James McPake (born 24 June 1984) is a professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
coach and former player, who is currently the manager of
Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the city of Dunfermline, Fife. Founded in 1885, the club currently play in Scottish League One after being relegated from the 2021–22 Scottish Championship. Dunfermline ...
. McPake played for
Livingston
Livingston may refer to:
Businesses
* Livingston Energy Flight, an Italian airline (2003–2010)
* Livingston Compagnia Aerea, an Italian airline (2011–2014), also known as Livingston Airline
* Livingston International, a North American custom ...
,
Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton Football Club is a Scottish professional football club, which plays in the Scottish Championship. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs. Morton was renamed Green ...
,
Coventry City
Coventry City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. The team currently compete in the EFL Championship, Championship, the second tier of the English footbal ...
Dundee
Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...
. He mainly played as a defender, although he started his career as a
forward
Forward is a relative direction, the opposite of backward.
Forward may also refer to:
People
* Forward (surname)
Sports
* Forward (association football)
* Forward (basketball), including:
** Point forward
** Power forward (basketball)
** Sm ...
. McPake played once for
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
, in 2012.
McPake retired from playing football in January 2018, and then started his coaching career in the Dundee youth system. He was appointed as the senior team manager in May 2019, and held this position until February 2022. He was appointed Dunfermline Athletic manager in May 2022.
Playing career
Livingston
During his youth career,
Bellshill
Bellshill (pronounced "Bells hill") is a town in North Lanarkshire in Scotland, southeast of Glasgow city centre and west of Edinburgh. Other nearby localities are Motherwell to the south, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Hamilton to the south ...
-born McPake played for Holytown Colts, Celtic South BC, Coatbridge Amateurs and Livingston pro youth. He began his professional career when he signed for then
Scottish First Division
The Scottish Football League First Division was the second tier in the Scottish football league system between 1975 and 2013.
History
The First Division was introduced in 1975–76 to replace the old Scottish Football League Division Two, as t ...
team
Livingston
Livingston may refer to:
Businesses
* Livingston Energy Flight, an Italian airline (2003–2010)
* Livingston Compagnia Aerea, an Italian airline (2011–2014), also known as Livingston Airline
* Livingston International, a North American custom ...
in August 2000 as a
youth academy
In sporting terminology, a youth system (or youth academy) is a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team in the future if t ...
player. He did not make his debut for the club until almost four years later in April 2004, when Livingston were playing in the
SPL
SPL may refer to:
Association football
* Saudi Professional League
* Scottish Premier League
* SportPesa Premier League, Kenya
* Singapore Premier League
* RoboCup Standard Platform League, matches between autonomous robots
Computing Program ...
. He agreed a new two-year contract with Livingston in 2005.
In January 2006,
Scottish Second Division
The Scottish Football League Second Division was the third tier of the Scottish football league system between 1975 and 2013.
History
The Second Division was created in 1975, as part of a wider reconstruction of the Scottish Football League (SFL ...
side
Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton Football Club is a Scottish professional football club, which plays in the Scottish Championship. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs. Morton was renamed Green ...
signed McPake on loan, after he had rejected proposed loan moves to Gretna and
Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football, football club from Glasgow, Scotland. Despite their name, the club are based at Firhill Stadium in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908. ...
. He made his debut for Morton against Gretna on 14 January and went on to make 10 appearances for the club, scoring two goals in the process. His two goals were both scored in the same game, against
Alloa Athletic
Alloa Athletic Football Club is a Scottish association football semi-professional club based in the town of Alloa, Clackmannanshire.
Formed as Alloa in 1880, the football club shortly changed its name to Alloa Association, and then to Alloa Ath ...
.
In October 2006, the Scottish media reported that McPake would be moving to English
Football League Championship
The English Football League Championship (often referred to as the Championship for short or the Sky Bet Championship for sponsorship purposes) is the highest division of the English Football League (EFL) and second-highest overall in the En ...
club
Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is a professional football club based in the city of Plymouth, Devon, England. As of the 2021–22 season, the team are competing in League One, the third tier of English football. They have played at Home Park, ...
. It was confirmed that he was due to go to Plymouth for a week-long trial, but Livingston later changed their minds and the trial never materialized. In July 2007, two months after the appointment of manager Mark Proctor, McPake was appointed club captain. Scottish Premier League outfit St Mirren had a bid for him rejected by Livingston.
Coventry City
McPake signed a pre-contract in December 2008 to join
Coventry City
Coventry City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. The team currently compete in the EFL Championship, Championship, the second tier of the English footbal ...
on a three-and-a-half-year deal in the summer of 2009, but Coventry and Livingston agreed a fee on 2 February 2009 to complete the transfer immediately. He scored his first goal for the club against
Leicester City
Leicester ( ) is a city, unitary authority and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands.
The city lies on the River Soar and close to the eastern end of the National ...
on 21 March 2010. He suffered a back injury that required surgery in May 2011. He signed a one-year contract extension with Coventry City in August 2011 extending his contract to July 2013.
Hibernian
McPake signed for Hibernian on an initial six-month loan deal from Coventry City on 23 January 2012. He made his debut for the club the following Saturday, and was sent off in a 4–0 defeat to Rangers. He was made team
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
on his first appearance. He led the team to safety from relegation, and former Hibs defender
Craig Paterson
Craig Paterson (born 2 October 1959 in South Queensferry) is a Scottish former football player, who currently works as a pundit for BBC Radio Scotland and ''Sportscene''.
The son of former Hibernian defender Jock Paterson,2012 Scottish Cup Final, a 5–1 defeat to Hearts.
McPake was selected in May 2012 by
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
, qualifying to play for them through a grandparent born in
Coleraine
Coleraine ( ; from ga, Cúil Rathain , 'nook of the ferns'Flanaghan, Deirdre & Laurence; ''Irish Place Names'', page 194. Gill & Macmillan, 2002. ) is a town and civil parish near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern I ...
. He made his international debut in a 6–0 defeat by
Netherlands
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, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
on 2 June 2012.
McPake signed a two-year contract with Hibs on 30 June 2012. On 3 January 2013, he suffered a bad tackle by Ryan Stevenson in an
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian (Hearts) and Hibernian (Hibs), the two oldest professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce r ...
game. Stevenson was suspended for two matches. McPake had injury problems during 2013 that caused him to miss the 2013 Scottish Cup Final, which
Pat Fenlon
Patrick Fenlon (born 15 March 1969) is an Irish football coach and former player.
Fenlon played as a midfielder for St Patrick's Athletic, Bohemians, Linfield, Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne. As a manager he won five League of Ireland titles ...
described as a "big blow". After missing out on the Scottish Cup Final, McPake also denied rumours that he had an operation on his back, also played down talk that he would be forced into retirement because of his back injury and criticised internet trolls over this taunt. McPake's first team opportunities were limited during the 2013–14 season and after Hibs were relegated to the
Scottish Championship
The Scottish Championship, known as the cinch Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of the Scottish Professional Football League, the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland
Scotland (, ...
, he was released by the club in May 2014. He said that he had been fit for ten weeks and was disappointed he didn't have the chance to help Hibs avoid relegation.
Dundee
After being released by Hibernian, McPake was linked with newly promoted
Scottish Premiership
The Scottish Premiership, known as the cinch Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish ...
club
Dundee
Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...
, but this was denied by their manager
Paul Hartley
Paul Hartley (born 19 October 1976) is a Scottish professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the manager of Scottish Championship side Cove Rangers.
As a player, Hartley won trophies with both Hearts and ...
. However, McPake signed for the club in May 2014. On 30 January 2015, he signed a contract extension, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2017.
On 2 January 2016, whilst playing in a
Dundee derby
The Dundee derby is a football match between Dundee and Dundee United. The clubs are based yards apart in the city of Dundee, the fourth-largest city in Scotland.
History
Dundee is the older of the two, having been founded in 1893, compare ...
, McPake suffered a serious knee injury which would end his season. McPake was appointed club captain for the 2016–2017 season, but suffered another setback on his injury, keeping him out until January 2017.
Coaching career
Dundee
McPake announced his retirement from playing in January 2018, and took up a coaching position in the Dundee academy system. After Dundee sacked manager Jim McIntyre in May 2019, McPake was appointed caretaker manager for the final game of the season against St Mirren. A few weeks later, he was appointed Dundee manager on a permanent basis.
At the end of the 2020–21 season, McPake led his team into winning the Premiership play-offs and gaining promotion to the
Scottish Premiership
The Scottish Premiership, known as the cinch Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish ...
Dundee
Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...
Scottish League One
The Scottish League One, known as cinch League One for sponsorship reasons, is the third tier of the Scottish Professional Football League, the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish League One was e ...
club
Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the city of Dunfermline, Fife. Founded in 1885, the club currently play in Scottish League One after being relegated from the 2021–22 Scottish Championship. Dunfermline ...
appointed McPake as their manager on 24 May 2022.
Career statistics
Player
Managerial record
* Initially caretaker and appointed permanently on 31 May 2019.
* Dundee statistics include 3-0 forfeit wins in the Scottish League Cup over Forfar Athletic on 6 October 2020, and over Ross County on 16 July 2021, due to COVID-19 regulation issues
2020–21
The dash is a punctuation mark consisting of a long horizontal line. It is similar in appearance to the hyphen but is longer and sometimes higher from the baseline. The most common versions are the endash , generally longer than the hyphen b ...
2020–21
The dash is a punctuation mark consisting of a long horizontal line. It is similar in appearance to the hyphen but is longer and sometimes higher from the baseline. The most common versions are the endash , generally longer than the hyphen b ...