Thomas Stewart (Irish footballer)

Thomas Stewart

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Stewart
Date of birth	(1986-11-12) 12 November 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Craigavon, Northern Ireland
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Ytterhogdals IK (manager)
Youth career
2001–2003	Portadown
2003–2006	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2008	Linfield	46	(16)
2008–2009	Derry City	43	(14)
2010	Shamrock Rovers	32	(10)
2011–2012	Partick Thistle	17	(6)
2012–2013	Shamrock Rovers	42	(11)
2014–2016	Sacramento Republic	47	(22)
2016	Ottawa Fury	17	(4)
2017	Dundalk	23	(6)
2018–2019	Larne	21	(11)
Total		288	(100)
International career
2006–2008	Northern Ireland U21	19	(4)
2007–2008	Northern Ireland U23	2	(0)
2007	Irish Football League	1	(0)
Managerial career
2023–	Ytterhogdals IK
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Thomas Stewart, (born 12 November 1986) is a Northern Irish football coach and former player. He was manager of Swedish league side Ytterhogdals IK until November 2024.[1]

Playing career

Derry City

Stewart signed for Stephen Kenny's Derry City in June 2008 on a two-and-a-half-year full-time contract. He made his debut in Sligo on 5 July.[2] Stewart scored on his home debut the following week.[3] He was the second opposition player to score at Tallaght Stadium in March 2009.[4] He had a productive couple of seasons at the Brandywell winning the FAI League Cup and playing and scoring in the UEFA Europa League.[5]

Shamrock Rovers

Despite agreeing terms with Carolina Railhawks in March 2010[6] the player returned home to sign for Shamrock Rovers. He made his debut against University College Dublin A.F.C. on 2 April.[7] He scored Rovers' winner in the Europa League tie against Bnei Yehuda in July 2010 which set up the glamour tie against Italian giants Juventus.[8] Stewart proved to be a big game player and in the last league game of the 2010 League of Ireland season he scored on the night Rovers secured their 16th domestic crown.[9]

Return to Rovers

In July 2012 Stewart signed back for The Hoops scoring 11 times the following 2013 season.[10]

Sacramento Republic

Stewart made the move to North America in 2014, signing with United Soccer League (3rd div.) club Sacramento Republic. In the 2014 season, he made 28 appearances and 17 starts in all competitions, scoring 13 goals and helping Sacramento to its first championship in its first-ever season.[11]

In 2015 Stewart scored 8 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions, including 3 goals in 17 league appearances. That year he became the first Northern Irish player to score a hat-trick in the U.S. Open Cup, scoring three against Sonoma County Sol.[11]

In 2016 Stewart scored 1 goal in 6 league starts for Sacramento with 2 assists.[12]

Ottawa Fury

Stewart was transferred to the NASL's Ottawa Fury on 12 July 2016.[13]

Dundalk

Stewart signed for Dundalk on 17 February 2017.[14]

Coaching career

Following the conclusion of his playing career, Stewart took up a managerial role with Swedish fourth division side Ytterhogdals IK.[15]

Honours

Linfield

• Irish Premier League (2): 2006–07, 2007–08
• Irish Cup (2): 2006–07, 2007–08

Derry City

• League of Ireland Cup (1): 2008

Shamrock Rovers

• League of Ireland Premier Division (1): 2010
• Setanta Sports Cup (1): 2013

Personal life

Stewart is a Christian.[16]

References

1. Lewis Bennett, 'Former Larne and Linfield star calls time on adventure bossing Swedish fourth-tier side'. Belfast Telegraph, 28 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024
2. "Elevenaside – Soccer Forum". elevenaside.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
3. [1]^[dead link‍]
4. "Elevenaside – Soccer Forum". elevenaside.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
5. "Derry City v CSKA Sofia – The Brandywell – Extratime.ie – League of Ireland Fixtures". extratime.ie. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
6. "BBC Sport – Football – Ex-NI Under-21 striker Thomas Stewart signs for US club". BBC News. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
7. "Shamrock Rovers 0 UCD 0". airtricityleague.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
8. "Bnei Yehuda 0-1 Shamrock Rovers (Agg 1-2) – RTÉ Sport". rte.ie. Archived from the original on 24 July 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
9. "Bray Wanderers 2:2 Rovers". shamrockrovers.ie. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
10. "Tommy Stewart signs". shamrockrovers.ie. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
11. "Sacramento profile". Sacramento Republic FC. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
12. "Sacramento Republic USL 2016 stats". USL. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
13. "Fury FC add another weapon to their attack". Ottawa Fury FC. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
14. "Dundalk sign Thomas Stewart". NewsTalk. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
15. "Former Irish League star Thomas Stewart out to emulate Graham Potter as boss of Swedish side Ytterhogdals IK". 19 February 2023 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
16. "Footballers' Lives with Thomas Stewart: I believed I was watching my friend die and I've been a Christian ever since". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 23 May 2021.