Stuart Duff

{{short description|Scottish footballer}} {{for|the New Zealand cricketer|Stu Duff}} {{Use British English|date=November 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Stuart Duff | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|1|23|df=y}} | birth_place = Aberdeen, Scotland | height = | position = Midfielder, defender | youthyears1 = 1998–1999 | youthclubs1 = Dundee United | years1 = 1999–2008 | caps1 = 152 | goals1 = 3 | clubs1 = Dundee United | years2 = 2008–2010 | caps2 = 47 | goals2 = 1 | clubs2 = Aberdeen | years3 = 2009 | caps3 = 1 | goals3 = 0 | clubs3 = → Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan) | years4 = 2010–2011 | caps4 = 34 | goals4 = 1 | clubs4 = Inverness Caledonian Thistle | years5 = 2011 | caps5 = 3 | goals5 = 0 | clubs5 = Ayr United (trialist) | years6 = 2011–2012 | caps6 = 6 | goals6 = 0 | clubs6 = Qormi | years7 = 2012–2013 | caps7 = 50 | goals7 = 1 | clubs7 = Kairat | years8 = 2014–2017 | caps8 = | goals8 = | clubs8 = Cove Rangers | years9= 2017–2019 | caps9 = | goals9 = | clubs9 = Inverurie Loco Works | nationalyears1 = 2002–2003 | nationalteam1 = Scotland U21 | nationalcaps1 = 10 | nationalgoals1 = 0 }}

'''Stuart Duff''' (born 23 January 1982) is a Scottish retired professional footballer who last played for Inverurie Loco Works in the Highland Football League. He was primarily a central midfielder although his versatility saw him play in most defensive and midfield positions.<ref name="aberdeen">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/7182703.stm| title=Duff set to sign on at Pittodrie|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=17 January 2008}}</ref>

Duff began his career with Dundee United, going on to make 171 first team appearances in nine years at the club. He later played for Aberdeen and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, before leaving Scotland for spells with Qormi in Malta and Kairat in Kazakhstan. He joined Cove Rangers in 2014, then signed for Inverurie Loco Works in 2017.

He is a former Scotland under-21 internationalist, having made ten appearances between 2002 and 2003.

==Career==

===Dundee United=== Having been developed as a player through Dundee United's youth scheme, he turned professional with the club in July 1999. He was given his debut by then-manager Alex Smith in December 2001, when he was used as a right wing back in a match at Kilmarnock, and went on to make nine appearances that season, collecting the April 'Young Player of the Month' award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Awards/0,,10002,00.html |title=SPL monthly awards|publisher=Scotprem.com|accessdate=2008-08-24 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080205182504/http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Awards/0,,10002,00.html |archive-date = 5 February 2008}}</ref> In 2002–03, Duff had his best run of league games, playing 34 times. When Ian McCall was appointed at the start of the 2003–04 season, Duff found himself more often as a substitute, playing in just 18 league games. During that season, Duff was part of the Scotland under-21 side that narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, with Scotland losing to Croatia in the play-off.<ref name="u21">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/scotland/3279791.stm|title=Young Scots make brave exit|date=18 November 2003|publisher=BBC Sport website}}</ref> The following season, Duff played 25 league games, earning him a new three-year contract in March 2005.<ref name="contract">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/4249705.stm|title=Duff agrees new United contract|date=30 March 2005|publisher=BBC Sport website}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, Duff was part of the United side that lost narrowly to Celtic in the Scottish Cup final, with his 83rd-minute substitute appearance earning him a runners-up medal.<ref name="final">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/4586123.stm|title=Celtic 1–0 Dundee United|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=28 May 2005}}</ref>

In 2005–06, with Gordon Chisholm the new manager, Duff played more first team games, with 29 league appearances. During February 2006, Duff alleged he was spat on by Hearts midfielder Rudi Skacel,<ref name="spit1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/4694108.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=10 February 2006|title=Skacel spit claim is not pursued}}</ref> a claim repeated two months later by Celtic captain Neil Lennon.<ref name="spit2">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4962096.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=1 May 2006|title=Lennon and Skacel row over spit}}</ref> No action was taken against Skacel in either incident. Duff scored an important goal in the 1–0 win over Rangers at Ibrox during the season, which helped United avoid relegation. Duff started the 2006–07 season as an attacking midfielder under Craig Brewster and scored once, although was used in a variety of defensive roles under Craig Levein.

===Aberdeen=== In January 2008, Levein told Duff he was free to leave Tannadice and find himself a new club. He was released on 17 January,<ref name="out">{{cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/|title=Stuart Duff released|publisher=Dundee United FC|date=17 January 2008}}</ref> after playing 170 games for the club, scoring four times. Duff began training with fellow SPL side Aberdeen and a short-term move to his home town club was confirmed the following day,<ref name="aberdeen" /> seeing him become the third player to move from Tannadice to Pittodrie in eighteen months, following Lee Miller<ref name="miller">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/5295368.stm| title=Dons take Miller from Dundee Utd|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=31 August 2006}}</ref> and Lee Mair.<ref name="mair">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/6447403.stm| title=Mair completes Pittodrie switch|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=1 May 2007}}</ref> Within six weeks of arriving, however, Duff was one of several players manager Jimmy Calderwood threatened to release at the end of the season, due to the club's poor performances.<ref name="leaving">{{cite news|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/spl/Calderwood-plans-39major--rebuilding39.3813899.jp|work=The Scotsman|date=26 February 2008|author=Wright, Angus|title=Calderwood plans 'major rebuilding'}}</ref> In May 2008, Duff instead signed a two-year contract extension with Aberdeen.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/7423908.stm|title=Duff signs new deal at Pittodrie|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=28 May 2008 | date=28 May 2008}}</ref>

===Inverness Caledonian Thistle===

Duff was loaned to Inverness Caledonian Thistle for a month in December 2009.<ref name="Inverness Caledonian Thistle">{{cite news|url=http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/articles/stuart-duff-goes-out-20091211_2212158_1902250|publisher=AFC Official Site|date=11 December 2009|title=Stuart Duff goes out|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108010524/http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/articles/stuart-duff-goes-out-20091211_2212158_1902250|archive-date=8 January 2010}}</ref><ref name = "express"/>

After his release by Aberdeen, Duff had a trial spell with St Johnstone and turned down an approach from St Mirren before signing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle.<ref name = "express"/> Duff agreed a deal that was to run until the end of the 2010–11 season. Throughout the 2010/11 season he was a regular starter for Caley, and featured in most of their surprising results. These included a 1–1 draw against Rangers at Ibrox and a 2–2 draw with Celtic at Parkhead.<ref name = "express">{{cite news |url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/198196/Duff-returns-for-a-second-stint-at-Caley |title=Duff returns for a second stint at Caley |work=Daily Express |date=8 September 2010 |accessdate=8 September 2010 |last=Esson |first=Blair}}</ref> His contract expired with ICT at the end of the 2010/11 season, and he stated his desire to stay with Inverness and said he would accept their contract offer after returning from holiday. In the summer of 2011, a contract was offered, but no deal was agreed and the contract offer was eventually withdrawn.

===Playing Abroad===

Duff played three games for Ayr United as a trialist in September 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/league-cup/fixtures/3448750/|title=Ayr United vs Heart of Midlothian – 21st September 2011: Match Preview|publisher=Scottish Football League|access-date=16 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026155721/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/league-cup/fixtures/3448750|archive-date=26 October 2011}}</ref>

In November 2011, Duff agreed to join Qormi, in the Maltese Premier League, for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111110/football/Qormi-complete-Duff-deal.393122|title=Qormi complete Duff deal|publisher=Times of Malta|date=10 November 2011|accessdate=17 November 2011}}</ref>

===Kairat=== In February 2012, Duff agreed to join Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Kairat<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/300915/Stuart-Duff-is-first-Scot-to-try-Kazakhstan-Stuart-Duff-is-first-Scot-to-try-Kazakhstan|title=STUART DUFF IS FIRST SCOT TO TRY KAZAKHSTAN|work=Daily Express|location=London|date=9 February 2012|accessdate=8 March 2012}}</ref> on a lucrative one-year deal and was given the number 21 shirt. Duff scored his first goal for Kairat in their 2–0 victory over FC Sunkar on 8 April 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/04/08/kazakhstan/premier-league/karasay-sarbazdary/fc-kairat-almaty/1261504/|title=Sunkar vs. Kairat 0 – 2|publisher=soccerway|date=8 April 2012|accessdate=22 May 2012}}</ref> Kairat finished the season in 10th place.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/kazakhstan/premier-league/2012/regular-season/|title = Summary – Premier League – Kazakhstan – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway}}</ref> Duff had his contract extended for another year, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2013 season.<ref>{{cite web|last=DILLON|first=ROBERT|title=The Unusual Travels of Stuart Duff|date=28 December 2012|url=https://morethanarshavin.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/the-unusual-travels-of-stuart-duff/|publisher=More Than Arshavin|accessdate=28 December 2012}}</ref> Duff left Kairat at the end of the 2013 season, as Kazakhstan Premier League rules state that foreign players over the age of 30 must be playing for their national team in order to play in their league.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ru:СТЮАРТ ДАФФ: «БУДУ СКУЧАТЬ ПО КАЗАХСТАНУ»|url=http://www.fckairat.kz/club/news/1475|website=fckairat.kz/|accessdate=28 January 2014|language=ru}}</ref>

===Highland League=== On 14 October 2014, Duff signed a short-term deal with Highland Football League side Cove Rangers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.coverangersfc.com/news/duff-signs-short-term-deal/|title=Duff signs short term deal|publisher=coverangersfc|date=14 October 2014|accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref> In January 2015, Duff signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with the club, despite interest from Scottish League Two side Montrose.<ref>{{cite web|title=Former Don Stuart Duff commits to Cove Rangers|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/454421/former-don-duff-commits-to-cove/|website=pressandjournal.co.uk/|publisher=Press and Journal|accessdate=2 November 2015|date=12 January 2015}}</ref> In January 2017, he was transferred to another Highland League club, Inverurie Loco Works.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Edwards|first1=Dave|title=Done Deal: Locos sign Duff from Cove Rangers|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/1137676/locos-sign-duff-cove-rangers/|accessdate=11 January 2017|work=The Press and Journal|date=11 January 2017|location=Aberdeen}}</ref>

==After Football== After returning from a two-year spell in Kazakhstan with FC Kairat, Duff began working in the Oil & Gas sector in his native Aberdeen for Halliburton.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stuart Duff|url=https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/stuart-duff/71/6bb/129|website=uk.linkedin.com/|publisher=LinkedIn|accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> Duff also began scouting youngsters in Scotland for Manchester City youth in early 2016. In September 2021 he rejoined with Aberdeen again in the position of Youth Phase Manager.

==Career statistics==

===Club=== {{updated|match played 2 November 2013}}<ref>{{cite web|title=S.Duff|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/stuart-duff/1014/|website=soccerway.com|publisher=Soccerway|accessdate=8 November 2016}}</ref> {| 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"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="10" valign="center"|Dundee United |1999–00 |rowspan="9" valign="center"|Scottish Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||0||0 |- |2000–01 |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||0||0 |- |2001–02<ref>{{Soccerbase season|29345|2001|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |9||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||9||0 |- |2002–03<ref>{{Soccerbase season|29345|2002|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |34||0||0||0||4||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||38||0 |- |2003–04<ref>{{Soccerbase season|29345|2003|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |18||0||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||20||0 |- |2004–05<ref>{{Soccerbase season|29345|2004|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |25||2||4||1||3||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||32||3 |- |2005–06<ref>{{Soccerbase season|29345|2005|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |29||0||1||0||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||32||0 |- |2006–07<ref>{{Soccerbase season|29345|2006|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |28||1||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||30||1 |- |2007–08<ref name="2007/08 Stats">{{Soccerbase season|29345|2007|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |9||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||20||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !152!!3!!8!!1!!9!!0!!1!!0!!-!!-!!170!!4 |- |rowspan="4" valign="center"|Aberdeen |2007–08<ref name="2007/08 Stats"/> |rowspan="3" valign="center"|Scottish Premier League |10||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||11||0 |- |2008–09<ref>{{Soccerbase season|29345|2008|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |20||1||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||22||1 |- |2009–10<ref>{{Soccerbase season|29345|2009|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |17||0||0||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|-||22||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !47!!1!!3!!0!!0!!0!!2!!0!!-!!-!!52!!1 |- |valign="center"|Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan) |2009–10 |Scottish First Division |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0 |- |valign="center"|Inverness Caledonian Thistle |2010–11<ref>{{Soccerbase season|29345|2010|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |Scottish Premier League |34||1||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||37||1 |- |valign="center"|Ayr United (trialist) |2011–12<ref>{{Soccerbase season|29345|2011|name=Stuart Duff|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |Scottish First Division |3||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||0 |- |valign="center"|Qormi |2011–12 |Maltese Premier League |6||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||6||0 |- |rowspan="3" valign="center"|Kairat |2012 |rowspan="2" valign="center"|Kazakhstan Premier League |24||1||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||26||1 |- |2013 |26||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||27||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !50!!1!!3!!0!!-!!-!!-!!-!!-!!-!!53!!1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !293!!6!!17!!1!!9!!0!!3!!0!!-!!-!!322!!7 |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Soccerbase}} * {{Soccerway|stuart-duff/1014}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Duff, Stuart}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Aberdeen Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Dundee United F.C. players Category:Aberdeen F.C. players Category:Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. players Category:Ayr United F.C. players Category:Qormi F.C. players Category:FC Kairat players Category:Cove Rangers F.C. players Category:Scottish Premier League players Category:Scottish Football League players Category:Highland Football League players Category:Maltese Premier League players Category:Kazakhstan Premier League players Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers Category:Scottish expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malta Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Kazakhstan Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Inverurie Loco Works F.C. players Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen