Liam Buchanan

{{short description|Scottish footballer (born 1985)}} {{for|the Australian cricketer|Liam Buchanan (cricketer)}} {{Use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Liam Buchanan | image = | image_size = | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1985|3|27}} | birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland | height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liam Buchanan |url=https://www.alloaathletic.co.uk/player/liam-buchanan/ |access-date=25 October 2020 |publisher=Alloa Athletic F.C. |language=en-GB}}</ref> | position = Forward | currentclub = Musselburgh Athletic | youthyears1 = 2002 | youthclubs1 = Heart of Midlothian | years1 = 2002–2007 | clubs1 = Cowdenbeath | caps1 = 133 | goals1 = 54 | years2 = 2007–2011 | clubs2 = Partick Thistle | caps2 = 84 | goals2 = 30 | years3 = 2011–2012 | clubs3 = Dunfermline Athletic | caps3 = 44 | goals3 = 11 | years4 = 2012 | clubs4 = Sligo Rovers | caps4 = 10 | goals4 = 2 | years5 = 2012–2013 | clubs5 = Airdrie United | caps5 = 6 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2013 | clubs6 = Ayr United | caps6 = 14 | goals6 = 6 | years7 = 2013–2014 | clubs7 = East Fife | caps7 = 35 | goals7 = 11 | years8 = 2014–2015 | clubs8 = Alloa Athletic | caps8 = 33 | goals8 = 14 | years9 = 2015–2017 | clubs9 = Livingston | caps9 = 71 | goals9 = 33 | years10 = 2017–2019 | clubs10 = Raith Rovers | caps10 = 67 | goals10 = 22 | years11 = 2019–2021 | clubs11 = Alloa Athletic | caps11 = 42 | goals11 = 4 |years12 = 2021–2022 |clubs12 = Cowdenbeath |caps12 = 34 |goals12 = 6 |years13 = 2022–2025 |clubs13 = Berwick Rangers |caps13 = 90 |goals13 = 55 |years14 = 2023–2024 |clubs14 = → Bonnyrigg Rose (loan) |caps14 = 10 |goals14 = 1 |years15 = 2025– |clubs15 = Musselburgh Athletic |caps15 = 0 |goals15 = 0 | club-update = 28 March 2026 }}

'''Liam Buchanan''' (born 27 March 1985) is a Scottish professional footballer who last played as a striker for East of Scotland League club Musselburgh Athletic.

A product of the Hearts youth system, Buchanan made his breakthrough at Cowdenbeath. Having spent five years at the Fife club, he joined Scottish Football League First Division side Partick Thistle and subsequently Dunfermline Athletic. After spells in the lower divisions of Scottish football, Buchanan then joined Scottish League One side East Fife. After a successful time in Methil, he moved to Scottish Championship side Alloa Athletic in July 2014 before signing with Livingston a year later. He then joined Raith Rovers in 2017 and two years later returned for a second spell with Alloa.

==Career== Born in Edinburgh, Buchanan made his breakthrough in football at Cowdenbeath, progressing through their youth system to play in the first team. Buchanan was prolific for the Central Park club, finishing top goalscorer in seasons 2005–06 and 2006–07.

Buchanan then signed for Partick Thistle at the start of the 2007–08 season. Buchanan was the Firhill club's top scorer that season, despite suffering a long-term injury early in 2008 and being out until October that same year, when he played in his return match against Airdrie United. Buchanan predominantly played in the number 9 shirt and was thought to be the next big prospect at the club. Buchanan notched 14 goals in that first season, from 27 starts and three substitute appearances.

In January 2011, Buchanan signed for Dunfermline Athletic.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/9368855.stm|title=Dunfermline sign Liam Buchanan from Partick Thistle|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 January 2011|access-date=20 January 2011}}</ref> Buchanan helped the club win the 2010–11 Scottish First Division that gained promotion to the Scottish Premier League. The club finished bottom of the table in the 2011–12 Scottish Premier League season and were automatically relegated into the Scottish Football League First Division.

In August 2012, it was confirmed that Buchanan had rejected a new contract with Dunfermline and signed for Sligo Rovers.<ref name="sligo rovers">{{cite news|url=http://www.sligorovers.com/latest-news-news-menu-inside-246/1663-buchanan-signs-for-sligo-rovers|title=Buchanan signs for Sligo Rovers|publisher=Sligo Rovers F.C.|date=14 August 2012|access-date=14 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203204111/http://www.sligorovers.com/latest-news-news-menu-inside-246/1663-buchanan-signs-for-sligo-rovers|archive-date=3 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/champions-league-chance-lures-buchanan-to-ireland.18590284|title=Champions League chance lures Buchanan to Ireland|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|access-date=15 August 2012|date=15 August 2012}}</ref> On 7 December 2012, Buchanan signed for Airdrie United.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/airdrie-united/204706-airdrie-utd-v-falkirk-preview-buchanan-poised-for-diamonds-bow/ |title=Airdrie Utd v Falkirk preview: Buchanan poised for Diamonds bow |website=Sport.stv.tv |access-date=2016-11-19}}</ref> Buchanan left Airdrie on 10 January 2013 and then signed for Ayr United until the end of the 2012–13 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ayrshirepost.net/ayrshire-sport/ayrshire-football/ayr-utd-fc/2013/01/25/ayr-united-player-fund-reaches-25-000-102545-32661316/ |title=Ayr United FC – Daily Record |website=Ayrshirepost.net |access-date=2016-11-19}}</ref>

On 26 July 2013, Buchanan signed for East Fife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastfifefc.info/latestnews/3-newsflash/983-new-signings-for-the-fife |title=New Signings for the Fife |access-date=2013-07-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729030508/http://eastfifefc.info/latestnews/3-newsflash/983-new-signings-for-the-fife |archive-date=29 July 2013 }}</ref> After one season there, he signed for Alloa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/buchanan-joins-alloa/ |title=Buchanan joins Alloa |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |date=2014-07-18 |access-date=2016-11-19}}</ref> Buchanan then spent two seasons with Livingston, where the club were relegated and subsequently promoted the next season to the Scottish Championship. Buchanan, however, remained in Scottish League One, signing for recently relegated club Raith Rovers on 9 June 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raithrovers.net/30132/triple-signing-coup-for-smith.htm |title=Triple Signing Coup for Smith |publisher=Raith Rovers FC |date=9 June 2017 |access-date=9 June 2017}}</ref>

On 7 June 2019, Buchanan signed for Alloa Athletic for a second time.<ref>{{cite web|title=ALLOA BRING IN BUCHANAN|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/alloa-bring-in-buchanan|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League|date=7 June 2019|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref>

On 22 June 2022, Buchanan signed for Berwick Rangers of the Lowland Football League.<ref>{{cite web|title=Buchanan is Black and Gold|url=https://berwickrangers.com/buchanan-is-black-and-gold/|publisher=Berwick Rangers FC|date=22 June 2022|access-date=22 June 2022}}</ref> In his first season outside the SPFL, he was the Lowland League's top goalscorer with 22 goals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Season over for Berwick Rangers after cup knockout |url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/sport/football/season-over-for-berwick-rangers-after-cup-knockout-4127842|publisher=Southern Reporter|date=3 May 2023}}</ref>

After a strong start to the 2023-24 season, including a hat-trick against Edinburgh University, Buchanan earned a move back to the SPFL at the age of 38.<ref>{{cite web|title=Berwick Rangers claim third win in a row thanks to hat-trick by Liam Buchanan against Edinburgh University |url=https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/sport/football/berwick-rangers-claim-third-win-in-a-row-thanks-to-hat-trick-by-liam-buchanan-against-edinburgh-university-4266182|publisher=Northumberland Gazette|date=23 August 2023}}</ref> Bonnyrigg Rose announced they had signed the forward on loan, with a view to a permanent transfer in the January window.<ref>{{cite web|title=Signing news|url=https://www.bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk/news/signing-news-2807368.html|publisher=Bonnyrigg Rose FC|date=29 September 2023}}</ref> Buchanan managed only one league goal in 10 outings and returned to Berwick in January, scoring twice in a 4-0 win against Broomhill on his return.<ref>{{cite web|title=Player News |url=https://www.bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk/news/player-news-2829902.html|publisher=Bonnyrigg Rose FC|date=28 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Striker Liam Buchanan scores at double within hours of return to Berwick Rangers |url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/sport/football/striker-liam-buchanan-scores-at-double-within-hours-of-return-to-berwick-rangers-4498381|publisher=Southern Reporter|date=30 January 2024}}</ref> In December 2025, he was released from his contract with Berwick Rangers.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://berwickrangers.com/liam-buchanan-leaves-club/|title=Liam Buchanan leaves club|website=berwickrangers.com|date=8 December 2025|accessdate=10 December 2025}}</ref> ==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 24 April 2021}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- ! rowspan="2"|Club ! rowspan="2"|Season ! colspan="3"|League ! colspan="2"|Scottish Cup ! colspan="2"|League Cup ! colspan="2"|Other ! colspan="2"|Total |- ! Division!!Apps!!Goals ! Apps!!Goals ! Apps!!Goals ! Apps!!Goals ! Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|Cowdenbeath |2002–03<ref name="LB02">{{soccerbase season |34219|2002|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Stenhousemuir 1–1 Cowdenbeath|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/lineups?gameId=52168|publisher=ESPN|date=22 March 2003|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cowdenbeath 1–0 Brechin City|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match?gameId=52059|publisher=ESPN|date=5 April 2003|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref> |Scottish Second Division |12||2||2||0||0||0||0||0||14||2 |- |2003–04<ref name="LB03">{{soccerbase season |34219|2003|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Stranraer 1–0 Cowdenbeath|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/lineups?gameId=150125|publisher=ESPN|date=24 April 2004|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cowdenbeath 0–0 Montrose|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/lineups?gameId=150592|publisher=ESPN|date=1 May 2004|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cowdenbeath 5–1 Queen's Park|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/lineups?gameId=136937|publisher=ESPN|date=7 February 2004|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cowdenbeath F.C. 5–2 Edinburgh City F.C.|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-cup-matches/?mid=36666|publisher=Scottish Football Association|date=22 November 2003|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=East Stirlingshire F.C. 0–5 Cowdenbeath F.C.|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-cup-matches/?mid=37209|publisher=Scottish Football Association|date=20 December 2003|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref> |rowspan="3"|Scottish Third Division |25||8||3||1||1||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC">Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup</ref>||0||30||9 |- |2004–05<ref name="LB04">{{soccerbase season |34219|2004|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=East Stirlingshire 2–1 Cowdenbeath|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/lineups?gameId=154654|publisher=ESPN|date=12 March 2005|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref> |29||7||1||1||1||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||33||8 |- |2005–06<ref name="LB05">{{soccerbase season |34219|2005|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> |31||17||1||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||33||17 |- |2006–07<ref name="LB06">{{soccerbase season |34219|2006|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish Second Division |36||20||3||2||2||1||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||43||23 |- !colspan="2"|Total !133!!54!!10!!4!!4!!1!!6!!0!!153!!59 |- |rowspan="5"|Partick Thistle |2007–08<ref name="LB07">{{soccerbase season |34219|2007|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ayr Utd 2–1 Partick Thistle|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/7000340.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 September 2007|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref> |rowspan="4"|Scottish First Division |22||11||4||3||3||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||31||14 |- |2008–09<ref name="LB08">{{soccerbase season |34219|2008|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> |19||6||2||1||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||22||7 |- |2009–10<ref name="LB09">{{soccerbase season |34219|2009|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="Buchanan Soccerway"/> |26||10||1||0||2||2||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||2||31||14 |- |2010–11<ref name="LB10">{{soccerbase season |34219|2010|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="Buchanan Soccerway"/> |17||3||3||1||2||0||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||1||26||5 |- !colspan="2"|Total !84!!30!!10!!5!!7!!0!!9!!3!!110!!38 |- |rowspan="3"|Dunfermline Athletic |2010–11<ref name="LB10"/> |Scottish First Division |17||5||0||0||0||0||0||0||17||5 |- |2011–12<ref name="LB11">{{soccerbase season|34219|2011 |access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish Premier League |27||5||2||0||2||1||0||0||31||6 |- !colspan="2"|Total !44!!10!!2!!0!!2!!1!!0!!0!!48!!11 |- |Sligo Rovers |2012<ref name="Buchanan Soccerway"/> |League of Ireland Premier Division |10||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||10||2 |- |Airdrie United |2012–13<ref name="Buchanan Soccerway"/> |Scottish First Division |6||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||6||0 |- |Ayr United |2012–13<ref name="LB12">{{soccerbase season |34219|2012|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish Second Division |14||6||0||0||0||0||0||0||14||6 |- |East Fife |2013–14<ref name="LB13">{{soccerbase season |34219|2013|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish League One |35||11||1||0||1||2||5<ref group=lower-alpha>One appearance and a goal in the Scottish Challenge Cup; four appearances in the Scottish League One play-offs</ref>||1||42||14 |- |Alloa Athletic |2014–15<ref name="LB14">{{soccerbase season|34219 |2014|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish Championship |33||14||3||2||2||0||9<ref group=lower-alpha>Five appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup; four appearances and a goal in the Scottish Championship play-offs</ref>||1||47||17 |- |rowspan="3"|Livingston |2015–16<ref name="LB15">{{soccerbase season |34219|2015|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish Championship |35||11||2||0||3||1||5<ref group=lower-alpha>Three appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup; two appearances and two goals in the Scottish Championship play-offs</ref>||2||45||14 |- |2016–17<ref name="LB16">{{soccerbase season |34219|2016|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish League One |36||22||2||0||3||1||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||4||45||27 |- !colspan="2"|Total !71!!33!!4!!0!!6!!2!!9!!6!!90!!41 |- |rowspan=3|Raith Rovers |2017–18<ref name="LB17">{{soccerbase season |34219|2017|access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> |rowspan=2|Scottish League One |33||10||1||0||4||3||3<ref group=lower-alpha>Two appearances and one goal in the Scottish Challenge Cup; one appearance in the Scottish Championship play-offs</ref>||1||41||14 |- |2018–19<ref>{{soccerbase season|34219|2018|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref> |34||12||3||1||1||0||4<ref group=lower-alpha>One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup; three appearances in the Scottish Championship play-offs</ref>||0||42||13 |- !colspan=2|Total !67!!22!!4!!1!!5!!3!!7!!1!!83!!27 |- |rowspan=3|Alloa Athletic |2019–20<ref>{{soccerbase season|34219|2019|access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref> |Scottish Championship |23||1||2||0||4||3||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||31||4 |- |2020–21<ref>{{soccerbase season|34219|2020|access-date=14 November 2020}}</ref> |Scottish Championship |19||3||1||0||6||3||colspan="2"|—||26||6 |- !colspan=2|Total !42!!4!!3!!0!!10!!6!!2!!0!!57!!10 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !539!!186!!37!!12!!37!!17!!47!!12!!660!!227 |}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==Honours== ===Club=== ;Dunfermline Athletic * Scottish First Division: 2010–11<ref name="Buchanan Soccerway">{{Soccerway|liam-buchanan/38581}}</ref>

;Sligo Rovers * League of Ireland Premier Division: 2012<ref name="Buchanan Soccerway"/>

;Livingston *Scottish League One: 2016–17<ref>{{cite web |title=Livingston 2–1 Alloa Athletic |url=http://livingstonfc.co.uk/livingston-2-1-alloa-athletic/ |publisher=Livingston F.C. |date=8 April 2017 |access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref>

===Individual=== *Scottish Football League Young Player of the Month: December 2006<ref>{{cite news|title=Buchanan named top young player|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cowdenbeath/6281251.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 January 2007|access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref> *PFA Scotland Scottish Second Division Team of the Year: 2006–07<ref>{{cite web|title=Division Two team of year|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_div_1/6586373.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=23 April 2007|access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> *Scottish League One Player of the Month: October 2016<ref>{{cite web|title=SPFL Awards|url=http://spfl.co.uk/awards/|website=spfl.co.uk|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League|access-date=19 November 2016|archive-date=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026090653/http://spfl.co.uk/awards/|url-status=dead}}</ref> *PFA Scotland Scottish League One Team of the Year: 2016–17<ref>{{cite web|title=PFA SCOTLAND TEAMS OF THE YEAR|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/pfa-scotland-teams-of-the-year-83|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League|date=5 May 2017|access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref> *PFA Scotland Scottish League One Player of the Year: 2016–17<ref>{{cite web|title=PFA SCOTLAND AWARD WINNERS|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/pfa-scotland-award-winners-62|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League|date=8 May 2017|access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Soccerbase}}

{{2006–07 PFA Scotland Second Division Team of the Year}} {{2016–17 PFA Scotland Scottish League One Team of the Year}} {{Cowdenbeath F.C. Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchanan, Liam}} Category:Living people Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Footballers from Edinburgh Category:1985 births Category:Cowdenbeath F.C. players Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C. players Category:Partick Thistle F.C. players Category:Scottish Football League players Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Heart of Midlothian F.C. players Category:East Fife F.C. players Category:Berwick Rangers F.C. players Category:Scottish Premier League players Category:Lowland Football League players Category:Sligo Rovers F.C. players Category:League of Ireland players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:Alloa Athletic F.C. players Category:Ayr United F.C. players Category:Livingston F.C. players Category:Airdrieonians F.C. players Category:Raith Rovers F.C. players Category:Bonnyrigg Rose F.C. players Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen