Davie Irons
Encyclopedia
David John "Davie" Irons (born 18 July 1961 in Glasgow
) is a Scottish
former professional footballer who has transitioned to football management.
His playing career spanned 26 years as a central defender
or midfielder
. Despite retiring as a player in 2005, Irons re-registered as a player in 2009 to sign as a player/coach at Threave Rovers
.
He is now manager of Scottish Football League Second Division
side Stenhousemuir
.
after moving there with his parents in 1964.
in 1979. After only one year of the Willie Harkness regime at Palmerston Park
and a total of four first team appearances he moved into junior
football.
Irons returned to Palmerston Park under the new regime of Norman Blount
to play for a Queen of the South select on 23 April 1995. The opposition in the 2-2 draw was Rangers in a game to mark Queens' 75th anniversary and the opening of the new stand. Other ex players to guest beside Irons that day included Andy Thomson
and Ted McMinn
.
, with whom he remained for four years.
. He went on to make 75 league appearances for The Honest Men, scoring twelve goals.
, making 54 appearances and scoring seven goals, and a year later signed for Dunfermline Athletic
.
After 106 appearances and nine goals for the Pars, he was signed by Partick Thistle
.
for two years before joining the sixth professional club of his career, St. Johnstone, in 1993. In three years at McDiarmid Park
he made 52 appearances and scored twice.
(as their player-manager) between 1997 and 2002.
. He became caretaker-manager of the club between March 2007 and the end of the 2006-07 season during Alexander's absence.
On 28 April 2007, Gretna, under Irons' managership, won promotion to the Premier League
with a 3-2 win at Ross County
. The result clinched the First Division
championship for Gretna, a point ahead of Irons' former club St. Johnstone.
It was announced on 18 July 2007 that Irons would be Gretna's manager on a permanent basis for the club's first season in the SPL, with Mick Wadsworth
as his assistant.
On 19 February 2008, Irons resigned as Gretna manager with immediate effect.
, after resigning from the Gretna job in February 2008. His first act was to help keep Morton in the First Division managing to defeat Dunfermline Athletic
and Partick Thistle
, both 3–0 to allow Morton to finish one goal above Clyde
and finish in 8th position in the league.
In his first full season as manager of Morton, Irons guided them to sixth in the table despite a poor start taking only four points from the first quarter of the season. He also managed to achieve a victory over Hibs
at Easter Road Stadium in the Scottish League Cup
.
However, after a poor start to the 2009/10 season, losing 5 of the first 6 matches and with the club bottom of the First Division
, Irons was sacked on the 21 September 2009 along with assistant Derek Collins
.
as a player/coach.
When Irons came off the bench in the last minute against Whitehill Welfare
on 24 October 2009, he became the oldest player to have ever played in a Scottish Cup
match aged 48 years 98 days.
as assistant manager of Partick Thistle
in January 2010, but not until after the Jags play former club Morton on 4 January. However, Irons was sacked by the club on 26 February 2010.
at the end of December 2010.
Gretna
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
) is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional footballer who has transitioned to football management.
His playing career spanned 26 years as a central defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
or midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. Despite retiring as a player in 2005, Irons re-registered as a player in 2009 to sign as a player/coach at Threave Rovers
Threave Rovers F.C.
Threave Rovers Football Club is a football club from Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Formed in October 1953, the club plays its home games at Meadow Park, in Castle Douglas....
.
He is now manager of Scottish Football League Second Division
Scottish Football League Second Division
The Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
side Stenhousemuir
Stenhousemuir F.C.
Stenhousemuir FC is a Scottish football club located in Stenhousemuir. The club is a member of the Scottish Football League and currently plays in the Scottish Second Division....
.
Early life
Born in Glasgow in 1961, Davie Irons was raised in DumfriesDumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
after moving there with his parents in 1964.
Queen of the South
He began his career with local team Queen of the SouthQueen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
in 1979. After only one year of the Willie Harkness regime at Palmerston Park
Palmerston Park
Palmerston Park is a multi-purpose stadium on Terregles Street in Dumfries, south west Scotland. The site of the ground was formerly a farm called Palmers Toun. This is on the Maxwelltown side of the River Nith in Dumfries. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of...
and a total of four first team appearances he moved into junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
football.
Irons returned to Palmerston Park under the new regime of Norman Blount
Norman Blount
Norman Blount is the Scottish former chairman of Queen of the South football club. Blount was instrumental as the new broom that swept through the Dumfries club in the mid and late 90s replacing the previous regime under which the club had gone into stagnation and decline from the late 1960s...
to play for a Queen of the South select on 23 April 1995. The opposition in the 2-2 draw was Rangers in a game to mark Queens' 75th anniversary and the opening of the new stand. Other ex players to guest beside Irons that day included Andy Thomson
Andy Thomson (Scottish footballer)
Andrew "Andy" Thomson is a former Scottish professional football player. He played in 549 league matches, scoring 195 league goals in a career that saw him play for Queen of the South, Partick Thistle, Falkirk and Stenhousemuir in Scotland and Southend United, Oxford United, Gillingham and...
and Ted McMinn
Ted McMinn
Kevin Clifton "Ted" McMinn is a Scottish former association footballer who played as a winger. His nickname is The Tin Man.-Early years:...
.
Kello Rovers
Irons joined Kello RoversKello Rovers F.C.
Kello Rovers Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the town of Kirkconnel, Dumfries and Galloway. Nicknamed Super K, they were formed in 1903, and they play at Nithside Park...
, with whom he remained for four years.
Ayr United
He returned to the professional game in 1984 with Ayr UnitedAyr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
. He went on to make 75 league appearances for The Honest Men, scoring twelve goals.
Clydebank
In 1987 he joined ClydebankClydebank F.C.
Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
, making 54 appearances and scoring seven goals, and a year later signed for Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
.
Dunfermline Athletic
Irons scored the opening goal for Dunfermline in the game that confirmed Queens' relegation in 1989.After 106 appearances and nine goals for the Pars, he was signed by Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
.
Partick Thistle
He remained at FirhillFirhill Stadium
Firhill Stadium or Firhill Arena is a football, rugby union and rugby league stadium located in the Maryhill area of Glasgow, Scotland. As of 2010 it is the home ground of football club Partick Thistle F.C...
for two years before joining the sixth professional club of his career, St. Johnstone, in 1993. In three years at McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park is a football stadium in Perth, Scotland, the home ground of St. Johnstone FC. It has an all-seated capacity of 10,673.-History:...
he made 52 appearances and scored twice.
Annan Athletic
Irons spent five years with Annan AthleticAnnan Athletic F.C.
Annan Athletic Football Club are an association football club who compete in the Scottish Third Division. They are based in the town of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway...
(as their player-manager) between 1997 and 2002.
Gretna
Irons finished his playing career in 2005 after a three-year spell at Gretna, at which point he became assistant manager to Rowan AlexanderRowan Alexander
Rowan Samuel Alexander is a former footballer and ex-manager of one-time Scottish Football League club Gretna.He is currently assistant manager at Ayrshire junior side .-Queen of the South:...
. He became caretaker-manager of the club between March 2007 and the end of the 2006-07 season during Alexander's absence.
On 28 April 2007, Gretna, under Irons' managership, won promotion to the Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
with a 3-2 win at Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
. The result clinched the First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
championship for Gretna, a point ahead of Irons' former club St. Johnstone.
It was announced on 18 July 2007 that Irons would be Gretna's manager on a permanent basis for the club's first season in the SPL, with Mick Wadsworth
Mick Wadsworth
Michael "Mick" Wadsworth is an English football coach and former player, who is currently the Manager at Football League One club Hartlepool United.-Playing career:...
as his assistant.
On 19 February 2008, Irons resigned as Gretna manager with immediate effect.
Morton
Irons was then hired as manager of Greenock MortonGreenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
, after resigning from the Gretna job in February 2008. His first act was to help keep Morton in the First Division managing to defeat Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
and Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
, both 3–0 to allow Morton to finish one goal above Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
and finish in 8th position in the league.
In his first full season as manager of Morton, Irons guided them to sixth in the table despite a poor start taking only four points from the first quarter of the season. He also managed to achieve a victory over Hibs
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
at Easter Road Stadium in the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
.
However, after a poor start to the 2009/10 season, losing 5 of the first 6 matches and with the club bottom of the First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
, Irons was sacked on the 21 September 2009 along with assistant Derek Collins
Derek Collins
Derek Collins is a Scottish former professional footballer.Collins started his playing career with Greenock Morton where he spent over a decade after making his debut in 1987...
.
Threave Rovers
After being sacked by Morton, Irons joined South of Scotland league side Threave RoversThreave Rovers F.C.
Threave Rovers Football Club is a football club from Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Formed in October 1953, the club plays its home games at Meadow Park, in Castle Douglas....
as a player/coach.
When Irons came off the bench in the last minute against Whitehill Welfare
Whitehill Welfare F.C.
Whitehill Welfare F.C. are a football club currently playing in the East of Scotland Football League. Founded in 1953, they play their home matches at Ferguson Park in the village of Rosewell....
on 24 October 2009, he became the oldest player to have ever played in a Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
match aged 48 years 98 days.
Partick Thistle
Irons replaced Gerry BrittonGerry Britton
Gerard Joseph "Gerry" Britton is a Scottish former footballer who played as a striker. His most recent role in football was as assistant manager to Ian McCall at Partick Thistle.-Career:...
as assistant manager of Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
in January 2010, but not until after the Jags play former club Morton on 4 January. However, Irons was sacked by the club on 26 February 2010.
Threave Rovers (second spell)
After being sacked, Irons returned to Meadow Park as player coach. At the age of 49, on 20 November 2010 he played for Threave in the third round of the Scottish Cup in the 2-2 draw away against Stenhousemuir.Stenhousemuir
Irons took up the role of manager at StenhousemuirStenhousemuir F.C.
Stenhousemuir FC is a Scottish football club located in Stenhousemuir. The club is a member of the Scottish Football League and currently plays in the Scottish Second Division....
at the end of December 2010.
Honours
As a managerGretna
- Scottish First DivisionScottish Football League First DivisionThe Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
: 2006–072006-07 in Scottish footballThe 2006–07 season was the 110th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2006:*9 July: Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen is banned for the club's pre-season trip to South Africa, following an incident on the outbound flight. Manager Paul Le Guen cited "wholly inappropriate and...