John Reilly Player Profile

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Player Details



Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
1985-86 - - - - - - -
1984-85 4 (8) 4 0 0 75.0% 8.3% 16.7%
1983-84 21 (7) 13 2 0 67.9% 21.4% 10.7%
1982-83 9 (12) 7 1 0 52.4% 23.8% 23.8%
1981-82 5 (8) 2 0 0 61.5% 15.4% 23.1%
1980-81 - (2) 0 0 0 50.0% 50.0% 0.0%
1979-80 - - - - - - -
Totals: 39 (37) 26


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 GtGR = Goals to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 06/04/85 Premier Division vs. Morton (H) 5 - 0
 23/03/85 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H) 3 - 1
 23/02/85 Premier Division vs. Dumbarton (H) 4 - 0
 21/08/84 2nd Round vs. Forfar Athletic (H) 5 - 0
 05/05/84 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H) 2 - 2

 Recent First Team Goals
 06/04/85 Premier Division vs. Morton (H) 5 - 0
 30/03/85 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A) 2 - 4
 23/02/85 Premier Division vs. Dumbarton (H) 4 - 0
 21/08/84 2nd Round vs. Forfar Athletic (H) 5 - 0
 30/04/84 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H) 2 - 0

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 06/04/85 Premier Division vs. Morton (H)  5 - 0
 30/03/85 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 4
 23/02/85 Premier Division vs. Dumbarton (H)  4 - 0
 21/08/84 2nd Round vs. Forfar Athletic (H)  5 - 0
 30/04/84 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 0
 28/04/84 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  3 - 1
 18/04/84 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 5
 14/04/84 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  3 - 0
 02/04/84 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  5 - 2
 30/11/83 Group Section 1 vs. Motherwell (A)  3 - 0
 09/11/83 Group Section 1 vs. Alloa Athletic (A)  4 - 2
 05/10/83 Group Section 1 vs. Motherwell (H)  4 - 2
 14/09/83 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Hamrun (A)  3 - 0
 03/09/83 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  4 - 1
 03/09/83 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  4 - 1
 30/08/83 Group Section 1 vs. Alloa Athletic (H)  5 - 0
 30/08/83 Group Section 1 vs. Alloa Athletic (H)  5 - 0
 12/03/83 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  5 - 3
 08/01/83 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 2
 27/12/82 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  5 - 0
 18/12/82 Premier Division vs. Morton (A)  2 - 1
 11/12/82 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (H)  7 - 0
 11/12/82 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (H)  7 - 0
 20/11/82 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  3 - 0
 15/05/82 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (A)  2 - 1
 23/09/81 Quarter Final 2nd Leg vs. Hamilton (H)  5 - 0

 List of Games Played (click to expand)
 04/05/85 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  2 - 1
 27/04/85 Premier Division vs. Dumbarton (A)  2 - 0
 06/04/85 Premier Division vs. Morton (H)  5 - 0
 30/03/85 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 4
 23/03/85 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  3 - 1
 02/03/85 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  0 - 0
 23/02/85 Premier Division vs. Dumbarton (H)  4 - 0
 15/12/84 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  5 - 2
 07/11/84 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Linzer (H)  5 - 1
 01/09/84 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  0 - 1
 21/08/84 2nd Round vs. Forfar Athletic (H)  5 - 0
 11/08/84 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  2 - 0
 05/05/84 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 2
 30/04/84 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 0
 28/04/84 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  3 - 1
 21/04/84 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  1 - 1
 18/04/84 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 5
 14/04/84 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  3 - 0
 07/04/84 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 1
 02/04/84 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  5 - 2
 31/03/84 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 0
 25/02/84 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  2 - 2
 06/02/84 3rd Round vs. Ayr Utd (H)  1 - 0
 31/12/83 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 1
 10/12/83 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 0
 03/12/83 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  2 - 0
 30/11/83 Group Section 1 vs. Motherwell (A)  3 - 0
 09/11/83 Group Section 1 vs. Alloa Athletic (A)  4 - 2
 05/11/83 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  0 - 1
 02/11/83 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Standard (H)  4 - 0
 26/10/83 Group Section 1 vs. Morton (H)  3 - 0
 22/10/83 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 0
 08/10/83 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 1
 05/10/83 Group Section 1 vs. Motherwell (H)  4 - 2
 17/09/83 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  2 - 1
 14/09/83 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Hamrun (A)  3 - 0
 10/09/83 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  5 - 0
 07/09/83 Group Section 1 vs. Morton (A)  1 - 1
 03/09/83 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  4 - 1
 30/08/83 Group Section 1 vs. Alloa Athletic (H)  5 - 0
 06/04/83 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 2
 26/03/83 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  3 - 3
 16/03/83 Quarter Final 2nd Leg vs. Bohemians (H)  0 - 0
 12/03/83 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  5 - 3
 26/02/83 Premier Division vs. Morton (H)  1 - 1
 22/01/83 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  3 - 2
 15/01/83 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 0
 08/01/83 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 2
 03/01/83 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 3
 01/01/83 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  2 - 0
 27/12/82 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  5 - 0
 18/12/82 Premier Division vs. Morton (A)  2 - 1
 11/12/82 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (H)  7 - 0
 27/11/82 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  2 - 0
 24/11/82 3rd Round 1st Leg vs. Werder Bremen (H)  2 - 1
 20/11/82 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  3 - 0
 06/11/82 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 5
 03/11/82 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Viking (H)  0 - 0
 30/10/82 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  1 - 0
 27/10/82 Semi Final 1st Leg vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 2
 23/10/82 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 0
 15/05/82 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (A)  2 - 1
 08/05/82 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  3 - 0
 05/05/82 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 2
 10/04/82 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (H)  4 - 0
 07/04/82 Premier Division vs. Morton (A)  1 - 1
 03/04/82 Premier Division vs. Dundee (A)  2 - 0
 27/03/82 Premier Division vs. Morton (H)  5 - 0
 20/03/82 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 2
 16/01/82 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 2
 07/11/81 Premier Division vs. Morton (H)  3 - 0
 10/10/81 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (H)  0 - 0
 23/09/81 Quarter Final 2nd Leg vs. Hamilton (H)  5 - 0
 08/08/81 Section 4 vs. Ayr Utd (A)  4 - 3
 23/08/80 Premier Division vs. Morton (H)  1 - 1
 20/08/80 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. East Fife (H)  4 - 0


Biography

John joined United from Strathtay on an 'S' form in January 1977. A Scotland schoolboy international, he was called up for United reserves in the latter half of season 1978-79. His performances in the second eleven earned him a place in the Scotland youth squad and a United first team debut in February 1980, as a substitute against Hearts in a friendly. Exactly six months later he made his first appearance in major competition from the bench, replacing Derek Stark against East Fife in a League Cup tie.

Over the next three seasons he played mostly in the reserves, but made 36 first team appearances, mostly from the bench as he struggled to break the successful Davie Dodds/Paul Sturrock partnership. Nonetheless, he was an important squad member throughout the 1982-83 season, making a significant contribution with seven League goals as United went on to finish the season as Scottish Premier League champions for the first time.

With Paul Sturrock missing most of the first half of the 1983-84 season through injury, 'Boney' was given a run in the starting eleven, scoring four goals in a week at the end of August. He then etched his name into the history books by scoring the Club's first ever European Cup goal, two minutes into the first round tie against Hamrun Spartans in Malta. He was an unused substitute in the semi-finals of that competition as United lost out to Roma towards the end of the campaign, but on a personal level he finished that term with an impressive 13 goals in 28 appearances.

Manager Jim McLean began to slowly rebuild the squad over the next couple of years, and after finding himself further down the pecking order following the arrival of Tommy Coyne, John was eventually signed by Jim's brother Tommy McLean at Motherwell for a reported fee of £50,000. In his first season there, John made his old pals suffer, scoring both goals in a 2-0 defeat at Fir Park in March 1986. He played in over 50 matches for Motherwell, but in 1987 an Achilles tendon injury picked up not long after his move to Fir Park forced him to retire at the age of just 25.

However, advances in surgical techniques gave John the chance to get back into the game four years later and he signed for Dunfermline Athletic in 1991. He moved to East Fife two years later and then had a spell at Cowdenbeath as player/manager. He was then briefly at Arbroath, Forfar Athletic and Albion Rovers before retiring in 1996.

Last updated on Wednesday, April 20th, 2022 by B Orr.





Debut (as sub)

August 20th, 1980
Dundee United 4 - 0 East Fife

League Cup (1st Round 2nd Leg)

Full Debut

August 8th, 1981
Ayr United 3 - 4 Dundee United

League Cup (Section 4)


Timeline

  • Date of Birth


    John was born on this date in Dundee.

    Wednesday, March 21st, 1962

  • Signed For Dundee United

    Saturday, March 31st, 1979

  • First Non-Competitive Appearance (Friendly)

    Hearts 0 - 0 Dundee United
    Friendly

    Wednesday, February 20th, 1980

  • First Team Debut

    Dundee United 4 - 0 East Fife
    League Cup (1st Round 2nd Leg)

    With United well in control after the 1st leg at Bayview, manager Jim McLean handed a first team debut to 19 year-old full-back Derek Murray, and ex-Hibs striker Joe Ward returned to the starting elev

    Wednesday, August 20th, 1980

  • League Debut

    Dundee United 1 - 1 Morton
    League (Premier Division)

    After sharing the points in their opening two League matches, United were looking to take both points in their home match with Benny Rooney's Greenock Morton. The only change made by manager Jim McLea

    Saturday, August 23rd, 1980

  • First Goal

    Dundee United 5 - 0 Hamilton
    League Cup (Quarter Final 2nd Leg)

    After winning the first leg 4-0, the second leg of this quarter final League Cup tie was almost academic. The Tannadice eleven showed four changes from the one which had lost at Airdrie and whilst it

    Wednesday, September 23rd, 1981

  • First League Goal

    Partick Th 1 - 2 Dundee United
    League (Premier Division)

    After St Mirren's defeat to Aberdeen in midweek, United just needed a point in their final league game of the season at Firhill to clinch fourth place and the UEFA Cup qualification that came with it.

    Saturday, May 15th, 1982

  • 50th Appearance

    Motherwell 0 - 3 Dundee United
    League Cup (Group Section 1)

    Though of totally academic importance as far as the group placings were concerned, this win came as welcome relief, ending the Tannadice goal famine. United's first came as cleverly worked fre

    Wednesday, November 30th, 1983

  • 50th League Appearance

    St Mirren 1 - 0 Dundee United
    League (Premier Division)

    Love Street is rapidly becoming an unhappy ground for United, and this latest visit provided a real dent to United's title aspirations. The decisive goal arose in controversial circumstances w

    Saturday, September 1st, 1984

  • Last Goal

    Dundee United 5 - 0 Morton
    League (Premier Division)

    Another high scoring win came within days of that midweek derby win. However, this overwhelming victory by Jim McLean's men consigned his brother Willie's Cappielow side to the First Division by scori

    Saturday, April 6th, 1985

  • Last Appearance

    Dundee United 2 - 1 Rangers
    League (Premier Division)

    Although United took the field minus half-a-dozen regulars, they still managed to beat Rangers, the side we find the hardest to beat. Two ahead at the break, United appeared well on the way to a comfo

    Saturday, May 4th, 1985

  • Left the Club

    Thursday, August 1st, 1985