Scott Partridge

{{short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Scott Partridge

| image = Scott Partridge for Bath City in 2007 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Partridge playing for Bath City in 2007

| fullname = Scott Malcolm Partridge{{Hugman|id=15375|accessdate=11 January 2020}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|10|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Leicester, England

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}

| position = Forward, Winger

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Grimsby Town

| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–1992

| youthclubs2 = Bradford City

| years1 = 1992–1994

| years2 = 1994–1997

| years3 = 1995

| years4 = 1996

| years5 = 1996

| years6 = 1997–1998

| years7 = 1998–1999

| years8 = 1999–2001

| years9 = 2001–2003

| years10 = 2003

| years11 = 2003

| years12 = 2003–2004

| years13 = 2004–2008

| years14 = 2008

| years15 = 2008–2009

| clubs1 = Bradford City

| clubs2 = Bristol City

| clubs3 = → Torquay United (loan)

| clubs4 = → Plymouth Argyle (loan)

| clubs5 = → Scarborough (loan)

| clubs6 = Cardiff City

| clubs7 = Torquay United

| clubs8 = Brentford

| clubs9 = Rushden & Diamonds

| clubs10 = → Exeter City (loan)

| clubs11 = Shrewsbury Town

| clubs12 = Weymouth

| clubs13 = Bath City

| clubs14 = Sheffield

| clubs15 = Weston-super-Mare

| caps1 = 5

| caps2 = 57

| caps3 = 5

| caps4 = 7

| caps5 = 7

| caps6 = 36

| caps7 = 34

| caps8 = 93

| caps9 = 44

| caps10 = 4

| caps11 = 4

| caps12 = 14

| caps13 = 138

| caps14 = 23

| caps15 = 9

| goals1 = 0

| goals2 = 7

| goals3 = 2

| goals4 = 2

| goals5 = 0

| goals6 = 2

| goals7 = 13

| goals8 = 21

| goals9 = 5

| goals10 = 2

| goals11 = 0

| goals12 = 2

| goals13 = 68

| goals14 = 19

| goals15 = 0

| totalcaps = 480

| totalgoals = 143

}}

Scott Malcolm Partridge (born 13 October 1974) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League, most notably for Brentford. In a nomadic league career, he also played League football for Bristol City, Rushden & Diamonds, Torquay United, Cardiff City, Bradford City, Plymouth Argyle, Scarborough and Exeter City. He was described as "an immensely skilful little striker with a wonderful first touch", while "rarely getting the goals his contribution deserved".

Career

= Early years =

A forward, Partridge began his career in the youth system at Grimsby Town, before moving to Bradford City and signing his first professional contract in July 1992.{{Cite web |title=Scott Partridge |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/scott-partridge-4330/ |access-date=25 December 2017 |website=11v11.com}}{{Cite web |title=Patridge, Scott |url=http://grecianarchive.exeter.ac.uk/items/show/454 |access-date=25 December 2017 |website=The Grecian Archive |language=en-US}} He made just five first team substitute appearances for the Bantams, before moving to First Division club Bristol City on a free transfer on 18 February 1994. He made something of a breakthrough at Ashton Gate, making 66 appearances and scoring eight goals over the course of three seasons, but was forced to spend time away on loan during the 1995–96 season. Partridge joined Third Division club Cardiff City for a £50,000 fee in February 1997, but after 13 months in which he was mainly utilised as a winger,{{Cite news |last=Rogers |first=Gareth |date=16 January 2015 |title=Cardiff City rejects who proved the Bluebirds wrong |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/incoming/gallery/cardiff-city-rejects-who-proved-8460309 |access-date=25 December 2017 |work=walesonline}} he departed Ninian Park in March 1998, having made 41 appearances and scored just two goals.

= Torquay United =

On 26 March 1998, Partridge returned to Third Division club Torquay United (with whom he had previously had a loan spell during the 1995–96 season) on a free transfer.{{Cite book |last1=Croxford |first1=Mark |title=The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties |last2=Lane |first2=David |last3=Waterman |first3=Greville |publisher=Legends Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=9781906796723 |location=Sunbury, Middlesex |pages=436–437}} Despite failing to score in each of his five appearances at the end of the 1997–98 season, Partridge finally found his goalscoring touch during 1998–99, scoring 14 goals in 35 matches before departing Plainmoor in February 1999.

= Brentford =

Partridge joined high-flying Third Division club Brentford for a £100,000 fee on 19 February 1999. Paired with Lloyd Owusu in attack,{{Cite book |last1=Haynes |first1=Graham |title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 |last2=Coumbe |first2=Frank |publisher=Yore Publications |year=2006 |isbn=0955294916 |location=Harefield |page=121}} he showed excellent form in what remained of the 1998–99 season, scoring seven goals in 14 matches to help the Bees to the Third Division title after victory over the eventual runners-up Cambridge United on the final day.{{Cite web |title=Brentford results for the 1998–1999 season |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1998-1999/results |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426234542/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1998-1999/results |archive-date=26 April 2016 |access-date=25 December 2017 |website=Statto.com}} Back in the Second Division, Partridge scored four goals in an eight-match spell between late August and early September 1999, but scored just twice more to finish a mid-table season with 47 appearances and six goals.{{Cite web |title=Brentford Complete History |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061629/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/history |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=25 December 2017 |website=Statto.com}}

Partridge began the 2000–01 season on the bench, but regained his starting place under caretaker manager Ray Lewington in December 2000.{{Cite news |date=20 November 2000 |title=Noades resigns as Brentford boss |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brentford/1032360.stm |access-date=25 December 2017 |language=en-GB}} Paired again with Lloyd Owusu, he scored 9 goals between December and the end of the season, to finish with 47 appearances and 10 goals. The 2000–01 season was memorable for Brentford's run to the final of the Football League Trophy, though despite playing the full 90 minutes at the Millennium Stadium, the Bees were beaten 2–1 by Port Vale.{{Cite news |date=22 April 2001 |title=Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1289338.stm |access-date=25 December 2017 |language=en-GB}} New manager Steve Coppell's signing of forward Ben Burgess on loan in August 2001 heralded the beginning of the end of Partridge's time at Griffin Park and after two early 2001–02 season appearances, he departed the club in September 2001. During {{frac|2|1|2}} seasons with Brentford, Partridge made 110 appearances and scored 23 goals.

=Rushden & Diamonds=

Partridge dropped back down to the Third Division to join newly promoted Rushden & Diamonds on a free transfer on 14 September 2001.{{Cite web |title=Partridge flies high |url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/partridge-flies-high-1-934676 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130302/https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/partridge-flies-high-1-934676 |archive-date=26 December 2017 |access-date=25 December 2017 |website=www.northamptonchron.co.uk |language=en}} Aside from a spell of five goals in 12 matches between late October and late December 2001, Partridge failed to recapture any goalscoring form, but did help the team to the 2002 Third Division play-off final, which was lost 3–1 to Cheltenham Town.{{Cite news |date=6 May 2002 |title=Cheltenham crack Diamonds |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1967943.stm |access-date=25 December 2017 |language=en-GB}}

Partridge was utilised almost exclusively as a substitute in the early months of the 2002–03 season,{{Cite web |title=Scott Partridge Player Profile |url=http://www.espnfc.com/player/5962/scott-partridge |access-date=25 December 2017 |website=ESPN FC}} before being transfer-listed in December 2002.{{Cite news |date=11 December 2002 |title=Rushden release duo |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rushden_and_diamonds/2566489.stm |access-date=25 December 2017 |language=en-GB}} On 31 December 2002, Partridge joined Third Division club Exeter City on a one-month loan.{{Cite news |date=7 December 2002 |title=Transfers – December 2002 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2552177.stm |access-date=25 December 2017 |language=en-GB}} He scored in each of his first two matches and made four appearances before his loan expired,{{Soccerbase season|id=6137|season=2002|access-date=24 December 2017}}{{Cite news |date=4 February 2003 |title=Partridge exits St James |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/exeter_city/2725719.stm |access-date=25 December 2017 |language=en-GB}} despite attempts by manager Neil McNab to persuade him to stay.{{Cite news |date=2003 |title=McNab keen on Partridge |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/exeter_city/2706715.stm |access-date=25 December 2017 |language=en-GB}} Partridge departed Rushden & Diamonds on 26 March 2003 and made 52 appearances and scored five goals for the club.{{Cite web |title=A-Z of Diamonds {{!}} Scott Partridge |url=http://www.thediamondsfc.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/A-ZofDiamonds/0,,10784~1259616,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312221746/http://www.thediamondsfc.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/A-ZofDiamonds/0,,10784~1259616,00.html |archive-date=12 March 2018 |access-date=12 March 2018 |website=Rushden & Diamonds F.C.}}

= Shrewsbury Town =

On 27 March 2003, Partridge joined Third Division club Shrewsbury Town on a contract running until the end of the 2002–03 season.{{Cite web |date=27 March 2003 |title=Transfer Day signings |url=http://world.shrewsburytown.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10443~363857,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005210533/http://world.shrewsburytown.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10443~363857,00.html |archive-date=5 October 2018 |access-date=9 April 2018 |website=Shrewsbury Town F.C.}} He made just four appearances before his contract expired.

= Non-League football =

Weymouth player-manager Steve Claridge made Partridge his first signing of the 2003–04 season and he signed a three-year contract.{{Cite web |title=Exit for Partridge |url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/5371052.EXIT_FOR_PARTRIDGE/?ref=arc |access-date=26 December 2017 |website=Dorset Echo | date=9 January 2004 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Diamond geezer |url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/5378112.DIAMOND_GEEZER/ |access-date=25 December 2017 |website=Dorset Echo |date=10 July 2003 |language=en}} He scored 11 goals in 30 appearances before being allowed to join Southern League Premier Division rivals Bath City on a free transfer on 9 January 2004.{{Cite news |title=Player Archive |url=http://theterras.com/index.php/weymouth-football-club-archive/player-archive/ |access-date=24 January 2018 |work=The Terras |language=en-GB}} Partridge went on to have a successful {{frac|4|1|2}}-season spell at Twerton Park, with a pinnacle being the title-winning 2006–07 season, which secured promotion to the Conference South. After recovering from a neck injury, he played on until March 2008, before departing the club to look after his mother.{{Cite web |date=13 March 2008 |title=Family illness sees Scott Partridge depart Twerton Park |url=http://www.bathcityfc.com/march-2008/ |access-date=26 December 2017 |website=bathcityfc.com}} Partridge joined Northern Premier League First Division South club Sheffield in 2008, but moved back up to the Conference South to join Weston-super-Mare on 31 December 2008 and made 9 appearances before retiring at the end of the 2008–09 season.{{Cite news |date=31 December 2008 |title=Partridge lands in Seagulls nest |url=http://www.westonsupermareafc.co.uk/news.asp#552 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201171211/http://www.westonsupermareafc.co.uk/news.asp#552 |archive-date=1 February 2009 |access-date=1 January 2009 |publisher=Weston-super-Mare F.C.}}

Personal life

Partridge's father, Malcolm, was also a professional footballer.{{Cite book |title=TW8: Brentford Official Matchday Programme versus Walsall |date=28 October 2000 |publisher=Morganprint |location=Charlton, London |page=14}} As of January 2004, he was living in Bristol.

Career statistics

{{Expand section|

  • Cup appearances in non-league football|date=December 2017}}

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

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

! rowspan="2" |Club

! rowspan="2" |Season

! colspan="3" |League

! colspan="2" |FA Cup

! colspan="2" |League Cup

! colspan="2" |Other

! colspan="2" |Total

Division

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

Bradford City

! colspan="2" |Total

!5

!0

!0

!0

!2

!0

!0

!0

!7

!0

rowspan="2" |Bristol City

|1996–97{{Soccerbase season|id=6137|season=1996|access-date=24 December 2017}}

|Second Division

|6

|0

|0

|0

|1

|1

| colspan="2" |—

|7

|1

colspan="2" |Total

!57

!7

!4

!0

!5

!1

!0

!0

!66

!8

Torquay United (loan)

|1995–96{{Soccerbase|id=6137}}

|Third Division

|5

|2

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

|5

|2

Plymouth Argyle (loan)

|1995–96{{Cite web |last=Scallan |first=Trevor |title=Scott Partridge |url=http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=628 |access-date=24 December 2017 |website=GoS-DB}}

|Third Division

|7

|2

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

|7

|2

Scarborough (loan)

|1995–96

|Third Division

|7

|0

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

|7

|0

rowspan="3" |Cardiff City

|1996–97

|Third Division

|14

|0

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

|14

|0

1997–98{{Soccerbase season|id=6137|season=1997|access-date=24 December 2017}}

|Third Division

|23

|2

|2

|0

|2

|0

|0

|0

|27

|2

colspan="2" |Total

!37

!2

!2

!0

!2

!0

!0

!0

!41

!2

rowspan="3" |Torquay United

|1997–98

|Third Division

|5

|0

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

|5

|0

1998–99{{Soccerbase season|id=6137|season=1998|access-date=24 December 2017}}

|Third Division

|29

|12

|2

|1

|2

|0

|2Appearances in Football League Trophy

|1

|35

|14

colspan="2" |Total

!39

!14

!2

!1

!2

!0

!2

!1

!45

!16

rowspan="5" |Brentford

|1998–99

|Third Division

|14

|7

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

|14

|7

1999–00{{Soccerbase season|id=6137|season=1999|access-date=24 December 2017}}

|Second Division

|41

|6

|2

|0

|2

|0

|2

|0

|47

|6

2000–01{{Soccerbase season|id=6137|season=2000|access-date=24 December 2017}}

|Second Division

|37

|8

|1

|0

|3

|0

|6

|2

|47

|10

2001–02

|Second Division

|1

|0

|0

|0

|1

|0

|0

|0

|2

|0

colspan="2" |Total

!93

!21

!3

!0

!6

!0

!8

!2

!110

!23

rowspan="3" |Rushden & Diamonds

|2001–02

|Third Division

|37

|5

|2

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|43 appearances in Third Division play-offs, 1 appearance in Conference Shield

|0

|43

|5

2002–03

|Third Division

|6

|0

|1

|0

|2

|0

|0

|0

|9

|0

colspan="2" |Total

!43

!5

!3

!0

!2

!0

!4

!0

!52

!5

Exeter City (loan)

|2002–03

|Third Division

|4

|2

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

|4

|2

Shrewsbury Town

|2002–03

|Third Division

|4

|0

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

|4

|0

Weymouth

|2003–04

|Southern League Premier Division

|14

|2

|0

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|0

|0

|14

|2

rowspan="6" |Bath City

|2003–04

|Southern League Premier Division

|12

|16

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

|0

|0

|12

|16

2004–05{{Cite web |title=Player Details: Season 2004–2005 |url=http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2004/player_details.php?playerid=4406 |access-date=24 December 2017 |website=SoccerFacts UK}}

|Southern League Premier Division

|27

|9

|0

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|0

|0

|27

|9

2005–06{{Cite web |title=Player Details: Season 2005–2006 |url=http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2005/player_details.php?playerid=4406 |access-date=24 December 2017 |website=SoccerFacts UK}}

|Southern League Premier Division

|42

|20

|0

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|1Appearance in Southern League Premier Division play-offs

|0

|43

|10

2006–07

|Southern League Premier Division

|30

|17

|0

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|0

|0

|30

|17

2007–08{{Cite web |date=17 May 2008 |title=Conference South guide – Bath City |url=http://www.confsouth.co.uk/bathcity.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517095826/http://www.confsouth.co.uk/bathcity.htm |archive-date=17 May 2008 |access-date=24 December 2017}}

|Conference South

|27

|2

|0

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|0

|0

|27

|2

colspan="2" |Total

!138

!68

!0

!0

! colspan="2" |—

!0

!0

!138

!68

Weston-super-Mare

|2008–09{{Cite web |title=Blue Square Conference South guide – Weston-super-Mare |url=http://www.confsouth.co.uk/westonsmare.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524220148/http://www.confsouth.co.uk/westonsmare.htm |archive-date=24 May 2009 |access-date=24 December 2017}}

|Conference South

|9

|0

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

| colspan="2" |—

|9

|0

colspan="3" |Career total

!452

!123

!14

!1

!19

!1

!15

!3

!500

!128

Honours

Brentford

Rushden & Diamonds

  • Conference Shield: 2001{{Soccerbase season|id=6137|season=2001|access-date=24 December 2017}}

Weymouth

  • Southern League Premier Division second-place promotion: 2003–04{{Cite web |title=Player Details: Season 2003–2004 |url=http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2003/player_details.php?playerid=1898 |access-date=24 December 2017 |website=SoccerFacts UK}}{{Fchd|id=WEYMOUTH|name=Weymouth F.C.}}

Bath City

  • Southern League Premier Division: 2006–07{{Cite web |title=Player Details: Season 2006–2007 |url=http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2006/player_details.php?playerid=4406 |url-status=dead |access-date=24 December 2017 |website=SoccerFacts UK |archive-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130517/http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2006/player_details.php?playerid=4406 }}{{Fchd|id=BATHC|name=Bath City F.C.}}

Individual

  • FA Cup Player of the Round: Third qualifying round, 2004–05{{Cite news |date=25 October 2004 |title=Partridge wins FA Cup award |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3952803.stm |access-date=25 December 2017 |language=en-GB}}
  • Team of the FA Cup: 2004–05{{Cite news |date=19 September 2005 |title=Laidlaw wins FA Cup player award |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/4258632.stm |access-date=25 December 2017 |language=en-GB}}

References

{{reflist}}