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Personal
Fullname: Brian McColligan
Born: 31 Oct 1980
Birthplace: Bishopbriggs
Signed: 3 July 1997
Left: 6 June 2001
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Debut: Celtic 2-0 Dundee Utd, League, May 21 2000
Internationals: none
Biog
A defensive midfielder, Brian McColligan made just a solitary first team appearance for the Hoops after graduating from the youth and reserve ranks.
Brian McColligan had joined Celtic from the Celtic Boys Club signing a standard 2 year contract. He worked through the ranks of the Youths and Reserves gradually gaining experience and a deal of respect from within the club.
His only senior appearance came in the last league encounter of the poor 1999-2000 campaign when he was part of a young Celtic side which defeated Dundee United 2-0 at Parkhead on May 21. The match is best known for the return of Henrik Larsson to the first team after having been out for most of the season following a horrific leg break. Brian McColligan & four other youngsters were given a run-out by interim manager Kenny Dalglish to help give them experience.
Having made one appearance for Celtic during the 1999-2000 season he went out on loan by Stenhousemuir halfway through the 2000-01 season. A successful three-month spell, which saw him score one goal from deep in midfield, but Brian McColligan was released from Celtic and he joined Clydebank.
It wasn’t to be at Celtic for the young player, no easy task when Celtic were spending large sums to form the best squad Celtic had had for many years (e.g. Thompson, Lennon, Sutton etc). Martin O’Neill was mostly relying on already established players & transfers as against rearing youngsters. The environment then didn’t give the leeway that was needed for younger players, and Brian McColligan was one amongst many who lost out.
Post-Celtic
At the end of the 2001-02 season Clydebank were facing non-league football. McColligan, joined Queen of the South who had just been promoted from Division Two. He proved to be a valued member of the side and they went on to win the Scottish League Challenge Cup. He was with them till November 2005. Immediately after what was to prove his final game, a 5-2 defeat to Hamilton Academicals, in which he was sent off, McColligan signed for Alloa Athletic. Alloa finished second-bottom in the 2005-06 table but they won the playoff final against Berwick Rangers, consolidating their position in the Second Division.
Whilst Alloa continue to occupy the lower half of Division Two, McColligan struggled for goal-scoring form, something which had eluded him since his days at Queen of the South.
At Alloa he was a hard midfielder who brought the team together and, with his attacking attitude, was popular with the fans.
In July 2007 Brian McColligan left Alloa to sign for Bathgate Thistle, where he won the Scottish Junior Cup in 2008 with Thistle, after the team defeated Cumnock Juniors 2-1 at Rugby Park.
Playing Career
| Club |
From |
To |
Fee |
League |
Scottish Cup |
League Cup |
Other |
| Alloa |
13-01-2006 | 01-06-2007 | Free | 38 (3) 0 | 3 (0) 0 | 3 (0) 0 | 5 (0) 0 |
| Queen of the South |
01-06-2002 | 13-01-2006 | Free | 78 (15) 4 | 5 (1) 0 | 3 (1) 0 | 7 (0) 0 |
| Clydebank |
11-09-2001 | 01-06-2002 | Free | 25 (2) 1 | 2 (0) 0 | 0 (0) 0 | 0 (0) 0 |
| Stenhousmuir |
09-02-2001 | 06-05-2001 | Loan | 11 (1) 1 | 0 (0) 0 | 0 (0) 0 | 0 (0) 0 |
| Celtic |
03-07-1997 | 06-06-2001 | Youth | 1 (0) 0 | 0 (0) 0 | 0 (0) 0 | 0 (0) 0 |
| Total | 153 (21) 6 | 10 (1) 0 | 6 (1) 0 | 12 (0) 0 | |||
Honours with Celtic
none