{{short description|Scottish footballer (born 1992)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Blair Alston | image = | fullname = Blair Michael Alston<ref>[https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/record-results?search_type=people&dl_cat=statutory&dl_rec=statutory-births&surname=Alston&surname_so=exact&forename=Blair&forename_so=starts&sex=M&from_year=1992&to_year=1992&county=FIFE&record_type=stat_births Statutory registers - Births - Search results], [[ScotlandsPeople]]</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|03|23|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Falkirk]], Scotland<ref>{{cite web|title=Blair Alston player profile|url=http://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/?wpcm_player=blair-alston|publisher=Falkirk F.C.|accessdate=27 October 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028041939/http://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/?wpcm_player=blair-alston|archivedate=28 October 2014}}</ref> | height = | currentclub = [[Forfar Athletic F.C.|Forfar Athletic]] | clubnumber = 26 | position = [[Midfielder]] | youthyears1 = | years1 = 2010–2016 | clubs1 = [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] | caps1 = 166 | goals1 = 24 | years2 = 2016–2019 | clubs2 = [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]] | caps2 = 80 | goals2 = 8 | years3 = 2019–2020 | clubs3 = [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]] | caps3 = 19 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2020–2021 | clubs4 = [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] | goals4 = 3 | caps4 = 21 | years5 = 2021–2023 | clubs5 = [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] | goals5 = 3 | caps5 = 46 | years6 = 2023–2024 | clubs6 = [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]] | goals6 = 2 | caps6 = 24 | years7 = 2024–2025 | clubs7 = [[Stenhousemuir F.C.|Stenhousemuir]] | caps7 = 28 | goals7 = 9 | years8 = 2026– | clubs8 = [[Forfar Athletic F.C.|Forfar Athletic]] | caps8 = 12 | goals8 = 2 | club-update = 4 May 2026 }}
'''Blair Michael Alston''' (born 23 March 1992) is a Scottish professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[midfielder]] for [[Scottish League Two]] club [[Forfar Athletic F.C.|Forfar Athletic]]. Alston has previously played for [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]], [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]], [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]], [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] and [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]].
==Career==
===Falkirk=== Alston made his first team debut for Falkirk against [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]] in their [[Scottish League Cup|League Cup]] match on 24 August 2010. He scored his first goal for the club in their 2–1 win also against [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]] on 12 April 2011.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/9454409.stm | title=First Goal V Partick Thistle 12 April | access-date=13 April 2011 | work=BBC News | date=12 April 2011}}</ref> On 1 April 2012, he came on as a late substitute as Falkirk beat [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]] 1–0 to win the [[2012 Scottish Challenge Cup Final|Scottish Challenge Cup]].<ref name="falkirk cup">{{cite web|title=Falkirk 1–0 Hamilton Accies|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17558271|publisher=BBC Sport|last=Lindsay|first=Clive|date=1 April 2012|accessdate=12 September 2016}}</ref>
===St Johnstone=== Alston moved to [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]] in May 2016 under freedom of contract.<ref>{{cite web |first=Richard |last=Wilson |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36393393 |title=Blair Alston: Midfielder moves to St Johnstone from Falkirk |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=26 May 2016 |accessdate=26 May 2016}}</ref>
===Hamilton Academical=== In June 2019 he signed for [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/welcome-to-accies-blair-alston/|title=Welcome to Accies Blair Alston! « Hamilton Academical Football Club|website=www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48547318|title=Blair Alston: Midfielder joins Hamilton after St Johnstone exit|date=6 June 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=7 June 2019}}</ref>
===Falkirk return=== In August 2020 he signed for [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] on a two-year contract for a second spell at the club.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BLAIR IS BACK!|url=https://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/2020/08/18/blair-is-back/|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Falkirk Football Club|date=18 August 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Kilmarnock=== Alston left Falkirk during the 2021 close season and signed a two-year contract with [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]]. Alston scored the winning goal against Arbroath in the 90th minute to secure Kilmarnock's promotion back to the Scottish Premiership.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/kilmarnock-seal-third-summer-signing-24241292 |title=Kilmarnock seal third summer signing as Blair Alston pens two-year deal |first=Lochlin |last=Highet |newspaper=Daily Record |date=3 June 2021 |accessdate=4 June 2021}}</ref>
===Partick Thistle=== Alston signed for Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle on a One year deal in July 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/blair-alston-joins-on-one-year-deal/ | title=Blair Alston joins on one-year deal }}</ref>
Alston scored his first goal for Thistle, coming off the bench to score the winner with a back heel in a 2-1 home victory over Greenock Morton.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67318696 | title=Thistle fend off Morton to consolidate third | work=BBC Sport }}</ref>
Alston hit form during the Scottish Premiership promotion play offs, scoring three goals for Thistle over the two legs of the semi finals against Raith Rovers, which Raith eventually won on penalties after a 3–3 draw on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cydrrnn4j68t | title=Watch: Raith Rovers v Partick Thistle (Agg 2-1) in Scottish Premiership play-off semi-final }}</ref>
===Stenhousemuir=== Following his departure from Partick Thistle Alston signed with [[Scottish League One]] club Stenhousemuir in August 2024 on a two year deal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buchanan |first=Rob |date=2024-08-08 |title=Warriors add 'another dimension' with Blair Alston arrival |url=https://www.stenhousemuirfc.com/2024/08/08/warriors-add-another-dimension-with-blair-alston-arrival/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Stenhousemuir FC |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Blair Alston: Why going part-time with Stenhousemuir after 15 years as a full-time footballer is ideal for me |date=14 August 2024 |url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/football/blair-alston-why-going-part-time-with-stenhousemuir-after-15-years-as-a-full-time-footballer-is-ideal-for-me-4742528 |access-date=2024-09-12}}</ref>
Alston scored a hat trick in a 5–1 win over Annan Athletic in League One.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blair Alston on his hat-trick against Annan and why he is 'loving life' at Stenhousemuir |date=3 September 2024 |url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/football/blair-alston-on-his-hat-trick-against-annan-and-why-he-is-loving-life-at-stenhousemuir-4767809 |access-date=2024-09-12}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|2 January 2023}} <ref>{{soccerway|blair-alston/148090}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !rowspan="2"|Division !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|[[Scottish Cup]] !colspan="2"|[[Scottish League Cup|League Cup]] !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="7"|[[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] |[[2010–11 Falkirk F.C. season|2010–11]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|53050|2010|accessdate=21 November 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="3"|[[Scottish Football League First Division|Scottish First Division]] |7||1||0||0||1||0||0||0||8||1 |- |[[2011–12 Falkirk F.C. season|2011–12]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|53050|2011|accessdate=21 November 2017}}</ref> |24||5||2||1||3||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC">Appearances in the [[Scottish Challenge Cup]]</ref>||0||32||6 |- |[[2012–13 Falkirk F.C. season|2012–13]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|53050|2012|accessdate=21 November 2017}}</ref> |34||2||4||3||2||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||41||5 |- |[[2013–14 Scottish Championship|2013–14]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|53050|2013|accessdate=21 November 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="3"|[[Scottish Championship]] |29||3||1||0||3||1||6<ref group=lower-alpha>Two appearances and one goal in the [[Scottish Challenge Cup]]; four appearances and two goals in the [[2013–14 Scottish Premiership#Premiership play-offs|Scottish Premiership play-offs]]</ref>||3||39||7 |- |[[2014–15 Falkirk F.C. season|2014–15]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|53050|2014|accessdate=21 November 2017}}</ref> |36||3||5||0||3||1||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||2||47||6 |- |[[2015–16 Falkirk F.C. season|2015–16]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|53050|2015|accessdate=21 November 2017}}</ref> |36||10||2||0||3||1||6<ref group=lower-alpha>Two appearances in the [[Scottish Challenge Cup]]; four appearances and one goal in the [[2015–16 Scottish Premiership#Premiership play-offs|Scottish Premiership play-offs]]</ref>||1||47||12 |- !colspan="2"|Total !166!!24!!14!!4!!15!!3!!19!!6!!214!!37 |- |rowspan="4"|[[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]] |[[2016–17 St Johnstone F.C. season|2016–17]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|53050|2016|accessdate=21 November 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="3"|[[Scottish Premiership]] |35||2||2||1||5||0||colspan="2"|—||42||3 |- |[[2017–18 St Johnstone F.C. season|2017–18]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|53050|2017|accessdate=21 November 2017}}</ref> |24||2||2||0||1||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="UEL">Appearances in the [[UEFA Europa League]]</ref>||0||29||2 |- |[[2018–19 St Johnstone F.C. season|2018–19]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|53050|2018|accessdate=27 July 2018}}</ref> |21||4||0||0||5||0||colspan=2|—||26||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !80!!8!!4!!1!!11!!0!!2!!0!!97!!9 |- |[[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]] |[[2019–20 Hamilton Academical F.C. season|2019–20]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|53050|2019|accessdate=14 July 2019}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |19||1||2||0||4||1||colspan=2|—||25||2 |- |[[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] |[[2020–21 Scottish League One|2020–21]] |[[Scottish League One]] |21||3||1||0||3||0||0||0||25||3 |- |rowspan="3"|[[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] |[[2021–22 Kilmarnock F.C. season|2021–22]] |[[Scottish Championship]] |31||3||1||0||5||1||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||40||4 |- |[[2022–23 Kilmarnock F.C. season|2022–23]] |[[Scottish Premiership]] |9||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||10||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !40!!3!!1!!0!!6!!1!!3!!0!!50!!4 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !326!!39!!22!!5!!39!!5!!20!!6!!411!!55 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== ;Falkirk *[[Scottish Challenge Cup]]: [[2012 Scottish Challenge Cup Final|2011–12]]<ref name="falkirk cup"/> ;Kilmarnock *[[Scottish Championship]]: [[2021–22 Scottish Championship|2021–22]]<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/scottish-championship/2021-2022/standing.shtml | title=Standings Scottish Championship 2021-2022 | accessdate=1 August 2022 | work=Eurosport| date=1 August 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerbase}}
{{Stenhousemuir F.C. squad}} {{Falkirk F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alston, Blair}} [[Category:Falkirk F.C. players]] [[Category:Scottish Football League players]] [[Category:1992 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Scottish Professional Football League players]] [[Category:Footballers from Kirkcaldy]] [[Category:Scottish men's footballers]] [[Category:Men's association football midfielders]] [[Category:St Johnstone F.C. players]] [[Category:Hamilton Academical F.C. players]] [[Category:Kilmarnock F.C. players]] [[Category:Partick Thistle F.C. players]] [[Category:Stenhousemuir F.C. players]] [[Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen]]