Born in Glasgow, Panther started his career at Scottish Premier League (SPL) side St Johnstone after joining their youth system at the age of 14, having spent a year with Rangers youth.[3] During the 2001–02 season he suffered a long, career-threatening knee injury that limited him to only five first team appearances. He signed a new one-year deal with St Johnstone in 2002.[4] He was released the following season.
Partick Thistle
He then joined SPL side Partick Thistle in June 2003,[5] and signed a new contract in May 2004 that would last until January 2005,[6] eventually leaving the club in the summer of that year. He was sent out on loan to Brechin City of the Scottish Second Division in February 2005.[7] During his spell at Brechin he scored once against Arbroath.[8]
York City
He signed for Conference National team York City in August 2005 after a trial.[9] He signed a new contract with York at the end of the 2005–06 season, telling the club website "I struggled a bit with injury last season, but feel very fit and I'm ready for the season to begin".[10] He was made the captain of York for the 2006–07 season and scored his first goal for the club on 18 November 2006
against Weymouth.[11]
Panther said he was enjoying "a new lease of life" after being asked to play in a more advanced role for York, saying "I'm playing in a slightly different position to what I've been used to," he explained. "The manager has put me in a more attacking position and in a way it's given me a new lease of life."[12] After the end of the season, he said he wanted to sign a new deal with York before leaving for his summer break.[13] Panther was offered a new contract by York at the end of the season on 16 May 2007.[14] Rumours were circulating linking him to a move to newly promoted Scottish Premier League outfit Gretna but he rejected this speculation, saying: I have not heard anything about that."[15] He signed a new one-year contract with York on 16 June.[16] He turned down a new contract in January 2008 and was released by the club after the 2007–08 season.[17]
Exeter City
He signed for Exeter City on a three-year contract in May, following the club's promotion back to the Football League.[18][19] After being an unused substitutes for the first two games of the season,[20][21] he made his debut after coming off the bench in 75th minute of a 1–0 defeat to Shrewsbury Town.[22] He returned to the Conference Premier by joining Rushden & Diamonds on a month's loan in September to gain more first team experience.[23] He was sent off in his debut against Burton Albion a day after joining, which ended as a 2–1 victory.[24] His final appearance for Rushden, a 3–1 defeat to Torquay United, also saw Panther dismissed, meaning he ended the loan spell with three appearances.[25][26] After returning to Exeter he came on as a substitute and scored the equaliser against Morecambe in the 85th minute with a curling shot from outside the penalty area, securing a 1–1 draw.[27] Towards the start of Exeter's League One campaign he handed in a transfer request that managerPaul Tisdale accepted.[28] Panther joined League Two team Morecambe on a season-long loan for the 2009–10 season on 17 August 2009.[29] On his return to Exeter, the club announced that he would be released when his contract expired on 30 June 2010.[30]
Aldershot Town
Panther signed a one-year contract with Aldershot Town on 8 July.[31] He made his debut for Aldershot on 7 August in a League Two fixture at Accrington Stanley.[32] Conference Premier side Crawley Town made an offer for him in December.[33] He signed for Conference Premier side Grimsby Town on loan until January 2012 on 11 November 2011.[34] The loan ended prematurely after he was sent off in a 3–1 victory at home to Lincoln City on New Year's Day 2012,[35] finishing his period at Grimsby with 12 appearances.[36] Panther was released from his Aldershot contract by mutual consent on 29 March 2012.[37]
Kidderminster Harriers
He signed with Conference Premier side Kidderminster Harriers on 31 August 2012.[38] Having made two appearances his contract was mutually terminated on 6 December 2012 before retiring from football to concentrate on a business venture.[39][2]
International career
Panther represented Scotland at under-15 level in 1999 in a tournament in France, playing in games against France, the United States, Belgium and the Netherlands.[3] Later in the year he was part of the squad that played England in the 1999 Victory Shield.[40] In March 2000 he was in the squad to play Northern Ireland.[41] Panther linked up with the under-19 squad in August 2002.[42]
