Jamie McCunnie

Infobox Football biography
playername = Jamie McCunnie


fullname = Jamie McCunnie
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|4|15|df=y
cityofbirth = Glasgow
countryofbirth = Scotland
height = height|ft=5|in=10
position = Midfielder
currentclub = Hartlepool United
clubnumber = 2
youthyears =
youthclubs = Dundee United
years = 1999–2003
2003–2005
2005–2007
2007–
clubs = Dundee United
Ross County
Dunfermline Athletic
Hartlepool United
caps(goals) = 60 (0)
63 (0)
36 (0)
31 (1)
nationalyears = 2001–2005
2005
nationalteam = Scotland U21
Scotland B
nationalcaps(goals) = 20 (0)
01 (0)
pcupdate = 20:35, 3 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 20:35, 3 September 2008 (UTC)

Jamie McCunnie (born 15 April 1983 in Glasgow) is a Scottish footballer, who currently plays as a midfielder for Hartlepool United.

Career

McCunnie began his senior career with Dundee United at youth level, signing for them professionally in 1999. Normally featuring as a right back at this stage of his career, he was given his first team debut for United away to Hibernian in December 2000. Despite McCunnie being aged only 17 at this time, manager Alex Smith was sufficiently impressed by his performances to keep him as a regular first team player for the rest of that season, helping the club climb successfully out of relegation and reach a Scottish Cup semi-final as well. McCunnie's successful season culminated in him making his debut for Scotland under-21s against Poland.

At this time McCunnie was rated as one of the best young players in Scottish football. However, despite featuring regularly for Dundee United over the next two seasons and becoming captain of Scotland under-21s, he began to lose consistency from his form. Ian McCall had become manager of Dundee United early in 2003, and seemingly unimpressed by the player's attitude, soon made it known to McCunnie that he was willing to dispense with his services. The somewhat surprised player found himself offloaded to First Division side Ross County, where his former mentor Alex Smith was now manager, in July 2003.

McCunnie spent two seasons playing for the Dingwall club, during which time he was converted from right back to a defensive midfield role. His Ross County contract was due to expire in 2005 and he was keen to seek a return to a higher level of football, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/ross_county/4524109.stm "McCunnie will leave Ross County"] "BBC Sport", 6 May 2005. Accessed 17 September 2006] with a move to English football a distinct possibility. He was widely expected to join Cardiff City following a successful trial, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/4712215.stm "McCunnie impresses with Cardiff"] "BBC Sport", 24 July 2005. Accessed 17 September 2006] but the move ultimately fell through, and a trial with Gillingham was also unproductive. Instead, McCunnie was able to secure himself a return to the top flight of Scottish football, signing for Dunfermline in August 2005. He has established himself as a regular first team player despite an injury absence early in his Dunfermline career, resulting from an assault outside a Dundee nightclub. [ [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16343907&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=pars-star-jamie-in-bottle-attack--name_page.html "Pars star Jamie in bottle attack"] , "Daily Record", 8 November 2005. Accessed 17 September 2006]

McCunnie joined Hartlepool United from Dunfermline Athletic on 15 June 2007 on a free transfer [ [http://www.hartlepool.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=69838 "Pools Snap Up Scottish Cup Finalist"] , "Vital Hartlepool", 15 June 2007.] , preferring the move to a contract extension, which he was widely expected to sign. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/6747989.stm "McCunnie stays on at Dunfermline"] , "BBC Sport", 13 June 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.hartlepoolunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10326~9685,00.html McCunnie’s Official Hartlepool United F.C. profile]
* [http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/cgi-bin/itmc_view_person.asp?oid=8125 Jamie McCunnie profile] at [http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/ In The Mad Crowd]
* [http://www.hartlepool.vitalfootball.co.uk/player.asp?p=445 Vital Hartlepool Profile: Jamie McCunnie]
*soccerbase|id=16988|name=Jamie McCunnie