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Personal

Fullname: Paul McGowan
Born: 8 Oct 1987
Birthplace: Bellshill
Height: 5'06
Signed: 1 Jul 2005
Left: 5 Jun 2011 (permanent)
Position: Striker
Debut: Celtic 5-0 Inv Caley, League, Sep 2007
Interntionals: Scotland
International Caps none
Squad No.: 55

Biog

Paul McGowan was recruited to the Celtic Pro Youth Academy at the age of 12. He joined the club full time as a 16 year old and made a number of U19 games in his first season at the club. A stocky, pacy forward he continued to gain exposure in the U19's through 05/06.

At the start of 06/07 he went on loan to Morton initially for a 4 month period which was extended to the whole of the season. He scored a total of 16 goals in 44 competitive matches there and was the club's top scorer receiving a League winners medal as Morton won the promotion from the Second Division. Morton failed to land the player in the summer transfer window as the club believed him to be a player for the future at Celtic. Later he had a short loan spell at Hamilton, scoring 3 goals in 14 games.

He made his Celtic debut in the 5-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in September 2007.

McGowan made his Champions League debut against Villareal CF on 10 December 2008, as a 75th minute substitute for Aiden McGeady. Celtic won the match 2-0 but finished bottom of their group.

On 17 December 2009, just over a year to the day of his European debut, McGowan made his Europa League debut in a 3-3 draw away to Rapid Vienna. In all honesty the team that played that day were a reserve side. He made an impact in the 91st minute by scoring his first competitive goal for the Hoops to complete a sensational comeback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3. He was highly lauded for his efforts and performance on that day esp in the conditions (-8C temperature!!!).

However, displacing the more expensive players (e.g Samaras, Fortune, Skippy) was too much for the youth player, and time was running out for him. Best hope was to move to midfield if at all.

It wasn't to be for young Paul McGowan, and the squad under Lennon was over-laden with midfielders so any opportunities to shift others around on his return to make a role for him in the first team at Celtic after loan spells away were highly unlikely.

He left permanently for St Mirren after a loan spell there, and we hope him all the best.

Playing Career

CLUB	FROM	TO	FEE	LEAGUE		Scottish/FA CUP		LGE CUP		OTHER
				APPS	GLS	APPS	GLS	APPS	GLS	APPS	GLS
St Mirren	01-Aug-10		Free	33 (0)	1	5 (0)	4	1 (0)	1	0 (0)	0
Hamilton	07-Jan-09	31-May-09	Loan	11 (3)	1	2 (0)	0	0 (0)	0	0 (0)	0
Morton	01-Aug-06	29-Apr-07	Loan	35 (1)	11	3 (0)	1	1 (0)	1	4 (0)	1
Celtic	01-Jul-05	5 Jun 11	Youth	2 (4)	0	0 (0)	0	0 (0)	0	1 (1)	1

Honours with Celtic

none

KDS Honours
MOTM Winners 2009-10
20-Mar-10	Celtic 3-0 St Johnstone	SPL

Pictures

• Player Pics

St Mirren sign up Celtic forward

Paul McGowan has agreed a permanent move to Greenhill Road after a successful loan spell.

STV.net

06 June 2011 15:24 GMT

St Mirren sign up Celtic forward

Paul McGowan has signed a deal that will keep him at St Mirren until 2013. Pic:

St Mirren have announced the signing of Paul McGowan from Celtic on a permanent basis.

The forward spent last season on loan at the Buddies and has now agreed a full transfer, signing a two-year contract.

McGowan is a product of the Celtic youth system and had made appearances in domestic football and in Europe during his time at the Parkhead club. He moved to St Mirren on loan last summer and made 35 appearances, scoring six goals, as Danny Lennon’s side fought a successful campaign against relegation.

Lennon has acted quickly to add another forward to his squad, with McGowan’s signing coming alongside the capture of Nigel Hasselbaink on a free transfer.

Hasselbaink, who served his apprenticeship at PSV Eindhoven, was at Hamilton Accies last season, scoring four goals in 28 appearances.

The signings are St Mirren’s second and third of the close season, with former Rangers and Dundee United striker Steven Thompson having agreed a move to the club after leaving English Championship side Burnley.