Harry Paton (soccer)

Harry Paton

Personal information
Full name	Harrison Theodore Paton
Date of birth	(1998-05-23) May 23, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Motherwell
Number	12
Youth career
2015–2016	Fulham
2016–2017	Heart of Midlothian
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2018	Heart of Midlothian	0	(0)
2017–2018	→ Stenhousemuir (loan)	31	(8)
2018–2022	Ross County	89	(1)
2018–2019	→ Stenhousemuir (loan)	13	(1)
2023–	Motherwell	43	(2)
International career^‡
2015	Canada U17	6	(0)
2015	Canada U20	1	(0)
2023–	Canada	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 2, 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 13, 2023

Harrison Theodore Paton (born May 23, 1998) is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell and the Canada national team.

Club career

Early career

A product of the Fulham and Heart of Midlothian academies, Paton played with Stenhousemuir of League Two on loan from Hearts and was part of their successful season getting promoted to League One. For his efforts with the club, he was named to the League 2 Team of the Season.^[1]

Ross County

Paton would sign a one-year deal with Scottish Championship side Ross County in July 2018.^[2] Paton made his debut for Ross County against Alloa in the Scottish League Cup, where he also scored his first goal for the club.^[3] In his first season with Ross County, Paton would spend the first half of the season back on loan with Stenhousemuir, but would return from loan in January, and would make 7 appearances for the club.^[4]

Ross County would re-sign Paton for the 2019-20 season, and he would make his first start for the club in September 2019.^[5][6] Paton would make 23 appearances for the club in 2019-20, breaking into the first team on a full-time basis.^[7]

On May 25, 2020, Ross County announced Paton had signed a new deal with the club.^[8] In June 2022, it was announced that Paton had turned down a new contract offer with the club, ending his time at Ross County after four seasons.^[9]

Motherwell

In April 2023, Paton signed for Scottish side Motherwell on a contract until the end of the season, making his debut for the club later the same day.^[10] In June 2023, he signed a new two-year contract to remain with the club.^[11] Paton scored his first goal on August 26 for Motherwell, netting a stoppage-time winner to complete a 2-1 comeback win against Kilmarnock.^[12]

International career

Youth

Paton was part of the Canada U17 team who participated in the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship where Paton played 6 times.^[13] He would be named to Canada's provisional squad for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in February 2020.^[14] Paton was set to be named to the team ahead of the rescheduled tournament in March 2021, but Ross County opted to not release him.^[15]

Senior

In June 2021, Paton was named to Canada's 60-man preliminary squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.^[16] On July 1, he was named to the final 23-man squad.^[17] Paton would join the team late due to COVID-19 protocols after a number of Ross County players and staff tested positive for the virus prior to his departure.^[18] He would fail to make an appearance at the tournament.

In October 2023, Paton returned to the national team ahead of a friendly against Japan in Niigata.^[19] He made his debut for Canada in the match on October 13,^[20] coming on as a substitute for Samuel Piette at the 61st minute.^[21]

Personal life

Paton's younger brother, Ben, is also a professional soccer player.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played January 2, 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stenhousemuir (loan)	2017–18	Scottish League Two	31	8	2	0	2	0	4[a]	0	39	8
Ross County	2018–19	Scottish Championship	4	0	0	0	1	1	2[b]	0	7	1
	2019–20	Scottish Premiership	19	0	1	0	3	1	1[c]	0	24	1
	2020–21		35	1	0	0	5	1	0	0	40	2
	2021–22		31	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	32	0
	Total		89	1	2	0	9	3	3	0	103	4
Stenhousemuir (loan)	2018–19	Scottish League One	13	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	14	1
Motherwell	2022–23	Scottish Premiership	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	2023–24		26	2	2	0	4	0	0	0	32	2
	2024–25		10	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	13	0
	Total		43	2	2	0	7	0	0	0	52	2
Career total			177	12	6	0	18	3	7	0	207	15

International

As of match played October 13, 2023

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Canada	2023	1	0
Total		1	0

1. Appearances in 2017–18 Scottish League One Play-offs
2. Appearances in 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup
3. Appearances in 2019–20 Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Club

Ross County

• Scottish Championship: 2018–19^[22]
• Scottish Challenge Cup: 2018–19^[23]

References

1. "LEAGUE 2 TEAM OF THE SEASON". May 22, 2018.
2. "Canadian midfielder Harry Paton joins club on permanent contract". Ross County FC. June 20, 2018. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
3. "Ross County seal progress to last 16 of Betfred Cup with 2-0 win over Alloa Athletic". Press and Journal. July 28, 2018.
4. Andy Skinner (July 20, 2019). "Paton ready to grasp Staggies top-flight chance". The Press and Journal.
5. Andy Skinner (August 21, 2019). "Paton staking claim for Staggies midfield berth, says Kettlewell". The Press and Journal.
6. Andrew Henderson (September 19, 2019). "Stenhousemuir spell helped Paton prepare for Premiership life". Ross-Shire Journal.
7. Andy Skinner (August 8, 2020). "Harry Paton hopes Ross County form keeps him on radar for Canada Olympics spot". The Press and Journal.
8. "Club News Player Update". May 25, 2020. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
9. Alasdair Fraser (June 22, 2022). "Canada international squad member Harry Paton officially parts with Ross County as a free agent after rejecting the offer of a new deal in Dingwall". The Inverness Courier.
10. "HARRY PATON JOINS UNTIL END OF SEASON". motherwellfc.co.uk. Motherwell F.C. April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
11. "HARRY PATON SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL". motherwellfc.co.uk/. Motherwell F.C. June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
12. "Motherwell 2-1 Kilmarnock: Game-changer Harry Paton give hosts win". August 26, 2023.
13. "Harrison Paton". Canada Soccer. March 10, 2019.
14. "Canada Soccer announces Provisional List for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying". Canada Soccer. February 26, 2020. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
15. "Episode 43 – Detailing Canada's plans for January". December 20, 2021.
16. "Davies, David highlight Canada's preliminary roster for Gold Cup". June 18, 2021.
17. "Canada Soccer announces 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup Roster". Canadian Soccer Association. July 1, 2021.
18. "CANADA KICKS OFF GROUP PHASE AT THE 2021 CONCACAF GOLD CUP". July 10, 201.
19. "Biello names CanMNT squad: Highlights from press conference ahead of 'audition' friendly vs. Japan". Canadian Premier League. October 5, 2023.
20. "CHOINIÈRE AND PATON MAKE THEIR CANADA DEBUTS AWAY AGAINST JAPAN". Canada Soccer Association. October 13, 2023.
21. "Harry Paton comes on for Sam Piette". Canada Soccer Association. October 13, 2023.
22. "Ross County Secure title and promotion". BBC. April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
23. "Ross County lifted the Challenge Cup for a third time". BBC Sport. March 23, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.

External links

• Harry Paton at the Canadian Soccer Association