Derek Stillie

Derek Daniel Stillie (born 3 December 1973) is a Scottish retired footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for a number of clubs in Scotland and England. After retiring from football, Stillie pursued a career in English law, and contested the 2019 UK general election as the Conservative candidate for the Central Ayrshire constituency.

Derek Stillie
Personal information
Full name Derek Daniel Stillie[1]
Date of birth (1973-12-03) 3 December 1973
Place of birth Irvine, Scotland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1991–1995 Aberdeen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1999 Aberdeen 22 (0)
1999–2002 Wigan Athletic 44 (0)
2002–2005 Dunfermline Athletic 96 (0)
2005–2007 Dundee United 67 (0)
2007–2008 Gillingham 14 (0)
Total 233 (0)
National team‡
1993–1995 Scotland under-21 14 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:26, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:26, 7 May 2012 (UTC)

Football career

Stillie started his career as a youth player at Aberdeen and signed a professional contract in August 1995, at the age of twenty-one. In his first few months at the club, Stillie was an unused substitute as the "Dons" won the Scottish League Cup. In four years at Pittodrie, Stillie managed only twenty-six appearances and in 1999 moved to Wigan Athletic. At the Lancashire club, Stillie played 57 times, twice helping them reach the Division Two play-offs.

In July 2002, Stillie moved back to Scotland to sign for Fife club Dunfermline Athletic where he was a virtual ever-present for the "Pars", making a total of 117 appearances after replacing first-choice keeper Marco Ruitenbeek in November 2002. During the 2003–04 season, Stillie was part of the "Pars" team that were runners-up to Celtic in the 2004 Scottish Cup Final.

Former Dundee United manager, Gordon Chisholm signed Stillie at the start of the 2005–06 season for the "Terrors" by bringing Stillie to Tannadice for an undisclosed fee from the "Pars",[2] after first-choice keeper Tony Bullock signed for Gillingham.[3]

Stillie was named in two Scotland squads, most recently in October 2003 but never won a cap,[4] although he was an unused substitute in the Future Cup match versus Germany later that month.

In May 2007, Stillie confirmed that he would be leaving the "Terrors" to relocate to England to pursue his English law career. [5] Stillie helped the club to a clean sheet in the final day goalless draw at home to Motherwell. During the 2013 close season, Stillie signed a one-year contract with Gillingham,[6] making his debut in the 4–0 away defeat to Nottingham Forest on 22 September 2007. Stillie announced his retirement at the end of the 2007–08 season to pursue his career as a lawyer.[7]

In May 2012, Stillie gained his first international cap for Sealand, playing alongside Ralf Little versus Chagos Islands, in which he conceded three goals as the match finished 3–1.

After football

After retiring as a footballer, Stillie became a lawyer. He acted in defence of the footballers David Goodwillie and David Robertson, who were accused of rape.[8][9] This legal case made history as the first time a rape complainant had successfully sued the accused for civil damages.[10] As part of the defence of Goodwillie, Stillie as his solicitor lodged court proceedings to seek to revoke legal aid support from the accuser.[11]

In November 2019, Stillie announced that he would be contesting the general election as the Conservative candidate for the Central Ayrshire constituency.[12] Stillie finished in second place as the incumbent MP, Philippa Whitford, was re-elected.[13]

Career statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aberdeen1995–9640N/AN/AN/A40
1996–9780––––––80
1997–9820––20––40
1998–998010––––90
Total220102000250
Wigan Athletic1999–00130201030190
2000–011802020––220
2001–02130101010160
Total440504040570
Dunfermline Athletic2002–032106010––280
2003–043707020––460
2004–05380302010440
Total96016050101180
Dundee United2005–06300101020340
2006–073702020––410
Total670303020750
Gillingham2007–08140––––20160
Total140––––20160
Career total2430250140902910

Honours

Aberdeen
1995–96

Dunfermline Athletic
2003–04

References
  1. "Derek Stillie". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  2. "BBC Sport website – 'Stillie on move to Dundee United'". BBC News. 7 July 2005.
  3. "BBC Sport website – 'Gillingham capture keeper Bullock'". BBC News. 29 June 2005.
  4. "BBC Sport website – 'Fletcher given Scotland call'". BBC News. 2 October 2003.
  5. "Stillie will make Tannadice exit". BBC Sport website. 8 May 2007.
  6. "Gills Sign Stillie". Gillinghamfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk. 7 May 2013.
  7. "Stillie hangs up his gloves". BBC Sport. 7 May 2008.
  8. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-38651041
  9. https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/crime/david-goodwillie-fails-overturn-damages-decision-647864
  10. https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/rape-case-appeal-for-disgraced-footballer/
  11. https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/rape-case-appeal-for-disgraced-footballer/
  12. "Former Dundee United and Dunfermline goalkeeper to stand for Tories in general election". The Courier. Press Association. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  13. "Ayrshire Central parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
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