Ruari Paton

Ruari Paton

Personal information
Full name	Ruari Michael Paton [1]
Date of birth	(2000-08-09) 9 August 2000 (age 24) [2]
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland [2]
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) [2]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Port Vale
Number	17
Youth career
2012	Shelbourne
2013	St Kevin's Boys
2014–2016	Belvedere
2016–2018	Hibernian
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Hibernian	0	(0)
2018–2019	→ Gala Fairydean Rovers (loan)
2019–2020	East Kilbride
2020–2021	Stranraer	21	(6)
2021–2023	Queen of the South	70	(25)
2023–2024	Queen's Park	36	(17)
2024–	Port Vale	11	(1)
International career
	Republic of Ireland U16	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:56, 16 November 2024 (UTC)

Ruari Michael Paton (born 9 August 2000) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two club Port Vale. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-16 level.

Paton, a talented dancer, spent his youth with Shelbourne, St Kevin's Boys and Belvedere, before he left Ireland to join the development squad at Scottish club Hibernian. He spent time on loan at Gala Fairydean Rovers, before joining East Kilbride in July 2019 after being released from Hibernian. His goal record in the Lowland League earned him a move to Stranraer in Scottish League Two. He was signed by Queen of the South in July 2021 and played on the losing side in the 2022 final of the Scottish Challenge Cup. He was named to the PFA Scotland Team of the Year following 22 Scottish League One goals in the 2022–23 season. He was sold to Queen's Park in June 2023 and was again named on the PFA Scotland Team of the Year after scoring 17 Scottish Championship goals in the 2023–24 campaign. He was signed by English club Port Vale for an undisclosed fee in July 2024.

Early life

Ruari Paton was born in Dublin on 9 August 2000. ^[2] He grew up in Carpenterstown. ^[3] He was a talented dancer in his youth. ^[4] He gained a Higher in PE and a Sports Leadership Award from Ross High School. ^[5]

Career

Early career

Paton played for Belvedere in Dublin before signing for Hibernian as a sixteen-year-old on a pro-youth contract. ^[6] On 19 September 2018, he joined Gala Fairydean Rovers of the Lowland League on loan. ^[7] On 22 September, he scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 win over Lossiemouth in a Scottish Cup qualification match at Netherdale. ^[8] He scored 13 league goals in the 2018–19 season. ^[9] He did not play a first-team game at Easter Road and was one of 17 players released from Hibernian in May 2019. ^[10] He later said "I went there thinking I was the man and had it all sorted out and would go to the first team. It did not work out that way and life comes around and hits you in the face." ^[11]

Paton failed a trial with Airdrieonians as manager Ian Murray felt he was not good enough for professional football. ^[3] On 3 July 2019, he signed with Lowland League champions East Kilbride. ^[12] Paton said that "Stuart Malcolm [East Kilbride manager] gave me a chance there when no one else would". ^[3] He supplemented his income playing for East Kilbride by working as a labourer on a building site. ^[3] He later said that "I was eating Pot Noodles every day for dinner" due to lack of finances, but that he refused to accept returning to Ireland without having made a success of his footballing career in Scotland. ^[3] He scored 12 goals by November, helping the Lowland League side to reach the third round of the Scottish Cup. ^[13] He scored 12 league goals in the 2019–20 season. ^[14]

Stranraer

Paton agreed a two-year contract with Stranraer. ^{[15] [16] [17]} He had caught the eye of manager Stephen Farrell with his goalscoring record the previous season, which had been cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. ^[18] He was signed to compete with Thomas Orr for a place alongside veteran forward Darryl Duffy. ^[19] The three players ended up playing as an attacking trio. ^[20] The Blues qualified for the Scottish League Two play-offs at the end of the 2020–21 season, losing to Dumbarton at the semi-final stage. Paton scored nine goals in 30 matches at Stair Park. ^[21]

Queen of the South

On 2 July 2021, Paton signed a two-year contract with Queen of the South in Dumfries, following an undisclosed transfer fee. ^[22] Manager Allan Johnston said he was "a great young prospect that we all have high hopes for". ^[23] Paton scored his first goals for the Palmerston Park club later that month in his first two games versus Annan Athletic and Motherwell in the Scottish League Cup. ^[24] He scored the winning goal in the Scottish Challenge Cup quarter-finals. ^[25] Queen of the South reached the final of the Challenge Cup at Excelsior Stadium, where they were beaten 3–1 by Raith Rovers. ^[26] Paton ended the 2021–22 campaign with eight goals in 45 games, with three goals coming in the league. ^[27] Queens were relegated from the Scottish Championship in last place. ^[28]

Paton finished the 2022–23 season with 25 goals for the Doonhamers. ^[29] Paton finished as joint-top scorer in Scottish League One, alongside Calum Gallagher of Airdrieonians, and was also named on the PFA Scotland Team of the Year. ^[30] Speaking in March, manager Marvin Bartley told his players to be less reliant on Paton's goalscoring ability to win games for them. ^[31] The team finished in fifth place, missing out on the play-offs by three points. ^[32]

Queen's Park

On 22 June 2023, Paton returned to the Scottish Championship after signing a three-year contract with Queen's Park. ^[33] On 25 July, Paton scored four goals in a 5–0 win over Elgin City in the Scottish League Cup at Hampden Park, his first professional hat-trick and four-goal haul in his career. ^[34] He was named Scottish Championship Player of the Month after scoring three league goals to send Robin Veldman's Spiders top of the table in August. ^[35] Paton scored 25 goals in the 2023–24 season and was named on the PFA Scotland Team of the Year, and was also nominated for the Player of the Year award. ^[36] In the expectation that Paton would leave the club, manager Callum Davidson signed Zak Rudden as his replacement in July 2024. ^{[37] [ deprecated source ]}

Port Vale

On 15 July 2024, Paton signed a three-year deal with English League Two club Port Vale for an undisclosed "six-figure" transfer fee. ^{[38] [39]} He scored his first goal for the Valiants in his second appearance for the club, converting a 25 yards (23 m) free kick in a 3–2 defeat at Barrow in an EFL Cup fixture on 13 August; he was also named as man of the match. ^[40] Paton lost his first-team place, but marked his return to the starting eleven with the only goal of the game at Harrogate Town on 22 October. ^[41]

Style of play

Paton is a hard-working striker with an excellent goalscoring record. ^[42] He often celebrates goals by dancing. ^[43]

Career statistics

As of match played 16 November 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Gala Fairydean Rovers (loan)	2018–19 [8] [44]	Lowland League [c]			3	4	—				3	4
East Kilbride	2019–20 [45]	Lowland League [c]			3	3	4	0			7	3
Stranraer	2020–21 [21]	Scottish League Two	21	6	3	1	4	2	2 [d]	0	30	9
Queen of the South	2021–22 [27]	Scottish Championship	34	3	2	1	4	2	5 [e]	2	45	8
	2022–23 [46]	Scottish League One	36	22	1	0	5	3	4 [e]	0	46	25
	Total		70	25	3	1	9	5	9	2	91	33
Queen's Park	2023–24 [47]	Scottish Championship	36	17	1	0	4	4	2 [e]	1	43	22
Port Vale	2024–25 [48]	League Two	11	1	1	0	1	1	2 [f]	1	15	3
Career total			138	18	14	8	22	12	15	4	189	74

1. Includes Scottish Cup, FA Cup
2. Includes Scottish League Cup, EFL Cup
3. Appearance data in the Lowland League not available
4. Appearances in Scottish League Two play-offs
5. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
6. Appearance in EFL Trophy

Honours

Queen of the South

• Scottish Challenge Cup runner-up: 2021–22 ^[26]

Individual

• PFA Scotland Team of the Year: 2022–23 League One, 2023–24 Championship ^{[49] [50]}
• Scottish Championship Player of the Month: August 2023

References

1. Squad Lists 2024/25 & U21 Unregistered Contract Players (PDF). EFL. September 2024. p. 79. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
2. Ruari Paton at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
3. McDermott, Scott (24 September 2023). "Ruari Paton charts his Queen's Park rise via Pot Noodle dinners and dancing". Daily Record. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
4. "Plenty to celebrate for Paton". Stranraer FC. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
5. Hislop, John (10 August 2017). "Hibs' youngster Ruari Paton overcomes hurdles to gain qualifications". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
6. Ritchie, Cameron (2 June 2023). "Football: Team of the Year honour for striker Ruari Paton". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
7. Hislop, John (19 September 2018). "Hibs duo Patrick Martin and Ruari Paton join Gala Fairydean Rovers on loan". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
8. Knox, David (24 September 2018). "Paton pounces on Scottish Cup opportunity". Border Telegraph. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
9. "2018/19 Lowland League Season". Scottish Lowland League. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
10. Pilcher, Ross (20 May 2019). "The 17 players that have left Hibs after loans and contracts ended". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
11. Ritchie, Cameron (17 April 2021). "Ruari Paton out to make history in the Scottish Cup". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
12. McPartlin, Patrick (3 July 2019). "Former Hibs pair snapped up by East Kilbride ahead of 2019/20 Lowland League season". Edinburgh News. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
13. Thomson, Paul (20 November 2019). "East Kilbride striker Paton targets memorable Scottish Cup run". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
14. "2019/20 Lowland League Season". Scottish Lowland League. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
15. Temlett, Stephen (29 June 2021). "Queen of the South boss delighted at capture of two attacking recruits". Daily Record. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
16. Ritchie, Cameron (3 April 2021). "Former Ross High pupil Ruari Paton aiming for Scottish Cup glory". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
17. Ritchie, Cameron (17 April 2021). "Former Hibs striker Ruari Paton keen to make Scottish Cup history". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
18. "Paton is a Blue". Stranraer FC. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
19. "Darryl praises young strike duo - Stranraer FC". Stranraer FC. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
20. "Orr praises strike partners - Stranraer FC". Stranraer FC. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
21. "Games played by Ruari Paton in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
22. Temlett, Stephen (2 July 2021). "New Queen of the South signing Ruari Paton "over the moon" with Palmerston move". Daily Record. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
23. Temlett, Stephen (29 June 2021). "Queens boss delighted at new attackers". Daily Record. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
24. McDonald, Kenny (20 July 2021). "Queen of the South new boy Ruari Paton enjoying proving doubters wrong with two goals in two games". Daily Record. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
25. "Scottish Challenge Cup: Queen of the South complete semi-final line-up". BBC Sport. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
26. Herrall, Jack (3 April 2022). "SPFL Trust Trophy final: Raith Rovers 3-1 Queen of the South". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
27. "Games played by Ruari Paton in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
28. "Queen of the South Standings 2021/2022 & Table". Tribuna.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
29. Sked, Joel (23 June 2023). "Scottish transfers: Rangers ace wanted, Celtic eye trio plus 12-goal midfielder, Hearts make right-back move". The Scotsman. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
30. "Cinch League 1 Team Of The Season 22/23". SPFL. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
31. Temlett, Stephen (8 March 2023). "Queens boss gets what he wants against Airdrie". Daily Record. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
32. "Scottish League One Table 2022/2023 & Standings". Tribuna.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
33. "Queen To Queen's For Ruari Paton". Queen's Park FC. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
34. "Viaplay Cup: St Johnstone drop out while Livi & St Mirren win; Paton hits four for Queen's". BBC Sport. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
35. "Championship award for Paton | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
36. Davenport, Sean (25 April 2024). "Ruari Nominated for PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year". Queen's Park Football Club. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
37. Docherty, Liam (13 July 2024). "EFL club preparing 'six-figure bid' for Queen's Park star". The Scottish Sun. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
38. "Ruari Paton: Port Vale sign Queen's Park striker for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
39. "Ruari Paton is a Valiant | Port Vale FC". Port Vale FC. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
40. Baggaley, Mike (14 August 2024). "Vale in talks about player deal". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
41. Baggaley, Mike (23 October 2024). "Vale make it four in a row". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
42. "Boss evaluates new recruits - Stranraer FC". Stranraer FC. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
43. "Plenty to celebrate for Paton - Stranraer FC". Stranraer FC. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
44. "Games played by Ruari Paton in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
45. "Games played by Ruari Paton in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
46. "Games played by Ruari Paton in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
47. "Games played by Ruari Paton in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
48. "Games played by Ruari Paton in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
49. @PFAScotland (8 May 2023). "Your PFA Scotland League 1 Team of the Year - as voted for by the players" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 May 2023– via Twitter.
50. @PFAScotland (19 April 2024). "PFA Scotland on X: "🏆 PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year. As voted by the players, the nominated team is… Callum Ferrie Jack McMillan Kevin Holt Scott McMann Josh Edwards Adam Frizzell Craig Sibbald Sam Stanton Louis Moult Brian Graham Ruari Paton #PFASAwards" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 April 2024– via Twitter.