Robert James Weir (born 9 December 1988) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Crusaders. He has played in the English Football League for Tranmere Rovers, Burton Albion and Leyton Orient and Chesterfield.

Robbie Weir
Weir playing for York City in 2010
Personal information
Full name Robert James Weir[1]
Date of birth (1988-12-09) 9 December 1988 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Position(s) Central midfielder[4]
Team information
Current team
Crusaders
Number 6
Youth career
0000–2004 Larne
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Larne
2005–2011 Sunderland 0 (0)
2010–2011York City (loan) 5 (0)
2011Tranmere Rovers (loan) 18 (0)
2011–2012 Tranmere Rovers 39 (3)
2012–2016 Burton Albion 160 (7)
2016–2017 Leyton Orient 17 (0)
2017–2020 Chesterfield 92 (2)
2020 Waterford 14 (0)
2021– Crusaders 105 (0)
International career
Northern Ireland U18
Northern Ireland U19
2009–2010 Northern Ireland U21 7 (0)
2009 Northern Ireland B 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2024

Club career

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Larne

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Born in Belfast,[5] Weir started his career with the Larne youth system.[6] He started playing for the first team in the 2004–05 season as a 15-year-old and he scored his first goal in a 5–2 victory over Crusaders on 9 October 2004.[6] He had unsuccessful trials with Fulham, Stoke City and Rangers, although Larne manager Jimmy McGeough criticised these, saying "I'm not sure it proves anything. He's a great prospect and one who'll learn his trade in senior football here".[7][8] Weir agreed to sign for Championship club Sunderland in February 2005.[9] He finished the season with two Irish Premier League goals and played in the 2005 Irish Cup Final, which Larne lost 5–1 to Portadown, and was named the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Young Player of the Year.[10][11]

Sunderland

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Weir played for Sunderland in their youth team and was part of the team that reached the Premier Academy League Final in May 2007, where they were beaten 4–1 by Leicester City in a penalty shoot-out.[12] He joined Conference Premier club York City on 12 November 2010 on a one-month loan following a trial.[13] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Wrexham on 14 November 2010 and after impressing manager Gary Mills the loan was extended until 10 January 2011 in December.[14][15][16] He finished the loan with eight appearances.[14]

Tranmere Rovers

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Weir signed for League One club Tranmere Rovers on loan until the end of 2010–11 on 14 February 2011.[17] He made his debut in a 2–1 defeat away to Peterborough United as a 75th-minute substitute on 19 February.[18] At the end of the 2010–11, Weir was released by Sunderland.[19]

In May 2011, he was offered a contract by Tranmere and subsequently agreed to sign for the club permanently.[20][21] He signed for the club on 29 June 2011 on a one-year contract.[22] His first goal for the club came on the first day of 2011–12, in a 1–0 home win against Chesterfield.[23] He was released at the end of 2011–12.[24]

Burton Albion

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On 31 May 2012, Weir signed a two-year contract with League Two club Burton Albion.[25] He was released by Burton at the end of 2015–16.[26]

Leyton Orient

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On 6 June 2016, Weir signed for League Two club Leyton Orient on a two-year contract.[27] He was ruled out for the rest of 2016–17 in January 2017, after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury.[28] At the end of the season, Weir exercised a clause in his contract to leave the Orient after relegation.[29]

Chesterfield

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Weir signed for League Two club Chesterfield on 3 August 2017 on an undisclosed-length contract.[30] Weir signed a new contract with the club in May 2019.[31]

Waterford

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On 31 July 2020 Weir returned to Ireland and signed for Waterford,[32] now managed by his former Chesterfield boss John Sheridan.

Crusaders

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On 21 November 2020, following the conclusion of the 2020 League of Ireland season, it was announced that Weir had signed a pre-contract with NIFL Premiership side Crusaders, to take effect from January 2021.

International career

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Weir was part of the Northern Ireland national under-18 team in March 2005 and was capped during a week-long visit to the Canary Islands in February 2006.[33][34] He was named captain of the under-19 team in October 2006 and led the team out in a 4–2 defeat to Belgium.[35][36] In July 2007, he was called up for the 2007 Milk Cup and started as the team were beaten 4–1 by Israel in August.[37][38] He was named in the under-21 team in February 2008 to play Israel as a replacement for Dermot McCaffrey.[39] Weir was capped seven times by the under-21s from 2009 to 2010.[40] He was capped once by the Northern Ireland B team in 2009.[6]

Career statistics

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As of match played 7 May 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sunderland 2010–11[18] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0
York City (loan) 2010–11[14] Conference Premier 5 0 2 0 1[a] 0 8 0
Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2010–11[18] League One 18 0 18 0
Tranmere Rovers 2011–12[23] League One 39 3 1 0 1 0 3[b] 0 44 3
Total 57 3 1 0 1 0 3 0 62 3
Burton Albion 2012–13[41] League Two 42 5 4 0 3 1 2[c] 1 51 7
2013–14[42] League Two 41 2 3 0 2 0 4[d] 0 50 2
2014–15[43] League Two 41 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 45 0
2015–16[44] League One 36 0 0 0 1 0 1[b] 0 38 0
Total 160 7 8 0 9 1 7 1 184 9
Leyton Orient 2016–17[45] League Two 17 0 1 0 1 0 2[e] 0 21 0
Chesterfield 2017–18[46] League Two 41 2 0 0 0 0 3[e] 0 44 2
2018–19[47] National League 32 0 0 0 1[a] 0 33 0
2019–20[47] National League 19 0 0 0 1[a] 0 20 0
Total 92 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 97 2
Waterford 2020[47] LOI Premier Division 14 0 1 0 15 0
Crusaders 2020–21[47] NIFL Premiership 17 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 18 0
2021–22[47] NIFL Premiership 31 0 5 0 1 0 2 0 39 0
2022–23[47] NIFL Premiership 27 0 4 0 1 0 5 0 37 0
Total 75 0 10 0 2 0 7 0 94 0
Career total 420 12 23 0 13 1 25 1 481 14
  1. ^ a b c Appearance in FA Trophy
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  3. ^ Appearances in League Two play-offs
  4. ^ One appearance in Football League Trophy, three in League Two play-offs
  5. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

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Burton Albion

Crusaders

References

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  1. ^ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Robbie Weir". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Robert Weir". Chesterfield F.C. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Robbie Weir: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Robbie Weir". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Robbie Weir". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. Jonny Dewart. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  7. ^ "McGeough unhappy over Weir trials". BBC Sport. 9 December 2004. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  8. ^ "Ards 0–3 Larne". BBC Sport. 27 December 2004. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  9. ^ "Weir completes move to Sunderland". BBC Sport. 7 February 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  10. ^ Harris, Martin (3 January 2007). "Northern Ireland 2004/05". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  11. ^ "Glendinning wins top player award". BBC Sport. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Foxes triumph in Academy showdown". BBC Sport. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Gary Mills moves to boost York City squad". BBC Sport. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  14. ^ a b c Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2011). Non-League Club Directory 2012. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 156–157. ISBN 978-1-869833-70-1.
  15. ^ Flett, Dave (3 December 2010). "Robbie Weir's York City loan period extended". The Press. York. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  16. ^ "York City boss Mills eager to bring back Robbie Weir". BBC Sport. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  17. ^ "Tranmere bring in Sunderland midfielder Robbie Weir". BBC Sport. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  18. ^ a b c "Games played by Robbie Weir in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  19. ^ "Sunderland to release eight". Sunderland A.F.C. 7 April 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013.
  20. ^ "Rovers offer six new contracts". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 9 May 2011. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011.
  21. ^ Hilton, Nick (13 May 2011). "Tranmere Rovers to consider Bayern Munich move for Dale Jennings". Liverpool Daily Post. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011.
  22. ^ "Tranmere seal deals for Robbie Weir and Michael Kay". BBC Sport. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Games played by Robbie Weir in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Moore rebuilding squad". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012.
  25. ^ "Burton Albion bring in Tranmere midfielder Robbie Weir". BBC Sport. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  26. ^ "Burton Albion: Robbie Weir & Shane Cansdell-Sherriff among players released". BBC Sport. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  27. ^ "News: Weir becomes O's first summer signing". Leyton Orient F.C. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  28. ^ "Robbie Weir: Leyton Orient captain ruled out for rest of season". BBC Sport. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  29. ^ Sessions, George (19 June 2017). "Leyton Orient first-team captain Robbie Weir heading for exit door". Docklands & East London Advertiser. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  30. ^ "Chesterfield sign Robbie Weir". Derbyshire Times. Chesterfield. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  31. ^ "A dozen players set to leave". Chesterfield F.C. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  32. ^ "Former Ireland international striker Daryl Murphy signs for hometown club Waterford after 15 years away". Extratime.com. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Glentoran v Larne". BBC Sport. 25 March 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  34. ^ Harris, Martin (14 February 2006). "U18s back from the Canaries". Irish Football Association. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012.
  35. ^ Hill, Spike (2 October 2006). "European quest begins for next generation". Irish Football Association. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
  36. ^ "Belgium v. Northern Ireland". Irish Football Association. 6 October 2006. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
  37. ^ "Cathcart part of NI Elite squad". BBC Sport. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  38. ^ "Israel claim Elite Milk Cup title". BBC Sport. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  39. ^ Gillespie, Marshall (5 February 2008). "U21's prepare to take on Israel". Irish Football Association. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012.
  40. ^ "Northern Ireland under-21 line-ups". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. Jonny Dewart. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  41. ^ "Games played by Robbie Weir in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  42. ^ "Games played by Robbie Weir in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  43. ^ "Games played by Robbie Weir in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  44. ^ "Games played by Robbie Weir in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  45. ^ "Games played by Robbie Weir in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  46. ^ "Games played by Robbie Weir in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  47. ^ a b c d e f "R. Weir: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  48. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2015). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2015–2016. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 94–95. ISBN 978-1-4722-2416-3.
  49. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2016). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2016–2017. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 98–99. ISBN 978-1-4722-3395-0.
  50. ^ "Crusaders net dramatic winner in Samuel Gelston's Whiskey Irish Cup Final". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  51. ^ "Crusaders destroy Ballymena United in Irish Cup Final romp". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  52. ^ "Charity Shield Success For The Crues". Northern Ireland Football League. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
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