Theo Archibald
{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Theo Archibald
| image = Theo Archibald, Leyton Orient footballer, 2025.jpg
| caption = Archibald in 2025
| full_name = Theodore Valentine Archibald{{Cite web |title=Monthly Bulletins – Players under Written Contract – June 2017 |url=http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/june-2017.ashx |access-date=14 September 2017 |website=The Football Association |page=1}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1998|3|5}}
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| position = Right winger
| currentclub = Leyton Orient
| clubnumber = 11
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2015
| youthclubs1 = Celtic
| years1 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = Celtic
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2017
| clubs2 = → Albion Rovers (loan)
| caps2 = 14
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2017–2019
| clubs3 = Brentford
| caps3 = 2
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2018–2019
| clubs4 = → Forest Green Rovers (loan)
| caps4 = 14
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2019–2020
| clubs5 = Macclesfield Town
| caps5 = 28
| goals5 = 4
| years6 = 2020–2022
| clubs6 = Lincoln City
| caps6 = 7
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2021–2022
| clubs7 = → Leyton Orient (loan)
| caps7 = 38
| goals7 = 8
| years8 = 2022–
| clubs8 = Leyton Orient
| caps8 = 65
| goals8 = 7
| nationalyears1 = 2013–2014
| nationalteam1 = Scotland U16
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2017
| nationalteam2 = Scotland U19
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2017
| nationalteam3 = Scotland U21
| nationalcaps3 = 1
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update = 15:28, 8 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
Theodore Valentine Archibald (born 5 March 1998) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right winger for {{English football updater|LeytonOr}} club Leyton Orient.
Archibald is a product of the Celtic academy. Following two seasons with Brentford B, he began his senior career in earnest with Macclesfield Town in 2019. He subsequently played for Lincoln City, before transferring to Leyton Orient in 2022. Archibald was capped by Scotland at youth level.
Club career
= Celtic =
A right winger, Archibald began his career in the academy at hometown club Celtic at a young age.{{Cite news |title=Theo Archibald joins Brentford B from Celtic |language=en |work=Brentford FC |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/theo-archibald-joins-brentford-b-from-celtic_164558 |access-date=14 May 2017}}{{Cite news |title=Theo Archibald can't wait to get going next season |language=en-gb |work=Brentford FC |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2017/may2/theo-archibald-interview-post-man-city/ |access-date=20 August 2017}} He won the 2014–15 Glasgow Cup with the U17 team and signed a three-year professional contract.{{Cite web |date=28 April 2015 |title=U17: Rangers 0–2 Celtic |url=https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/u17-rangers-0-2-celtic/ |access-date=13 February 2020 |website=Rangers Football Club, Official Website}}{{Cite web |last=Boon |first=Max |title=Big Interview: Theo Archibald |url=https://www.fgr.co.uk/news/december-2018/big-interview-theo-archibald |access-date=20 March 2019 |website=www.fgr.co.uk |language=en}} Archibald progressed through the youth ranks to be called into the U20 squad for three Scottish Challenge Cup matches early in the 2016–17 season and made his only appearance as a late substitute for Regan Hendry during a 5–1 first round victory over Annan Athletic on 2 August 2017.{{Soccerway|id=423865|accessdate=14 May 2017}} Archibald made appearances for the U19 team in the UEFA Youth League during the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons and helped the Development Squad to win the 2015–16 SPFL Development League title.{{Cite web |title=Brentford B – Midfielder – Theo Archibald |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/teams/archive/theo-archibald2/ |access-date=2 July 2017 |website=Brentford FC |language=en |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929014601/https://www.brentfordfc.com/teams/archive/theo-archibald2/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |title=Delight as Development Side seal championship |language=en-gb |url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/10295 |access-date=2 July 2017}} Following a development loan at Scottish League One club Albion Rovers during the second half of the 2016–17 season,{{Cite web |title=Albion Rovers sign Celtic youngster Theo Archibald on development Loan |url=http://albionroversfc.co.uk/theo-archibald-on-loan-from-celtic-fc/ |access-date=14 May 2017 |website=Albion Rovers Football Club |language=en-GB |archive-date=16 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116150959/http://albionroversfc.co.uk/theo-archibald-on-loan-from-celtic-fc/ |url-status=dead }} Archibald departed Celtic Park on 9 June 2017, after his contract expired.
= Brentford =
On 12 May 2017, Archibald moved to England to sign a three-year B team contract with Championship club Brentford on a free transfer,{{Cite web |title=Theo Archibald leaves Celtic to sign for Brentford |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ie/sport/other/theo-archibald-leaves-celtic-to-sign-for-brentford/ar-BBB3CXl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819190907/https://www.msn.com/en-ie/sport/other/theo-archibald-leaves-celtic-to-sign-for-brentford/ar-BBB3CXl |archive-date=19 August 2017 |access-date=2 July 2017 |website=www.msn.com}} effective 9 June 2017. He made three appearances early in the 2017–18 season, but drifted out of favour in late September 2017. He finished the season as the B team's second-leading scorer, with 14 goals.{{Cite news |title=B Team 17/18: One win, one loss and one full stats review |language=en-gb |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/june/b-season-review-09/ |access-date=10 June 2018}}
Archibald joined League Two club Forest Green Rovers on loan for the duration of the 2018–19 season.{{Cite web |title=Brentford winger Archibald joins on season-long loan |url=https://www.fgr.co.uk/news/2018/brentford-winger-archibald-joins-on-season-long-loan |access-date=2 July 2018 |website=www.fgr.co.uk |language=en}} He scored the first senior goal of his career on his 21st appearance, with a "stunning" 25-yard injury time strike to seal a 2–1 victory over Northampton Town on New Year's Day 2019.{{Cite news |date=1 January 2019 |title=Forest Green Rovers 2–1 Northampton Town |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46677384 |access-date=1 January 2019}} A lack of game time led to Archibald's recall to Brentford after the match.{{Cite web |title=News: Archibald and Morris return to parent clubs |url=https://www.fgr.co.uk/news/january-2019/news-archibald-and-morris-return-to-parent-clubs |access-date=3 January 2019 |website=www.fgr.co.uk |language=en}} He had gained experience as a wing back while away on loan and was deployed in that position for the B team during the second half of the 2018–19 season.{{Cite web |title=Match Report: Brentford 3 Swindon Town 0 |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/march/swindon-town-report/ |url-status=dead |access-date=20 March 2019 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020121028/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/march/swindon-town-report/ }} Archibald contributed to the B team's 2019 Middlesex Senior Cup Final victory and was an unused substitute during the first team's final match of the season.{{Cite web |title=Harrow Borough 0 Brentford B 4 |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/april/match-report-for-harrow-borough-vs-brentford-on-16-apr-19/ |url-status=dead |access-date=16 April 2019 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb |archive-date=3 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603053045/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/april/match-report-for-harrow-borough-vs-brentford-on-16-apr-19/ }} After a difficult two seasons off the field at Griffin Park,{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Scott |date=8 September 2019 |title=Exclusive: Theo Archibald on failed Brentford move & tragic death of his mentor |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-celtic-starlet-theo-archibald-19821534 |access-date=8 September 2019 |website=dailyrecord}} he was released on a free transfer in July 2019.{{Cite web |title=Theo Archibald leaves Brentford for Macclesfield Town |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/july/theo-archibald-joins-macclesfield/ |access-date=30 July 2019 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}
= Macclesfield Town =
On 30 July 2019, Archibald signed a one-year contract League Two club Macclesfield Town on a free transfer, with the option of a further year.{{Cite web |title=Silkmen Sign Theo Archibald |url=https://www.mtfc.co.uk/news/2019/july/30.07.19-silkmen-sign-theo-archibald/ |access-date=30 July 2019 |website=www.mtfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}} He made 33 appearances and scored six goals before his contract was cancelled on 13 May 2020.{{Cite web |title=Club Statement: Theo Archibald |url=https://www.mtfc.co.uk/news/2020/may/13.05.20-club-statement-theo-archibald/ |access-date=13 May 2020 |website=www.mtfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}
= Lincoln City =
On 24 August 2020, Archibald signed a one-year contract with League One club Lincoln City.{{Cite web |title=Imps sign Scotland Under 21 international |url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2020/august/200824-theoarch/ |access-date=24 August 2020 |publisher=Lincoln City F.C.}}{{Cite web |title=Revealed: The enormous number of League One players out of contract this summer |url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/revealed-the-enormous-number-of-league-one-players-out-of-contract-this-summer-3218746 |access-date=2 May 2021 |website=www.northamptonchron.co.uk |language=en}} During a 2020–21 season affected by injury and COVID-19,{{Cite web |last=Whiley |first=Mark |date=24 February 2021 |title=Imps suffer fresh injury setback |url=https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lincoln-city-injury-news-howarth-5040486 |access-date=14 March 2021 |website=LincolnshireLive |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Whiley |first=Mark |date=25 April 2021 |title=Appleton explains Archibald absence |url=https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lincoln-city-appleton-theo-archibald-5339039 |access-date=2 May 2021 |website=LincolnshireLive |language=en}} he made 12 appearances, scored one goal and did not feature during the Imps' unsuccessful 2021 play-off campaign. Archibald was retained for the 2021–22 season,{{Cite web |title=Imps announce retained list |url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2021/june/210604-retained-list |access-date=4 June 2021 |website=www.redimps.co.uk |language=en-gb}} but, with director of football Jez George unable to offer him regular football, he departed on a season-long loan in July 2021.{{Cite web |title=Archibald makes Orient switch |url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2021/july/archibald-makes-orient-switch |access-date=29 July 2021 |website=www.redimps.co.uk |language=en-gb}} Archibald transferred away from Sincil Bank in June 2022, though the club retained "a future interest in the player".{{Cite news |date=8 June 2022 |title=Archibald agrees Orient move |publisher=Lincoln City F.C. |url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2022/june/archibald-agrees-orient-move |access-date=8 June 2022}}
= Leyton Orient =
On 29 July 2021, Archibald joined League Two club Leyton Orient on loan for the duration of the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web |date=29 July 2021 |title=Orient capture Archibald on season long loan |url=https://www.leytonorient.com/2021/07/29/orient-capture-archibald-on-season-long-loan/ |access-date=29 July 2021 |website=Leyton Orient FC |language=en-GB}} He made a career-high 42 appearances and scored eight goals during a mid-table season.{{soccerbase season|94576|2021|accessdate=29 July 2021}}{{Fchd|id=LEYTONOR|name=Leyton Orient F.C.}} On 8 June 2022, Archibald signed a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web |date=8 June 2022 |title=Theo Archibald Signs Permanently for Leyton Orient |url=https://www.leytonorient.com/news/2022/june/08/theo-archibald-signs-permanently-for-leyton-orient/ |access-date=8 June 2022 |website=Leyton Orient FC |language=en-GB}} He made 39 appearances and scored five goals during the 2022–23 League Two title-winning season. Archibald was again a regular during the 2023–24 season, prior to undergoing surgery on a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in a match versus Port Vale on 6 February 2024.{{Cite web |date=5 March 2024 |title=Theo Archibald undergoes knee surgery |url=https://www.leytonorient.com/news/2024/march/05/theo-archibald-undergoes-knee-surgery/ |access-date=5 April 2024 |website=Leyton Orient FC}} He signed a new one-year contract in July 2024,{{Cite web |title=Theo Archibald Signs New Contract At Leyton Orient |url=https://www.leytonorient.com/news/2024/july/09/theo-archibald-signs-new-contract-at-leyton-orient/ |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Leyton Orient}} but suffered an injury setback in mid-November 2024, which required further surgery.{{Cite web |title=Theo Archibald Suffers Injury Setback |url=https://www.leytonorient.com/news/2024/november/19/theo-archibald-suffers-injury-setback/ |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=Leyton Orient}}
International career
Archibald was called up to a Scotland U14 training camp in 2012 and was capped at U16, U19 and U21 level.{{SFA player|id=142829|accessdate=1 January 2019}} He was a member of the U16 squad which won the 2013–14 Victory Shield.{{Cite web |title=Miller marvels in Victory Shield triumph |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1848&newsID=12916 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819191846/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1848&newsID=12916 |archive-date=19 August 2017 |access-date=14 May 2017 |website=Scottish Football Association |language=en}} Archibald won his only U21 cap as a late substitute for Oliver Burke in Scotland's 2–1 2019 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying win over the Netherlands on 5 September 2017.
Style of play
Brentford Head of Football Operations Robert Rowan described Archibald as "an inverted right winger, he's powerful, quick, direct and intelligent in possession". Of his preferred position, Archibald stated "I like either wing. I've played numerous positions. I've played left back, number 10, but ideally I like playing on the wing".{{Cite news |last=Moore |first=Tom |date=5 October 2017 |title=Former Celtic man sees pathway to senior football at Brentford |work=getwestlondon |url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-celtic-man-sees-pathway-13722300 |access-date=5 October 2017}}
Personal life
Career statistics
{{Updated|match played 27 April 2024}}
| 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"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Celtic U20
| colspan="7" |— |1Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup |0 |1 |0 | ||||||||||
| Albion Rovers (loan)
|2016–17{{soccerbase season|94576|2016|accessdate=14 May 2017}} |14 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2" |— | 14 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3" |Brentford
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|94576|2017|accessdate=14 May 2017}} |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2" |Total
!2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 3 | 0 | ||
| Forest Green Rovers (loan)
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|94576|2018|accessdate=2 July 2018}} |14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| Macclesfield Town
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|94576|2019|accessdate=30 July 2019}} |League Two |28 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 33 | 6 | |
| Lincoln City
|2020–21{{soccerbase season|94576|2020|accessdate=24 August 2020}} |7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 1 | |
| Leyton Orient (loan)
|League Two |38 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 8 | |
| rowspan="3" |Leyton Orient
|2022–23{{soccerbase season|94576|2022|accessdate=29 July 2021}} |League Two |35 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 5 | |
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|94576|2023|accessdate=5 August 2023}}
|League One |30 |2 |2 |0 |1 |0 |0 |36 |2 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!103 !15 !5 !0 !3 !0 !6 !0 !117 !15 | ||||||||||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!168 | 20 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 201 | 23 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerbase|94576}}
- {{UEFA player|250087758}}
- {{SFA player|id=142829}}
- [https://www.leytonorient.com/players/theoarchibald Theo Archibald] at leytonorient.com
{{Leyton Orient F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Archibald, Theo}}
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Brentford F.C. players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:English Football League players
Category:Albion Rovers F.C. players
Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players
Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers
Category:Footballers from Glasgow
Category:People educated at the High School of Glasgow
Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Macclesfield Town F.C. players
Category:Lincoln City F.C. players