United with a 25-yard drive into the bottom right corner off the inside of the post.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/st-pats-claim-premier-division-point-in-galway-as-focus-turns-to-europe-once-again/a1019623210.html|title=St Pat's claim Premier Division point in Galway as focus turns to Europe once again|date=11 August 2024|website=Irish Independent}} On 8 October 2024, McClelland was part of the Pats side that defeated St Mochta's 2–1 in the final of the 2023–24 Leinster Senior Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/34854/st-patricks-athletic-crowned-leinster-senior-cup-winners/|title=St Patrick's Athletic crowned Leinster Senior Cup winners|first=Extratime|last=Team|website=extratime.com}} On 4 December 2024, McClelland signed a new contract with the club, taking him into his 6th season there.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=9720|title=Jay McClelland Extends Contract|website=www.stpatsfc.com}} McClelland scored his first goal of the 2025 season on 14 March 2025, scoring the final goal of the game in the 90th minute of a 3–0 win over Bohemians at Richmond Park, having replaced Jake Mulraney from the bench 23 minutes earlier.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41594059.html|title=Melia on target as Saints cruise past limp Bohs in front of Hallgrímsson|first=Paul|last=Buttner|date=14 March 2025|website=Irish Examiner}}
International career
McClelland received his first cap at international level on 15 November 2015 in a friendly for Republic of Ireland U19 against Latvia U19. His first competitive appearance came 3 days later when he played against Scotland U19 in a UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifier.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/24/2016/2016011|title=Scotland 4 - 0 Republic of Ireland | 2016 - Under 19 Championship | 2016011 | Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 23 June 2025}}{{soccerway|jason-mcclelland/411610|accessdate=23 August 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Shamrock Rovers
|2015 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="6"|UCD
|2015 |rowspan="4"|LOI First Division |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2016
|18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 20 | 3 | ||
| 2017
|26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 28 | 7 | ||
| 2018
|26 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 32 | 10 | ||
| 2019
|35 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=statsLSC}} | 1 | 42 | 4 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!106 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 1 | 123 | 24 | ||
| rowspan="7"|St Patrick's Athletic
|2020 |rowspan="6"|LOI Premier Division |15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 0 | ||||
| 2021
|24 | 2 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 3 | ||||
| 2022
|19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League|name=statsUECL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup|name=statsPIC}} | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2023
|23 | 4 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=statsUECL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 30 | 4 | ||
| 2024
|20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Conference League|name=statsConf}} | 0 | 6{{efn|1 appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup & 5 appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup}} | 0 | 32 | 1 | ||
| 2025
|19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsConf}} | 0 | 2{{efn|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!120 | 9 | 11 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 148 | 10 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career Total
!226 | 29 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 272 | 34 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/jason-mcclelland/411610/|title=Republic of Ireland – J.McClelland|publisher=Ie.soccerway.com|accessdate=2019-11-11}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/player/888842377|title=Jason McClelland|publisher=fai.ie|accessdate=2019-11-11}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.stpatsfc.com/profile.php?id=268|title=Player Profiles|publisher=stpatsfc.com|accessdate=2019-11-11}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.extratime.ie/player/11119700/jason_mcclelland/|title=Player Profiles|publisher=extratime.ie|accessdate=2019-11-11}}
{{Authority control}}
{{St Patrick's Athletic F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McClelland, Jason}}
Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city)
Category:Crumlin United F.C. players
Category:Peamount United F.C. (men) players
Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players
Category:University College Dublin A.F.C. players
Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Association footballers from County Dublin
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers