Gary Oliver (footballer)
Scottish footballer (born 1995)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gary Oliver (born 14 July 1995)[2] is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Scottish Premiership side Falkirk. Oliver started his career at Heart of Midlothian, before a loan spell at Stenhousemuir, followed by one season with Queen of the South, before spending three seasons with Greenock Morton. On 5 August 2020, after leaving the Doonhamers, Oliver returned to Ton, and spent two more seasons there. Oliver has also earned four caps for Scotland U19's.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 July 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Falkirk | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2013 | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2015 | Heart of Midlothian | 18 | (1) |
| 2014 | → Stenhousemuir (loan) | 11 | (2) |
| 2015–2016 | Queen of the South | 28 | (6) |
| 2016–2019 | Greenock Morton | 80 | (13) |
| 2019–2020 | Queen of the South | 20 | (4) |
| 2020–2022 | Greenock Morton | 55 | (8) |
| 2022– | Falkirk | 96 | (14) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2013–2014 | Scotland U19 | 4 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10:28, 17 February 2021 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Oliver was born in Glasgow and joined Heart of Midlothian's youth academy in Edinburgh. Oliver's professional debut for Hearts was in a Scottish League Cup match against Raith Rovers on 27 August 2013, coming on as a substitute in the 55th minute, replacing midfielder Scott Robinson.[3] Four days later Oliver made his league debut for the club, coming on as substitute for Callum Tapping in the 61st minute in a 2–0 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[4]
Under the management of Gary Locke, Oliver was one of the youngsters to get an opportunity in the first team, as a result of Hearts entering administration, as well as having an injury crisis at that particular time.[5] Oliver ended his first season at the club with 8 league appearances, as Hearts were relegated to the Scottish Championship. His season, however, was overshadowed when he injured his ankle during a match against Inverness Caley Thistle and was sidelined for three weeks.[6] Oliver signed a new one-year contract extension after Hearts ended their period of administration.[7] On 23 August 2014 Oliver scored his first goal for Hearts in a 4–0 win over Raith Rovers, scoring in the 90th minute.[8]
On 1 September 2014, Oliver joined Scottish League One club Stenhousemuir on loan until 5 January 2015.[9] Oliver then played against the Ochilview Park club later that season during March 2015, after his loan spell had ended, scoring a goal as Hearts won 2–1.[10] During his loan spell at Stenhousemuir, Oliver had scored two goals and set-up another goal in a 4–0 win over Stirling Albion on 19 October 2014.[11] On 19 December 2014, Oliver's loan spell at Ochilview ended early, as he was recalled by Hearts after appearing in 11 league matches and scoring two goals.[12]
After one season in Dumfries, Oliver signed for his uncle Jim Duffy's club Greenock Morton.[13] After his two-year deal ended, Oliver signed a one-year contract extension with the Greenock club.[14]
In November 2018, Oliver sustained a broken collarbone in a challenge with Peterhead's ex-Ton midfielder Jamie Stevenson, that kept him out of first-team action for two months.[15]
On 10 June 2019, Oliver signed a two-year contract with Dumfries club Queen of the South, where he returns for a second spell.[16]
On 5 August 2020, Oliver signed a one-year deal with Greenock Morton for his second spell with the club, having triggered a clause in his contract with Queens, after not playing enough matches for the club during the 2019–20 season to remain at Palmerston.[17]
On 9 June 2022, Oliver was signed by Scottish League One side Falkirk on a one-year deal with the option of a further one-year extension.[18][19] He scored his first goal for Falkirk in a 3–1 victory at home against Peterhead.[20]
International career
During October 2013, Oliver was called up by Ricky Sbragia for the Scotland under-19 squad.[21] Oliver made his Scotland U19 debut in a 1–1 draw against Germany under-19's[22] and scored his first goal in a 4–2 win over Switzerland under-19's.[23]
Career statistics
- As of 10 June 2022
| Club | Season | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Heart of Midlothian | 2013–14[24] | Scottish Premiership | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014–15[25] | Scottish Championship | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2015–16[26] | Scottish Premiership | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 2 | ||
| Stenhousemuir (loan) | 2014–15[25] | Scottish League One | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| Queen of the South | 2015–16[26] | Scottish Championship | 28 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 6 |
| Greenock Morton | 2016–17[27] | Scottish Championship | 30 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 3[b] | 0 | 42 | 8 |
| 2017–18[28] | 32 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 37 | 6 | ||
| 2018–19[29] | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 2 | ||
| Total | 80 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 104 | 16 | ||
| Queen of the South | 2019–20[30] | Scottish Championship | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 5 |
| Greenock Morton | 2020–21[31] | Scottish Championship | 20 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[c] | 3 | 28 | 5 |
| 2021–22[32] | 35 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 44 | 6 | ||
| Total | 55 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 72 | 11 | ||
| Falkirk | 2022–23[33] | Scottish League One | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 215 | 37 | 14 | 1 | 29 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 272 | 45 | ||
- Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
- One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Premiership play-offs
- Appearances in the Scottish Championship play-offs
Personal life
Oliver was born in Glasgow and attended Cleveden Secondary School. Oliver is the nephew of his former Greenock Morton manager Jim Duffy.[34]
