Michael Cunningham (footballer, born 2001)

Michael Cunningham (born 10 March 2001) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a forward for Sauchie Juniors.^[1]

Michael Cunningham

Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-03-10) 10 March 2001 (age 24)
Place of birth	Buckhaven, Fife, Scotland
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Sauchie Juniors
Number	18
Youth career
2007–2011	East Fife
2011–2018	Celtic
2018–2021	Dundee
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2021	Dundee	1	(0)
2020	→ Cumbernauld Colts (loan)	5	(3)
2020–2021	→ Edinburgh City (loan)	3	(0)
2021–2024	East Fife	9	(0)
2022–2023	→ Cowdenbeath (loan)	17	(5)
2023	→ Cowdenbeath (loan)	12	(0)
2024–	Sauchie Juniors	2	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:00, 24 February 2024 (UTC)

Career

Dundee

Cunningham made his debut for Dundee in the Scottish League Cup, coming off the bench in a game against Peterhead.^[2] He made his league debut in January 2020 against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.^[3]

At the end of January, Cunningham joined Lowland Football League side Cumbernauld Colts on loan.^[4] In his shortened time there due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cunningham impressed, scoring 3 goals in 5 games, before returning to his parent club.^[5]

In October 2020, Cunningham joined Edinburgh City on loan.^[6] He made his debut for The Citizens in a 1–5 win against Brechin City.^[7]

Cunningham would leave Dundee at the conclusion of his contract in 2021.^[8]

East Fife and Cowdenbeath loans

In July 2021, after a successful trial period, Cunningham signed for local Scottish League One side East Fife.^[9] On 9 February 2022, Michael was awarded a contract extension at East Fife until summer 2023.^[10] Cunningham scored his first goal for the club in August 2022, in a Scottish Challenge Cup victory over St Johnstone B.^[11]

In November 2022, Cunningham signed a one-year extension with East Fife and joined Lowland League club Cowdenbeath on loan for the rest of the season.^[12][13]

On 11 August 2023, Cunningham returned to Cowdenbeath on a loan until January 2024.^[14] He would return to East Fife in January for their game against Clyde.^[15] He left East Fife by mutual consent on 16 February 2024.^[16]

Sauchie Juniors

On 16 February 2024, the same day as he left East Fife, Cunningham joined East of Scotland Football League Premier Division club Sauchie Juniors on a permanent deal.^[17]

Career Statistics

As of 24 February 2024

Club	Season	League			Scottish Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dundee U20	2018–19[18]	—	—		—		—		1[a]	0	1	0
Dundee	2019–20[19]	Scottish Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
	2020–21[20]		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
Cumbernauld Colts (loan)	2019–20[19]	Lowland League	5	3	0	0	0	0	—		5	3
Edinburgh City (loan)	2020–21[20]	Scottish League Two	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
East Fife	2021–22[21]	Scottish League One	7	0	0	0	3	0	1[b]	0	11	0
	2022–23[22]	Scottish League Two	2	0	1	0	3	0	2[b]	1	8	1
	2023–24[23]		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		9	0	1	0	6	0	3	1	19	1
Cowdenbeath (loan)	2022–23[22]	Lowland League	17	5	—		—		0	0	17	5
Cowdenbeath (loan)	2023–24[23]	Lowland League	12	0	2	1	—		3[c]	2	17	3
Sauchie Juniors	2023–24[23]	East of Scotland Football League Premier Division	2	0	—		—		0	0	2	0
Career total			49	8	3	1	7	0	7	3	67	12

1. Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup for Dundee under-20/under-21s in which age-restricted sides from the Scottish Premiership clubs compete against senior clubs
2. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
3. Appearance(s) in the South Challenge Cup