He began his career with Leicester City. McCourt spent part of the 2013–14 season on loan at Torquay United and then September 2015 on loan at Port Vale, before being sold to Barnsley in January 2016. An unused substitute in the club's victorious 2016 League One play-off final, he was released by Barnsley in June 2016 and subsequently joined Northampton Town. Northampton released him in July 2017 by mutual agreement and subsequently joined Chesterfield. He signed with Swindon Town in July 2018 and then moved on to Macclesfield Town in June 2019. Macclesfield Town were liquidated at the end of the 2019–20 season. He rejoined Chesterfield in December 2020 and signed with Warrington Rylands 1906 in June 2022. He joined Buxton in January 2023 and moved to Ashton United the following year. He had spells on loan at Warrington Town and Bradford (Park Avenue).
Career
Leicester City
McCourt began his career with Leicester City and signed a professional contract with the "Foxes" in May 2013.[4] On 11 October 2013, he joined League Two side Torquay United on loan for a month.[5] He made his professional debut the next day in a 3–2 to Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park.[6] On 9 December, McCourt's loan was extended by Torquay United until 4 January 2014.[7] He returned to the King Power Stadium after making 12 appearances in all competitions for Alan Knill's "Gulls". The player signed a new one-year contract with Leicester City in June 2014.[8]
McCourt was sold to League One club Barnsley for an undisclosed fee in January 2016; he signed a contract running until the end of the 2015–16 season.[12] He played two games for Barnsley, both as substitute appearances from the bench, and was an unused substitute for the play-off final victory over Millwall at Wembley Stadium on 29 May.[13] The club then released him upon the expiry of his contract in June.[14]
Northampton Town
In June 2016, McCourt signed a two-year contract with League One club Northampton Town, in a move that reunited him with his former Port Vale boss Rob Page.[15] However, he picked up a shoulder injury in pre-season training, which required surgery and an enforced two-month absence.[16] He scored his first senior goal in a 1–1 draw with Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park on 8 October.[17] He received his first sending off seven days later after picking up two yellow cards in a 3–1 defeat to Millwall at Sixfields Stadium.[18] He was transfer-listed by new manager Justin Edinburgh in May 2017 after falling out of the first-team in the second half of the 2016–17 season.[19][20]
On 17 July 2018, McCourt joined League Two side Swindon Town on a one-year contract.[23] He was utilised as a holding midfielder by manager Phil Brown, before being moved further forward after Brown was replaced by Richie Wellens in November.[24] He was released by Swindon at the end of the 2018–19 season.[25]
Macclesfield Town
On 5 June 2019, McCourt joined League Two side Macclesfield Town on a one-year contract, becoming Sol Campbell's first summer signing as manager.[26] He featured 21 times for the "Silkmen" during the 2019–20 season and was offered a new contract by new manager Mark Kennedy in the summer.[27] Macclesfield were relegated at the end of the season after having a total of 17 points deducted and were liquidated in September 2020.[28][29]
Return to Chesterfield
On 1 December 2020, McCourt rejoined Chesterfield, now in the National League, on a short-term contract.[30] He said that he had unfinished business at the club after being at the Proact Stadium when the club lost its Football League status.[31] He quickly impressed manager James Rowe and signed a new 18-month contract later in the month.[32] Chesterfield qualified for the play-offs at the end of the 2020–21 season, though were beaten by Notts County at the quarter-final stage.[33] Rowe was sacked in February 2022 and McCourt was returned to the first-team by caretaker managerDaniel Webb following a period of three months without an appearance.[34] However, he picked up an ankle injury after being on the wrong end of a "horrific" tackle later that month.[35] He recovered and was named on the substitute's bench by manager Paul Cook for the play-off semi-final defeat at Solihull Moors.[36]
In January 2023, McCourt joined National League North club Buxton.[39] He made nineteen appearances in the second half of the 2022–23 season, scoring two goals.[40] He scored five goals in 29 games throughout the 2023–24 campaign.[40]
Ashton United
Having departed Buxton at the end of the 2023–24 season, McCourt joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Ashton United.
In November 2024, he joined National League North side Warrington Town on a three-month loan deal.[41] In January 2025, he joined Bradford (Park Avenue) on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season in the role of player-coach.[42]
Style of play
McCourt is an athletic central midfielder with good passing skills.[43] He has been described as a "larger than life character in the dressing room".[44]
