Introduction
David Cooper Templeton (born 7 January 1989) is a Scottish footballer who last played as a winger for Scottish side Rangers, before being released on expiration of his contract in May 2016.
He has previously played for Stenhousemuir, Raith Rovers and Heart of Midlothian.
Club career
Stenhousemuir
Templeton started his senior career with Third Division side Stenhousemuir in 2005. He made 36 first team appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals all of which were in league fixtures.
Heart of Midlothian
He signed for Heart of Midlothian in January 2007. During the second half of the 2007–08 season he was loaned out to Second Division side Raith Rovers. Templeton made his first team debut as a substitute against Aberdeen in a goalless draw at Pittodrie. His first start came against Celtic at Parkhead on the final day of the 2008–09 season. Templeton then spent a period out of action due to foot injuries. He made his first appearance of the 2009–10 season on 20 December 2009 against Celtic, setting up the winning goal in a 2–1 victory, crossing the ball for Ismael Bouzid to score. On 21 February 2010, Templeton scored his first goal for Hearts, the second in a 2–0 defeat of Hamilton Academical. Since then, Templeton has frequently found himself on the scoresheet, scoring a number of memorable efforts, none more so than a spectacular dribble and finish in the first Edinburgh derby of the 2010–11 season.
Templeton received high praise from Terry Butcher after Hearts 1–1 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Templeton was also nominated for PFA Player of the Year for the 2010–11 season. He also won the Hearts Fans Player of the year. Templeton's final goal for Hearts came in the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League play-off round second leg against Liverpool at Anfield on 28 August 2012.
Rangers
On 31 August 2012, Templeton signed a four-year contract for the then Third Division club Rangers for an undisclosed fee (reported to be approximately £700,000). His first game for Rangers ended in a 5–1 victory against Elgin City with Templeton scoring two goals. Templeton went on to score 15 goals in his first season at Rangers. In May 2016, Templeton was released after reaching the end of his contract, which had not been renewed after he made only three appearances in his final season with Rangers.
After leaving Rangers Templeton spent the rest of 2016 without a club and turned down a move to newly promoted Scottish League Two side Edinburgh City in November.
International career
Templeton has made two appearances each for Scotland at under-19 level and under-21 level.
Personal life
His father, ex-professional footballer Henry Templeton, who at the time of David's birth was playing for ex-Scotland manager, Ally MacLeod, at Ayr United. Henry's hero was Rangers and Scotland winger Davie Cooper and named his son after his hero. Henry was a small, skilful, tricky attacking player.
In an interview in 2010 with The Scotsman, Templeton said of his childhood, "My dad left and I went to my mum's side who were all Celtic fans so I ended up following them. I got a bit of stick when I was younger but I obviously don't bother about the Old Firm any more."
Career statistics
- As of 15 May 2016
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stenhousemuir | 2005–06 | Scottish Third Division | 17 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | 20 | 8 | |
| 2006–07 | Scottish Third Division | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | ||
| Total | 30 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | 36 | 11 | |||
| Heart of Midlothian | 2008–09 | Scottish Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Scottish Premier League | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 | Scottish Premier League | 33 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 36 | 7 | |||
| 2011–12 | Scottish Premier League | 27 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 35 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13 | Scottish Premier League | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | 4 | 2 | ||
| Total | 78 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | – | 95 | 13 | |||
| Raith Rovers (loan) | 2007–08 | Scottish Second Division | 15 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 17 | 4 | |
| Rangers | 2012–13 | Scottish Third Division | 24 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 26 | 15 | |
| 2013–14 | Scottish League One | 20 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | 4 | 1 | 29 | 7 | ||
| 2014–15 | Scottish Championship | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | 28 | 3 | ||
| 2015–16 | Scottish Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||
| Total | 67 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | – | 9 | 1 | 86 | 26 | |||
| Career total | 194 | 47 | 14 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 235 | 54 | ||
Honours
Club
- Rangers
- Scottish League One: 2013–14
- Scottish Third Division: 2012–13
Individual
- Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Month: November 2010
- Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Month: December 2010
- Wilson, Richard (12 March 2014). "Rangers 3-0 Airdrieonians". BBC Sport. BBC.
- "Rangers celebrate Scottish Third Division title win". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 March 2013.
- "November 2010 award". Archived from the original on 17 January 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- "December 2010 award". Retrieved 3 March 2011.