Paddy McClafferty
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick John McClafferty | ||
| Date of birth | 19 September 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Largy, Killybegs, Republic of Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Central defender, midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Blyth Spartans | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2013 | Taraguilla | ||
| 2014–2015 | Naranjitos 82 | ||
| St Catherine's | |||
| 2016–2021 | San Roque | ||
| 2021–2022 | Cádiz | ||
| 2022–2023 | Algeciras | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Northumbria University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2021 | San Roque | 5 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Newcastle Benfield | 5 | (0) |
| 2025– | Blyth Spartans | 3 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Gibraltar U16 | 1 | (0) |
| 2023– | Gibraltar U21 | 4 | (0) |
| 2025– | Gibraltar | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 March 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2025 | |||
Patrick John "Paddy" McClafferty (born 19 September 2004) is a association footballer who plays for Blyth Spartans as a defender. Born in Ireland, he represents the Gibraltar national football team at international level.
Club career
[edit]Born in the Irish town of Killybegs, before moving to Gibraltar with his family as a child.[1] McClafferty primarily spent his youth career playing for numerous youth teams across the border in Spain, notably at CD San Roque where he made his senior debut at 15 years old.[2] During his teen years, he spent a short period of time with hometown side St Catherine's while staying with family in Killybegs. Upon moving to the UK to study at Northumbria University, he joined Northern League Division One side Newcastle Benfield, although his spell was cut short by injury. In March 2025, having spent the majority of the season with his university side in the BUCS Football League, he joined Blyth Spartans in the Northern Premier League,[3] making his debut on 8 March against Workington.
International career
[edit]Born in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland and raised in Gibraltar, McClafferty is eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar at international level. Having previously represented Gibraltar at under-16 level, he made his debut for the under-21s on 6 September 2023 against Georgia.[4] However, his campaign was cut short by injury while at Newcastle Benfield. He earned his first senior call-up in March 2025, appearing in Scott Wiseman's initial 31 man squad for their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.[5] He made his debut as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Montenegro on 22 March 2025.[6]
Career statistics
[edit]International
[edit]- As of 25 March 2025
| Gibraltar | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 |
References
[edit]- ^ Craig, Frank. Former St Catherine’s star Patrick McClafferty earns senior Gibraltar call-up Donegal Live. 8 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ McClafferty: “I’m very grateful for the opportunities and chances given to me by the club” Football Gibraltar. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2025. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
- ^ Rayson, Matty. Paddy McClafferty joins Spartans Blyth Spartans AFC. 8 March 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ Match Report: Georgia vs Gibraltar | UEFA Under-21 2025 UEFA.com. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ Initial MNT Squad Announced for March's FWC26 European Qualifiers Gibraltar FA. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ Match Report: Montenegro vs Gibraltar | European Qualifiers 2026 UEFA.com. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
External links
[edit]- Paddy McClafferty – UEFA competition record (archive)
- 2004 births
- Living people
- Association footballers from County Donegal
- Gibraltarian men's footballers
- Gibraltar men's international footballers
- Gibraltar men's under-21 international footballers
- Gibraltar men's youth international footballers
- Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
- Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom
- Gibraltarian people of Irish descent
- Men's association football defenders
- St Catherine's F.C. players
- CD San Roque footballers
- Blyth Spartans A.F.C. players
- Gibraltarian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Irish expatriate sportspeople in England
- Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
- Gibraltarian expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in England
- 21st-century British sportsmen
- 21st-century Irish sportsmen