Richard Gillies (born 24 August 1976) is a Scottish former professional footballer. He had two five-year spells with St Mirren.
Career Raised in Neilston, Gillies played with Barrhead Boys Club up until the age of 15 when he signed for St Mirren. In December 1992, aged 16, he became the club's youngest debutant and goalscorer.Youngest and Oldest, StMirren.infoSt Mirren Hall of Fame: Ricky Gillies, 13 April 2020 An attacking midfielder, he was regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in the country when he came into the first team at St Mirren, then playing in Scotland's second tier. He was selected for the Scotland under-21 team and attracted interest from Liverpool and Newcastle United along with other clubs in both Scotland and England before a transfer to Aberdeen in 1997 for £350,000.Drinkell hopes to toast more success, The Independent, 10 September 1997
His move to the Dons was not a success, with the club in decline after a period as one of the strongest teams in Scottish football, while the manager who signed him (Roy Aitken) was dismissed within weeks of Gillies joining, and he suffered from several injuries and was abused in the street by frustrated supporters as his career stalled.Right player, wrong team... and a dream that turned sour | St Mirren: Alan Campbell on the unfulfilled career of a young talent whose decision to move to Aberdeen proved disastrous, The Herald, 27 March 2005
In 2000 he returned to St Mirren, initially on loan, soon followed by a permanent move after he helped the club win the First Division to achieve promotion to the Scottish Premier League, although they were relegated in 2001. He was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame when it was established in 2004,Hall of Fame , StMirren.info and awarded a testimonial against Celtic in 2005.2005-03-31 St Mirren 1-0 Celtic, Ricky Gillies Testimonial, via The Celtic Wiki He left for third-tier Partick Thistle later that year, spending one season with the Jags.Thistle sign midfielder Gillies, BBC Sport, 2 June 2005
He spent a year as player-coach in New Zealand with Jonathan Gould at Hawke's Bay United before returning to Scotland for a short spell at Stranraer,Gillies settles on Stranraer move, BBC Sport, 14 July 2007 retiring from playing in 2008.
Later and personal life Gillies later worked as a football agent,Agents were keen to sign up rising Morton star, Greenock Telegraph, 12 February 2015 as a trainer for ProAcademy coachingMeet the team, ProAcademy Group and as Director of Operations for the ProLegal Group in conjunction with PFA Scotland.
His nephew Liam Lindsay is also a footballer,Celtic target Liam Lindsay 'agrees fee' with English Championship side, Football Scotland, 16 June 2019 as was his elder brother Kenny, though without reaching the top division.I'm scared stiff Gazza will make me look a plonker; Says Clyde kid Kenny Gillies., Sunday Mail, 11 February 1996, via The Free LibraryOther Gillies on the move, The Herald, 9 August 1997Flashback | No brotherly love in this cup clash, Paisley Daily Express, 15 April 2019, via PressReader His son Max was an emerging player with Queen's Park as of 2021.Max Gillies, Queen's Park F.C. Retrieved 5 June 2021
References
External links
Ricky Gillies: A Tribute at St Mirren Mad Profile at AFC Heritage Trust Profile at Sporting Heroes