Stuart_Bannigan

Stuart Bannigan

Stuart Bannigan

Scottish footballer

Stuart Bannigan (born 17 September 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle. A product of the club's youth setup, Bannigan played his first professional season on loan at the then Scottish Second Division side Ayr United. He also played for the Scotland U21 team.

Quick Facts Personal information, Date of birth ...

Career

Partick Thistle

Bannigan signed permanently for the Partick Thistle youth development team, full-time, in May 2009, following a period of trialling prior to a full-time contract. playing in the U17s side, Bannigan made his first team debut as a substitute on 24 July 2010 against Clyde in the Scottish Challenge Cup.[2] He went on to make his league debut for Partick Thistle on 11 September 2010 against Stirling in the Scottish First Division.[3] He made one more appearance[4] before being sent out on loan.

Bannigan holding the Scottish First Division trophy in 2013.

On 4 November 2010 Bannigan joined Scottish Second Division side Ayr United on a one-month loan deal.[5] He made his debut against Dumbarton on 13 November 2010.[6] After only 5 games his loan was extended until the end of the season.[7] Bannigan made 24 Appearances scoring 4 goals to help Ayr gain promotion to the Scottish First Division via the play-offs.[8]

Following his loan spell at Ayr United, Bannigan would be used intermittently in the Partick first team during the 2011–12 season. He scored his first Thistle goal against Hamilton Academical, in which the result was 2–2.[9] In 2012–13, Bannigan scored his first goal of the season against Queens Park at Hampden Park in a 5–4 thriller in the second round of the Scottish Challenge Cup. A a week later, on 25 August 2012, Bannigan set up a goal for Kris Doolan before scoring himself in a 3–0 win over Dumbarton.[10] In a match against Falkirk on 27 October 2012, Bannigan suffered a leg injury in the first half and was substituted. Forty-eight-hour later, Bannigan revealed he passed his driving test.[11] Though it was serious at first, Bannigan managed to escape the injury, which he describe it as "relieved".[12] On 24 November 2012, Bannigan scored his second league goal of the season, in a 2–0 win over Livingston.[13] In the next game on 15 December 2012, he scored again in a 3–2 win over Raith Rovers.[14] He was substituted during the extra-time period of the 2013 Scottish Challenge Cup Final, which Thistle lost to Queen of the South. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Bannigan was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year,[15] and won the club's young player of the year award.[16] He signed a new two-year contract in June 2013.[17]

In September 2013, Bannigan was awarded the Scottish Premiership Young Player of the Month award.[18] On 14 May 2014, he signed a new two-year deal with the Jags.[19]

Bannigan scored his first Scottish Premiership goal opening the scoring in a 4–0 win over Ross County in Thistle's first game of the 2014–15 season.[20] He made his 100th league appearance for Partick Thistle against Hamilton Academical at Firhill on 23 August 2014.

Bannigan decided to leave Partick Thistle at the end of his contract in May 2016, having rejected their offer of a new deal;[21] However, on 27 June 2016, he reversed his decision to leave and committed to the club for a further two years.[22] As of the 2018–19 season, Bannigan became the new club captain, as Kris Doolan returned to his role as vice-captain, having stood in for Abdul Osman for the previous season. In late 2018, Bannigan signed an 18-month extension to remain at Partick Thistle until 2020.

In early 2020, under the new management of Ian McCall, Bannigan penned a new 2-year contract extension, to remain at Partick Thistle until 2022, which would see him earn a testimonial at the club due to his decade of service.[23]

After the 2019–20 season finished early due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Partick Thistle were relegated for the second time in three seasons, being relegated to League One. Bannigan chose to stay at the club following their relegation, making him and teammate James Penrice the only two players left at the club from their time in the Premiership. Bannigan scored his first goal in League One curling a free kick into the top corner in a 5–0 win over Montrose.[24] After winning Scottish League One with the Jags in 2020–21, Bannigan (now the longest-serving player) signed a new contract adding an extra year to his deal, extending it until 2023.[25]

In 2022, it was announced that alongside former teammate Chris Erskine, Bannigan would be inducted into the Partick Thistle Hall of Fame ahead of a testimonial to take place the following year.

Bannigan was part of the Thistle squad that made it to the 2023 Scottish Premiership promotion play off final, which Thistle eventually lost on penalties to Ross County, meaning Thistle remained in the Scottish Championship. Following this, Bannigan signed a new two-year contract extension with the club until 2025.[26]

Bannigan scored his first goal of the 2023–24 season with a 25-yard volley into the top corner, in a 3–0 away win over Premiership side Ross County in the Scottish Cup.[27]

Style of play

Bannigan playing for Partick Thistle in 2021.

Bannigan is known for his flicks, passing, creative instinct and leadership. He has been described as a tough and tenacious player who is a consistently strong midfielder.[28] He has struggled with a knee injury, being sidelined for the second half of the 2015–16 season, all of 2016–17 and most of 2017–18 before making a gradual return in late 2018.

International career

Along with teammate Stephen O'Donnell, Bannigan was called up by Billy Stark for the Scotland U21 squad.[29] Bannigan played his first match international debut, in a 1–1 draw against Greece U21.[30] He was also called up for an under-21 match against England.

Career statistics

As of match played 20 April 2021[1]
More information Club, Season ...
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. Appearances in the First Division play-offs

Honours

Partick Thistle

Individual

References

  1. [1]
    Stuart Bannigan at Soccerway
  2. [2]
    "Partick V Clyde". Partick Thistle. 24 July 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  3. [3]
    "Partick Thistle 1–2 Stirling Albion". BBC Sport. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  4. [4]
    "Partick Thistle 1–0 Cowdenbeath". BBC Sport. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  5. [5]
    "Opportunity knocks for loan-kid Stu". Evening Times. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  6. [6]
    "Dumbarton V Ayr". BBC Sport. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  7. [7]
    "Bannigan Loan Extended". Partick Thistle. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  8. [8]
    "Ayr United seal promotion to the First Division". Stv. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  9. [9]
    "Hamilton 2–2 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  10. [10]
    "Partick Thistle 3–0 Dumbarton". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  11. [11]
    "Partick Thistle ace passes driving test 48 hours after 'leg-breaking' tackle". Daily Record. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  12. [12]
    "Partick Thistle Ace Stuart Bannigan Relieved To Avoid Serious Injury After Shock Challenge". The Glaswgian. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  13. [13]
    "Partick Thistle 2 Livingston 0: Jags produce inspired second-half performance to stay top". Daily Record. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  14. [14]
    "Partick Thistle 3 Raith Rovers 2: Jackie McNamara far from happy despite win". Daily Record. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  15. [15]
    "Partick Thistle Boss Alan Archibald Set To Retire From First Team Playing Duties As Jags Head For SPL". The Glaswegian. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  16. [16]
    "Player of the Year Awards". Partick Thistle F.C. 5 May 2013. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  17. [17]
    "Partick Thistle: Stuart Bannigan signs new contract". BBC Sport. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  18. [18]
    "Butcher voted Manager of Month". SPFL.co.uk. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  19. [19]
    "Stuart Bannigan Signs Contract Extension". Partick Thistle FC. 14 May 2014.
  20. [20]
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28670239
  21. [21]
    "Partick Thistle: Danny Seaborne and Stuart Bannigan among six departures". BBC Sport. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  22. [22]
    Stuart Bannigan Signs Extension, Partick Thistle FC, 27 June 2016
  23. [23]
    Stuart Bannigan Signs Contract Extension, Partick Thistle FC, 9 January 2020
  24. [24]
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56135178
  25. [25]
    Stuart Bannigan Extends Firhill Stay Until 2023, Partick Thistle FC, 18 May 2021
  26. [26]
    https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/stuart-bannigan-extends-firhill-stay-until-2025/
  27. [27]
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67938522
  28. [28]
    "Stuart Bannigan". ptfc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  29. [29]
    "Partick Thistle duo included in Scotland Under-21 squad". Daily Record. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  30. [30]
    "Greece Under-21 1 Scotland Under-21 1: Scots fight back from a goal down to earn a draw". Daily Record. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  31. [31]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  32. [32]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  33. [33]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  34. [34]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  35. [35]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  36. [36]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  37. [37]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  38. [38]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  39. [39]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  40. [40]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  41. [41]
    "Games played by Stuart Bannigan in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
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