Under contract
The following players are under contract for the 2022/23 season.
Goalkeepers
- Luke Scullion
- George O’Connor
- Matthew Connelly (on loan from Motherwell)
Defenders
- Scott Robertson (player/coach)
- Sean McIntosh
- Craig Ross
- Kyle Girvan
- Luke Watt
- Finn Ecrepont (on loan from Ayr United)
Midfielders
- Grant Gallagher
- Paul Woods
- Dean Hawkshaw
- Anton Brady
- James Hilton
- Josh Walker
- Dylan Forrest
- Matty Grant
- Ikechi Eze (out on loan at Clydebank)
- Jonny Ngandu (on loan from Hamilton Accies)
Strikers
- Darryl Duffy (player/assistant manager)
- Craig Malcolm
- Aaron Brown (on loan from Kilmarnock)
Player profiles
1 – Luke Scullion
Position: Goalkeeper
Date of birth: 17 January 2002
Place of birth: –
Previous clubs: Rangers, Partick Thistle
Home: Mark Harries
Away: Mike McLean
Third: Available
A former Rangers youth prospect, Luke Scullion joined us from Partick Thistle in July 2021, having spent the previous six years at Firhill.
A talented shot-stopper, the 19 year old was first choice keeper in 2021/22, building experience under the watchful eye of the late Billy Thomson.
2 – Scott Robertson
Position: Defender or midfielder
Date of birth: 26/11/87
Place of birth: Irvine
Previous clubs: Arbroath, Partick Thistle, Fram Reykjavic, Stirling Albion, Queen of the South, Airdrieonians
Home: Thomco Engineering
Away: Julie Hunter
Third: Cathy Bone
Jacket: Joseph Clark
Tracksuit: Available
Comfortable in any defensive role or in the heart of midfield, Scott Robertson scooped up several Player of the Year Awards in his lengthy first spell at the club, and his consistency and versatility saw him become a firm favourite with supporters over many years.
The experienced defender is now first team coach in his ninth season at Stair Park, having returned from Airdrie in summer 2019.
Robbo recorded his 300th appearance in the blue jersey on 3 September 2022 at Ochilview.
4 – Kyle Girvan
Position: Defender
Date of birth: 12 September 2001
Place of birth: N/A
Previous clubs: St Mirren, Kilbirnie Ladeside
Home: Martin McLelland & Vicky McNally
Away: Raymond Bruce
Third: Denise Girvan
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Kyle Girvan signed for a development fee from Kilbirnie Ladeside in June 2022.
The young centre back rose through the St Mirren youth academy before spending two years with the Blasties, making a name for himself in the West of Scotland League.
Having caught the eye of the Blues boss Jamie Hamill, Kyle became the second new signing of the summer transfer window.
5 – Craig Ross
Position: Defender
Date of birth: 9 June 2002
Place of birth: –
Previous clubs: Kilmarnock, Kilwinning Rangers
Home: ADD ONE
Away: Janet Thomson
Third: Sean Houston
Sold out
Craig Ross joined us from Kilmarnock in June 2021, having spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Kilwinning Rangers.
The young centre back has regularly demonstrated his threat in the box from set pieces, scoring five goals in his first season, and showed consistency and composure to become a first team regular.
A mainstay of Jamie Hamill’s side, Craig scooped the Player of the Year award in his first season of senior football.
6 – Anton Brady
Position: Midfield
Date of birth: 7 February 1994
Place of birth: Bellshill
Previous clubs: St Mirren, East Kilbride, Queen’s Park
Home: Martin, Catrina and Alastair Young
Away: TartanKiwi Gameworn
Third: www.freebets.ltd.uk
Sold out
Anton Brady joined us on transfer deadline day in 2021 following his departure from East Kilbride.
A product of the St Mirren youth setup, Anton twice scored important goals against us in his spell at Queen’s Park and also netted in our friendly against EK in summer 2020.
The 27 year old midfielder scored once in his debut season and will look to add to his Blues tally in 2022/23.
7 – James Hilton
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 2 November 1997
Place of birth: –
Previous clubs: Ayr United, Creetown, Girvan, Cumnock, Hurlford United, Edinburgh City
Home: Sharon Hilton
Away: Pogo and Rhys Paterson
Third: James McQuillan
Sold out
Jinky returned to his hometown club in January 2022 after half a season at Edinburgh City.
The attacking midfielder immediately won hearts at Stair Park, with his exciting style of play and goalscoring prowess making him a firm favourite.
Having scored 11 goals in his first spell at Stranraer, Hilton added a further three last season.
8 – Grant Gallagher (captain)
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 11 January 1991
Place of birth: Irvine
Previous clubs: Celtic, Dumbarton, Airdrieonians
Home: footysab from Japan
Away: Claire Fergusson
Third: Euan Home
Sold out
A popular figure around the club with over 200 appearances to his name, Grant Gallagher is in his second spell at Stranraer having returned in summer 2019.
Gal originally joined us in 2010 and spent five seasons with the Blues, narrowly missing out on promotion before leaving for Dumbarton in 2015.
The defender turned midfielder scored his only goal of 2018/19 against us for Airdrieonians at Stair Park, before missing the 2019/20 season through injury.
Returned from this setback to make 21 appearances in 2020/21, and accepted the captaincy ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, making 34 appearances.
9 – Craig Malcolm
Position: Striker
Date of birth: 30 December 1986
Place of birth: Bellshill
Previous clubs: Raith Rovers, Arthurlie, Ayr United, Alloa Athletic, East Kilbride, St Roch’s
Home: Ryan Kyle
Away: Alan McNally-Jones and Christine Jones
Third: George, Lucinda and Ellie Frank
Sold out
Club legend Craig Malcolm had a successful trial which led to his return for a third spell in July 2022.
A member of our ‘Team of the Decade’, the striker initially joined us in 2010 from Arthurlie, and went on to become the club’s second-leading scorer of all time.
Malky’s eye for goal is well documented, with the frontman having scored double figures to help the Blues to the promotion playoffs in the 2011/12, 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons.
10 – Josh Walker
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 21 June 2001
Place of birth: –
Previous clubs: Kilmarnock
Home: Janet Thomson
Away: Adrian Verity
Third: Martin McLelland
Sold out
A skilful and creative midfielder, Josh Walker joined Stranraer in November 2020.
Full of tricks and capable from set pieces, the son of former Blues player David ‘Pele’ Walker rose through the youth setup at Kilmarnock.
Josh built on his injury-hit first season at Stair Park with regular first team appearances in 2021/22, scoring three goals.
11 – Paul Woods
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 18 September 1986
Place of birth: East Kilbride
Previous clubs: East Kilbride, Lanark United, Petershill, Queen’s Park
Home: Cameron Hunter
Away: Steven Hardie
Third: Brendan Todd
Sold out
Paul Woods returned for a second spell with Stranraer in June 2021, having made 38 appearances during the Blues’ 2017/18 League One campaign.
Paul started his career with Motherwell, Queen’s Park and Albion Rovers as a youth, before moving into the junior game.
The Hampden side gave Woods his senior break in 2014, and the left-sided midfielder went on to score 26 goals across his 122 appearances for the Spiders.
Having secured the Lowland League title with East Kilbride, Woods spent a season at Stair Park before returning for a three year stint back at EK.
Was ever-present in the Blues side of 2021/22, making 40 appearances and scoring five goals to cap an impressive return season.
12 – Jonny Ngandu
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 25 October 2001
Place of birth: Redbridge, England
Previous clubs: Coventry City, Keflavík, Hamilton Accies
Home: Available
Away: Gavin Sprott
Third: Available
Jonny Ngandu joined us on loan from Championship side Hamilton Academical in February 2023, having already made 14 appearances for Accies after moving to Scotland in summer 2022.
Ngandu was Under 23s captain for Coventry City as recently as 2022, having risen through the English Championship’s youth system.
The attacking midfielder also spent time on loan at Keflavík in Iceland’s top tier, and is with us until the end of the season.
13 – George O’Connor
Position: Goalkeeper
Date of birth: 10 May 2004
Place of birth: Irvine
Previous clubs: Kilmarnock
Home: Available
Away: www.casinosites.ltd.uk
Third: Adam Connor
Young goalkeeper George O’Connor joined us in June 2022, amid interest from clubs both sides of the border.
The ex-Kilmarnock keeper has represented Scotland at both under 16 and under 17 levels and has gained considerable first team experience at Stair Park this season.
14 – Dean Hawkshaw
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 24 April 1997
Place of birth: Kilmarnock
Previous clubs: Kilmarnock, Airdrieonians, Glenafton Athletic
Home: Duncan Kerr
Away: Craig Grace
Third: Available
Dean Hawkshaw rejoined the club in July 2021, having spent time at the Blues on loan in the 2017/18 season.
The creative midfielder made 21 appearances for Kilmarnock before his first spell on loan at Stair Park, before turning out for Airdrieonians and Glenafton Athletic.
Dean notched up a total of five assists in his return season at Stair Park, scoring once.
16 – Dylan Forrest
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 14 January 2002
Place of birth:
Previous clubs: Celtic, Hamilton Accies, Cumbernauld Colts
Home: Peter Gerrard
Away: SFC Fundraising Team
Third: Old Football Shirts dot com
Sold out
A former Scotland under 17 international and Celtic youth prospect, Dylan Forrest joined us in June 2022 following a successful trial spell.
Dylan is a tough-tackling central midfielder with an eye for a pass, and spent last season at Cumbernauld Colts having recovered from an injury suffered at his previous club Hamilton Accies.
17 – Aaron Brown
Position: Forward
Date of birth: 22 July 2005
Place of birth:
Previous clubs: Kilmarnock
Home: Matthew McCallum
Away: Available
Third: Available
Aaron Brown joined us in January 2023 on a loan deal from Kilmarnock.
The young forward already has three appearances in senior competitions to his name, having represented Kilmarnock’s Under 20s in SPFL Trust Trophy victories over Cowdenbeath and East Stirlingshire, before a 4-2 losing effort against League 1 side Montrose.
Scored and won a penalty in a 3-1 win away to East Fife on his Stranraer debut.
19 – Finn Ecrepont
Position: Defender
Date of birth: 30 July 2002
Place of birth:
Previous clubs: Ayr United, Albion Rovers
Home: Available
Away: Available
Third: Available
Scotland youth international Finn Ecrepont joined us on loan from Ayr United in January 2023, having turned out on nine occasions for the Somerset Park side in the first half of the season.
The left back has previously spent time with Albion Rovers and represented Scotland at youth level.
20 – Luke Watt
Position: Defender
Date of birth: 20 June 1997
Place of birth: Glasgow
Previous clubs: Motherwell, East Fife, Airdrieonians, NK Novigrad, Brechin City, Linlithgow Rose, Blantyre Victoria
Home: Allison Young and Grace Paterson
Away: Scott McKail
Third: Available
Luke Watt rejoined the club in July 2022 after previously spending six months on loan from Motherwell back in 2016.
Having made a number of first team appearances for the Steelmen, further loan spells with East Fife and Airdrieonians followed, before a year at NK Novigrad in Croatia and time with Brechin, Linlithgow Rose and Blantyre Vics.
Watt holds a great deal of SPFL experience and can play in a number of positions, both in the middle of the park and across the back line, most recently playing as a right back.
22 – Sean McIntosh
Position: Defender
Date of birth: 10 January 1997
Place of birth: –
Previous clubs: Celtic, Airdrieonians, Brechin City
Home: Anthony Cottam
Away: Michael Watson
Third: Available
Predominantly a right back, Sean McIntosh joined us in June 2021 following two years at Brechin City and three seasons at Airdrieonians.
Sean rose through the youth ranks at Celtic, and made 28 appearances as a first team regular in his debut season at Stair Park.
23 – Matty Grant
Position: Defender/midfielder
Date of birth: 16 November 2001
Place of birth: –
Previous clubs: Bellshill Athletic, St Mirren, Pollok
Home: G&M Motors Corntown and Kayleigh Gray
Away: Ellis Hedley and Anne Murdoch
Third: Fred and Jack MacPherson
Sold out
Pollok’s Player of the Year for 2021/22, Matty Grant joined us in August 2022 after a development fee was agreed with the Newlandsfield club.
Matty is comfortable in all right sided positions but likes to drive forward, and weighed in with eight goals last season from wing back.
Has largely featured on the right side of midfield for Stranraer.
24 – Darryl Duffy
Position: Striker
Date of birth: 16 April 1984
Place of birth: Glasgow
Previous clubs: Rangers, Brechin, Falkirk, Hull, Hartlepool, Swansea, Bristol Rovers, Carlisle, Hibernian, Cheltenham, Salgaocar, Goa, Mohun Bagan, St Mirren, Airdrieonians, Stirling Albion
Home: Billy Robb
Away: Gordon Niven
Third: www.betting.bet
Jacket: Available
Tracksuit: Available
Darryl Duffy joined Stranraer from Stirling Albion in summer 2020.
A product of the youth system at Rangers, Duffy made a couple of appearances for the Ibrox club as a teenager before moving to Falkirk.
His goalscoring exploits over the following two seasons earned him caps for Scotland U21s and a move south of the border, with spells at the likes of Hull, Swansea, Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham.
After four years in India, Duffy returned home to join St Mirren, before netting double figures for Airdrieonians and Stirling respectively.
The veteran frontman scored eight goals in his first season at Stair Park, assuming the role of assistant manager last term and chipping in with a further three in nine appearances.
Expected to provide emergency backup cover this season.
30 – Ikechi Eze
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 18 September 1996
Place of birth: –
Previous clubs: Hampton & Richmond Borough, Burgess Hill, Fisher, Horsham, Tunbridge Wells, Whyteleafe, Sheppey United, Thamesmead Town, Braintree, Glebe, Ilford, Sittingbourne, Rilski Sportist
Home: Sport Skillz Coaching
Away: Bill Paton
Third: Tyler Heron
Sold out
Ikechi Eze arrived at Stair Park in September 2022.
The midfielder is the brother of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and joined us from Bulgarian side Rilski Sportist, having spent most of his career in England.
Made his debut as a substitute away to Stirling Albion on 17 September 2022, playing 14 games before going out on loan to Clydebank in February 2023.
31 – Matthew Connelly
Position: Goalkeeper
Date of birth: 2 March 2003
Place of birth: Wishaw
Previous clubs: Motherwell, Gretna 2008
Home: Available
Away: Available
Third: Available
Following an injury to fellow keeper Luke Scullion, Matty Connelly joined us in January 2023 on a loan deal until the end of the season.
Having been involved with the first team setup at Fir Park, the shot-stopper represented Scotland Under 16s against Australia in January 2019, and spent time on loan at Gretna 2008 during the 2021/22 season.
No longer with the club
3 – Sam Ellis
Position: Defender
Date of birth: 11 March 2003
Place of birth: N/A
Previous clubs: St Mirren
Home: Alex Smith
Away: Martin McLelland & Vicky McNally
Third: John Cooper
Sold out
Sam Ellis joined us on loan from St Mirren in September 2021, with a string of impressive performances consolidating his place in the team.
The left back made his move permanent in June 2022, recording a further 23 appearances before joining Darvel in February 2023.
18 – Scott McLean
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 30 August 1997
Place of birth: Irvine
Previous clubs: Kilmarnock, Troon, Albion Rovers, Queen’s Park, Annan Athletic, Darvel, Spennymoor Town, Guseley
Home: Finlay Niven
Away: Linda McLean
Third: Billy Robb
Sold out
Scott McLean was our third signing of the 2022 summer transfer window, joining after a stint in England’s National League North.
Scott was known to Blues supporters from his spells with the likes of Albion Rovers, Queen’s Park and Annan Athletic in the SPFL, and made his senior debut in the same Kilmarnock side which featured Blues boss Jamie Hamill.
McLean scored 10 goals across his two seasons at this level between 2018 and 2020, and added a further two goals in the early part of the season at Stranraer, before moving to Glenafton Athletic in January 2023.
19 – Salim Kouider-Aïssa
Position: Striker
Date of birth: 22 March 1996
Place of birth: Glasgow
Previous clubs: Stenhousemuir, Queen of the South, Stirling Albion, Lenzie Thistle, Kilsyth Rangers, Queen’s Park, Livingston, Partick Thistle, Airdrieonians
Home: SFC Fundraising Team
Away: Alex Thomson
Third: Chris Sharkey
Sold out
Salim Kouider-Aïssa joined us on loan from Airdrie at the end of September 2022.
The striker carved out a reputation at Kilsyth Rangers and Queen’s Park as a clinical finisher, earning him a move to Premiership side Livingston.
Loan spells and injury setbacks followed, with the frontman heading to Stair Park in search of first team football after regaining his fitness.
Scored on his debut, making ten appearances before moving back to Airdrie at the end of his loan spell in January 2023.
21 – Scott Dunn
Position: Defender
Date of birth: 21 February 2001
Place of birth: Glasgow
Previous clubs: Airdrieonians, Queen of the South, St Cuthbert’s Wanderers, Broomhill, Cowdenbeath
Home: Douglas and Tracey Dunn
Away: Dylan Heron
Third: Fallon McCabe
Sold out
A composed young centre back, Scott Dunn signed following a successful trial spell in June 2022.
Formerly of Airdrieonians and Queen of the South, Scott gained useful first team experience on loan in recent seasons, including spending the second half of last term at Cowdenbeath.
Spent time on loan with East Stirlingshire before leaving Stranraer on a permanent basis in March 2023.
