Nicholas Stephen "Nicki" Paterson (born 19 January 1985, in Lanark) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder.

Nicki Paterson
Personal information
Full name Nicholas Stephen Paterson
Date of birth (1985-01-19) 19 January 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Lanark, Scotland
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Motherwell
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 UNLV 68 (4)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Hamilton Academical 7 (0)
2007–2008 Des Moines Menace 28 (0)
2009 Harrisburg City Islanders 18 (0)
2010 Real Maryland Monarchs 19 (0)
2010–2011 Clyde 16 (0)
2011–2013 Charleston Battery 78 (0)
2014–2015 Ottawa Fury 26 (0)
2016 Indy Eleven 27 (0)
2017 East Fife 15 (0)
2017–2019 Stenhousemuir 17 (0)
2019–2020 Albion Rovers 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 November 2023

Career

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Early career in Scotland

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Paterson grew up in Motherwell, and was a member of the academy at Scottish football club Motherwell, before signing a professional deal with Hamilton Academical in 2002. He made his professional debut on 3 August 2002 in a Scottish Second Division game against Cowdenbeath[1] as a 17-year-old. He went on to play seven league, two Scottish League Cup and one Scottish Challenge Cup games for Hamilton over the next two seasons, usually from the substitute's bench, before leaving at the end of the 2003–2004 season.

College and amateur

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Paterson moved to the United States in 2005 after being offered a college scholarship by the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He played four years college soccer for the UNLV Rebels, earning Second Team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honours as a sophomore in 2006. During his college years Paterson also played two seasons for Des Moines Menace in the USL Premier Development League scoring 15 goals earning top scorer in both seasons.[2]

Professional

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Paterson returned to the professional ranks in 2009 when he was signed by the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL Second Division. He made his debut for Harrisburg on 18 April 2009 in a 2–2 opening day tie with the Richmond Kickers.[3]

After playing for USL-2 club Real Maryland Monarchs in 2010, Paterson transferred up a division to USSF Division 2 club AC St. Louis.[4] However, after only a few days at the club it emerged that Paterson could not extend his current visa and had to return to the UK with an option to sign with AC St. Louis next season.

While home Paterson signed a short-term contract for Scottish side Clyde in September 2010,[5] and played his first game for the team on 25 September, a 0–0 draw against East Stirlingshire. He scored his first goal for the Bully Wee on 16 October, in a 3–2 loss to Arbroath.

Paterson signed a contract on 21 January 2011 to play for Charleston Battery in the American Soccer USL Pro league.[6] He led the team in scoring with 8 goals and was named the offensive MVP. He moved indoors for the 2011–12 season with the Baltimore Blast. In 2012, Paterson increased his offensive output from his midfield position and was the league's second top scorer with 10 goals amassing 22 points. He was selected 7 times to the USL Team of the week. Paterson for the second year running was named the Offensive MVP for the Charleston Battery and added the overall team MVP.

On 6 November 2013, he became Ottawa Fury FC's first signing.[7]

Paterson signed with the NASL's Indy Eleven on 26 January 2016.[8] After almost a year with the club, Paterson returned to his native Scotland, signing for Scottish League One side East Fife until the end of the 2016–17 season,[9] at which point his contract was not renewed and he left the club.[10]

Paterson subsequently signed a short-term contract with Scottish League Two club Stenhousemuir in September 2017.[11]

Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Paterson signed for Albion Rovers.[12]

References

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  1. ^ http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=366770 [dead link]
  2. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". USL Soccer. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Harrisburg City Islanders at Richmond Kickers 2:2". USL Soccer. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  4. ^ "CLUB SIGNS SCOTTISH MIDFIELDER NICKI PATERSON". AC St. Louis. 28 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Paterson signs". Clyde F.C. 25 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Battery Sign Midfielder Nicki Paterson". Our Sports Central. 21 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Fury FC Announce Nicki Paterson as the Club's First Signing". Ottawa Fury FC. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Paterson Latest Coup from Fury FC". IndyEleven.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Squad News". East Fife FC. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  10. ^ "Chris mulls over Fife deal". Fife Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Nikki Paterson". Stenhousemuir FC. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Scottish League Two ins and outs – Summer 2019". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
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