Stuart Findlay

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Stuart Findlay

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Stuart John Findlay{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/august-2017.ashx |title=List of temporary transfers of players under written contract between 01/08/2017 and 31/08/2017 |publisher=The Football Association |page=25 |access-date=15 February 2018}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|9|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Carmyle, Scotland{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

| height = {{convert|1.91|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/teams/first-team/defender/stuart-findlay/ |title=Stuart Findlay |publisher=Oxford United F.C. |access-date=18 May 2024}}

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub = Kilmarnock (on loan from Oxford United)

| clubnumber = 17

| youthyears1 = 2009–2013

| youthclubs1 = Celtic

| years1 = 2013–2016

| clubs1 = Celtic

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2014

| clubs2 = → Greenock Morton (loan)

| caps2 = 14

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2015

| clubs3 = → Dumbarton (loan)

| caps3 = 15

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2015–2016

| clubs4 = → Kilmarnock (loan)

| caps4 = 22

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2016–2018

| clubs5 = Newcastle United

| caps5 = 0

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2017–2018

| clubs6 = → Kilmarnock (loan)

| caps6 = 32

| goals6 = 3

| years7 = 2018–2021

| clubs7 = Kilmarnock

| caps7 = 71

| goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2021–2022

| clubs8 = Philadelphia Union

| caps8 = 12

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2022

| clubs9 = Philadelphia Union II

| caps9 = 2

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2022–

| clubs10 = Oxford United

| caps10 = 39

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2023–

| clubs11 = → Kilmarnock (loan)

| caps11 = 50

| goals11 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2010–2011

| nationalteam1 = Scotland U16

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2011–2012

| nationalteam2 = Scotland U17

| nationalcaps2 = 10

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| nationalyears3 = 2012–2013

| nationalteam3 = Scotland U19

| nationalcaps3 = 7

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2012–2015

| nationalteam4 = Scotland U21

| nationalcaps4 = 13

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| nationalyears5 = 2019

| nationalteam5 = Scotland

| nationalcaps5 = 1

| nationalgoals5 = 1

| club-update = 21:29, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

}}

Stuart John Findlay (born 14 September 1995) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{Scottish football updater|Kilmarno}} club Kilmarnock, on loan from {{English football updater|OxfordUn}} club Oxford United. He has previously represented the Scotland national team at senior level.

Club career

=Celtic=

Findlay came through the youth system at Celtic, making his first-team debut in a friendly against Norwich City.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/stuart-findlay-celtic-youth-player-and-one-of-original-intake-in-2009-x.17784903|title=Stuart Findlay: Celtic youth player and one of original intake in 2009|newspaper=The Herald|date=4 June 2012|accessdate=6 March 2014}} He also captained Celtic at under-17 level,{{cite news|url=http://www.celticnewsnow.com/news/who-is-stuart-findlay/47890|title=Who is Stuart Findlay|publisher=Celtic News Now|date=23 May 2012|accessdate=6 March 2014}} and featured regularly for the Development side, taking part in the UEFA Youth League and the English Premier League International Cup.

==Greenock Morton (loan)==

In January 2014, Findlay signed for Greenock Morton on loan until the end of the season.{{cite news|url=http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/sport/morton/articles/2014/01/21/485627-riordan-to-train-with-morton-as-peciar-leaves/|title=Riordan to train with Morton as Peciar leaves|newspaper=Greenock Telegraph|first=Jonathan|last=Mitchell|date=21 January 2014|accessdate=2 February 2014}} He made his debut on 1 February in a 1–1 draw against league leaders Falkirk, turning in an impressive performance.{{cite news|url=http://spfl.co.uk/championship/fixture/3635109/|title=Falkirk 1–1 Morton|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League|date=1 February 2014|accessdate=1 February 2014}}{{cite web|title=Lennon delighted with Findlay's loan move to Morton|url=http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/sport/morton/articles/2014/02/05/487425-lennon-delighted-with-findlays-loan-move-to-morton/|newspaper=Greenock Telegraph|accessdate=9 July 2015|date=5 February 2014}} Morton spent most of the season in an unsuccessful struggle against relegation, but Findlay continued to show promise. Morton lost 2–1 away at Raith Rovers on 15 March, but Findlay's pace and positional sense restricted Raith's goalscoring chances, and his overall performance was described as showing "composure beyond his years".{{cite web|title=Spence double earns valuable victory|url=http://www.raithrovers.net/13484/raith-rovers-2-1-greenock-morton-3.htm|publisher=Raith Rovers F.C. |accessdate=9 July 2015|date=15 March 2014}} His spell at Morton ended on an embarrassing note, however, his side losing 10–2 against Hamilton Accies in their last game of the season, including a Findlay own goal.{{cite web|last=Crawford|first=Kenny|title=Hamilton 10–2 Morton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27168757|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=9 July 2015|date=3 May 2014}}

==Dumbarton (loan)==

On 16 January 2015, Findlay joined Scottish Championship club Dumbarton on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season.{{cite web|title=New face at the rock|url=https://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=1679|publisher=Dumbarton F.C.|last=Findlay|first=Alan|date=16 January 2015|accessdate=16 January 2015}} He impressed immediately, and was named the club's player of the month for February.{{cite web|title=Stuart hopes to impress Celts with Sons displays|url=http://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/sport/football/articles/2015/03/20/527790-stuart-hopes-to-impress-celts-with-sons-displays/|newspaper=Dumbarton Reporter|accessdate=9 July 2015|date=20 March 2015}} He was noted for his composure with the ball, often carrying the ball out of defence with ease. Findlay himself pointed out that "coming through at Celtic it is in their philosophy that they want to play out from the back, they want their defenders to be good on the ball." His form also saw him named in the Scotland under-21 squad for a friendly with Hungary in March. He left the club at the end of his loan deal, having made 15 appearances and twice been the recipient of the player of the month award.{{cite web|url=http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=1754|title=Baxter Ramsay Player of the Month|publisher=Dumbarton F.C.|date=9 March 2015 |access-date=31 August 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=1838|title=Baxter Ramsay Player of the Month|publisher=Dumbarton F.C.|date=30 April 2015 |access-date=31 August 2022}}

==Kilmarnock (loan)==

On 9 July 2015, it was confirmed that Findlay was going out on loan to Kilmarnock for the 2015–16 season.{{cite web|last=Henderson|first=Mark|title=Stuart Findlay heads on loan to Kilmarnock|url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/8586|publisher=Celtic F.C.|accessdate=9 July 2015|date=9 July 2015}} On 1 August 2015, Findlay made his Kilmarnock debut in a 4–0 defeat against Dundee, in which he featured for the entire 90 minutes.{{Cite news |title=Kilmarnock vs. Dundee |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/08/01/scotland/premier-league/kilmarnock-fc/dundee-fc/2047248/ |publisher=Soccerway |date=1 August 2015 |accessdate=8 July 2016}}

=Newcastle United=

Findlay joined Football League Championship side Newcastle United on 8 July 2016, following his release from Celtic.{{Cite news |title=Magpies Sign Young Duo |url=http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20160708/magpies-sign-young-duo_2281670_5705417 |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |date=8 July 2016 |accessdate=8 July 2016}} He made his debut for Newcastle in an FA Cup tie against Birmingham City on 18 January 2017.{{cite news

|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38579227|title=Newcastle 3-1 Birmingham|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 January 2017|accessdate=18 January 2017}}

=Kilmarnock=

In August 2017, Findlay returned to Kilmarnock on loan from Newcastle.{{Cite web | title=Player Announcement: Stuart Findlay |url=http://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/Article?id=6096 |publisher=Kilmarnock F.C. |date=25 August 2017 |accessdate=25 August 2017}} He made 36 appearances for the club during the 2017–18 season, then signed permanently with the Rugby Park outfit in July 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44712419 |title=Kilmarnock: Bournemouth's Mikael Ndjoli and Newcastle's Stuart Findlay sign up |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 July 2018 |accessdate=4 July 2018}} On 23 September 2018, he scored a last-minute winner in a league fixture at home to former club Celtic, giving Killie a 2–1 victory.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45538080 |title=Kilmarnock 2–1 Celtic |publisher=BBC Sport |first=Jamie |last=Lyall |date=23 September 2018 |accessdate=24 September 2018}}

=Philadelphia Union=

On 25 February 2021, Findlay moved over to the United States, to join Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal, with the option to extend a further year.{{cite news |title=Philadelphia Union Sign Center Back Stuart Findlay |url=https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/post/2021/02/25/philadelphia-union-sign-center-back-stuart-findlay |access-date=25 February 2021 |publisher=Philadelphia Union |date=25 February 2021}}{{Cite web| title=Stuart Findlay joins Philadelphia Union

|url=https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/news/stuart-findlay-joins-philadelphia-union/ |access-date=25 February 2021 |publisher=Kilmarnock F.C. |date=25 February 2021}}

He made his debut on 15 April 2021, coming off the bench in the side's 4–0 home win against Deportivo Saprissa in the CONCACAF Champions League.{{Cite web|url=https://phillysoccerpage.net/2021/04/14/match-report-philadelphia-union-4-0-deportivo-saprissa/|title=Match report: Philadelphia Union 4-0 Deportivo Saprissa|publisher=The Philly Soccer Page|first=Nick|last=Fishman|date=14 April 2021|access-date=24 April 2021}}

27 June 2021, he made his first start for Philadelphia Union away against Chicago Fire in a 3–3 draw, also his first appearance in Major League Soccer.{{cite web|url=https://phillysoccerpage.net/2021/06/26/match-report-chicago-fire-3-3-philadelphia-union/|title=Match Report: Chicago Fire 3-3 Philadelphia Union|publisher=The Philly Soccer Page|first=Mike|last=Servedio|date=26 June 2021|access-date=9 July 2021}}

=Oxford United=

On 19 July 2022, Findlay signed for EFL League One club Oxford United for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2022/july/stuart-findlay-joins-oxford-united/|title=Stuart Findlay Joins Oxford United |publisher=Oxford United F.C. |first=|last=|date=19 July 2022|access-date=19 July 2022}} He made his debut in the first league game of the season, a 1–0 away defeat to Derby County,{{cite web |url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/202223/july/derby-county-vs-oxford-united-on-30-jul-22/ |title=REPORT Derby County 1 Oxford United 0 |date=30 July 2022 |publisher=Oxford United F.C. |first=Chris |last=Williams |access-date=31 August 2022}} and scored his first goal for the club in a 5–0 victory over Leyton Orient in the EFL Trophy group stage on 30 August 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/20860743.oxford-united-player-ratings-win-leyton-orient-papa-johns-trophy |title=Oxford United player ratings for win over Leyton Orient in Papa John's Trophy |first=James |last=Roberts |date=31 August 2022 |newspaper=Oxford Mail |access-date=31 August 2022}}

Findlay was loaned to Kilmarnock in July 2023{{cite web |last=Delaney |first=James |date=14 July 2023 |title=Kilmarnock secure Stuart Findlay return as Scotland cap agrees loan move from Oxford United |url=https://news.stv.tv/sport/kilmarnock-secure-stuart-findlay-return-as-scotland-cap-agrees-loan-move-from-oxford-united |accessdate=14 July 2023 |website=STV News}} and the loan was renewed for a further season in June 2024.{{cite news |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/24366286.stuart-findlay-rejoins-kilmarnock-loan-oxford-united/ |title=Stuart Findlay rejoins Kilmarnock on loan from Oxford United |first=Liam |last=Rice |date=4 June 2024 |newspaper=Oxford Mail |access-date=4 June 2024}}

International career

Findlay was first called into the Scotland under-21 squad in November 2012 by coach Ricky Sbragia for a friendly against Portugal.{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8231582/|title=Stuart Findlay and Marcus Fraser have been called into the Scotland U21 squad|publisher=Sky Sports|date=7 November 2012|accessdate=1 February 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu21/player.php?playerid=547 |title=Scotland U21 profile |publisher=Fitbastats.com|accessdate=20 June 2017}} His 13th and final cap at this age level was in October 2015 against France at Pittodrie Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/international-matches/?mid=150913|title=Scotland 1-2 France|publisher=Scottish FA|accessdate=22 March 2018}}

Findlay received his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in March 2019 for games against Kazakhstan and San Marino.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47604868 |title=Scotland: Andy Robertson to miss Kazakhstan clash as trio also pull out |date=17 March 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=18 March 2019}} He earned his first full international cap on 13 October 2019 in a 6–0 win over San Marino at Hampden Park, in which he played the full 90 minutes and scored Scotland's 5th goal.{{cite news |last1=Lamont |first1=Alasdair |title=Scotland 6–0 San Marino |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49949350 |accessdate=13 October 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2019}}

Personal life

He attended Trinity High School, Rutherglen, and was in the same year group as fellow Celtic youth team player Dom Thomas, who broke through as a professional with Motherwell and was later a teammate at Kilmarnock.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/trinity-high-school-awards-2631354 |title=Trinity High School awards |date=16 July 2008|accessdate=20 June 2017 |newspaper=Daily Record/Rutherglen Reformer}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes Scottish Cup, US Open Cup, FA Cup}} !colspan="2"\|League cup{{efn\|Includes Scottish League Cup, EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Celtic \|2013–14 \|rowspan="3"\|Scottish Premiership \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2014–15 \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015–16 \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Greenock Morton (loan) \|2013–14{{soccerbase season\|74597\|2013\|accessdate=15 November 2017}} \|Scottish Championship \|14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	0
Dumbarton (loan) \|2014–15{{soccerbase season\|74597\|2014\|accessdate=15 November 2017}} \|Scottish Championship \|15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	0
Kilmarnock (loan) \|2015–16{{soccerbase season\|74597\|2015\|accessdate=15 November 2017}} \|Scottish Premiership \|22	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	27	0
rowspan="3"\|Newcastle United \|2016–17{{soccerbase season\|74597\|2016\|accessdate=15 November 2017}} \|Championship \|0	0	1	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	1	0
2017–18{{soccerbase season\|74597\|2017\|accessdate=15 November 2017}} \|Premier League \|0	0	0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Kilmarnock (loan) \|2017–18 \|Scottish Premiership \|32	3	4	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	36	3
rowspan=4\|Kilmarnock \|2018–19{{soccerbase season\|74597\|2018\|accessdate=15 July 2018}} \|rowspan=3\|Scottish Premiership \|31	3	1	1	2	0	colspan=2\|—	34	4
2019–20{{Soccerbase season\|74597\|2019\|accessdate=12 July 2019}} \|18	1	2	2	2	0	2Appearances in the UEFA Europa League	1	24	4
2020–21{{soccerbase season\|74597\|2020\|accessdate=1 August 2020}} \|22	0	0	0	1	0	colspan=2\|—	23	0
colspan=2\|Total !71	4	3	3	5	0	2	1	81	8
rowspan=3\|Philadelphia Union \|2021 \|rowspan=2\|Major League Soccer \|8	0	0	0	0	0	1Appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League	0	9	0
2022 \|4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	5	1
colspan=2\|Total !12	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	14	1
Oxford United \|2022–23 \|EFL League One \|39	0	2	0	1	0	2Appearances in the EFL Trophy	1	44	1
rowspan="3"\|Kilmarnock (loan) \|2023–24 \|Scottish Premiership \|37	0	2	0	6	2	colspan=2\|—	45	2
2024–25 \|Scottish Premiership \|13	0	0	0	1	0	5	0	19	0
colspan="2"\|Total !50	0	2	0	7	2	5	0	64	2
colspan="3" \|Career total !255	7	16	3	15	4	10	2	296	16

=International=

{{updated|13 October 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=82926&lid=1 |title=Stuart Findlay |publisher=Scottish Football Association |access-date=20 July 2022 }}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team\|\|Year\|\|Apps\|\|Goals
rowspan="1"\|Scotland \|2019	1	1
colspan="2"\|Total\|\|1\|\|1

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

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team||Year||Apps||Goals

rowspan="1"|Scotland

|2019

colspan="2"|Total||1||1

:Scotland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Findlay goal

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;" \|+ List of international goals scored by Stuart Findlay
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
align=center \| 1	13 October 2019	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	{{fb\|SMR}}	align=center \| 5–0	align=center \| 6–0	UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"

|+ List of international goals scored by Stuart Findlay

No.

Date

Venue

Opponent

Score

Result

Competition

align=center | 1

13 October 2019

Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland