Yet another debut to forget for luckless ex-Portsmouth, Charlton and Bradford man after tough start at Aberdeen
The central defender made 14 appearances during a disappointing two-year stay on the south coast
Luckless Tom McIntyre has suffered yet another debut to forget - this time with latest club Aberdeen.
It was in January 2024 when the central defender marked his maiden Pompey appearance with a broken left ankle and red card against Northampton in League One.
Although that dismissal was later rescinded upon appeal, the former Reading man never played again in that 2023-24 title-winning season, ending up featuring for just 54 minutes.
Now, following a mutually-agreed Fratton Park departure early this month on transfer deadline day, he’s attempting to kick-start his career in the Scottish Premiership.
Joined Aberdeen on a free transfer
Having struggled for matches during loan spells at Charlton and Bradford City over the previous 12 months, Aberdeen have taken McIntyre on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
However, not only did The Dons lose 2-0 at Fir Park, but McIntyre also had the misfortune of registering an own goal - in addition to picking up a first-half booking - in another debut to forget.
In fairness, there was absolutely nothing the former Pompey man could have done about Motherwell’s second, which arrived three minutes into stoppage time.
Following a cross from the right, a team-mate’s first-time attempted clearance instead cannoned off the unlucky McIntyre’s right foot and into the net he was facing to seal the defeat.
Certainly no blame could be attached to the 27-year-old, who started as the left-sided centre-half and completed the full 90 minutes in a first outing since arriving a fortnight earlier on a free transfer.
Indeed, it was McIntyre’s first start since November 11, when he had lined up for Bradford in a 3-1 defeat at Doncaster in the EFL Trophy.
Bradford City disappointment
He was subsequently returned to Pompey in January by the Bantams, when boss Gary Alexander opted to cancel the scheduled season-long loan arrangement at the halfway mark.
Despite John Mousinho having a centre-half shortage at the time, McIntyre still wasn’t considered and remained without a Pompey squad number, with the club seeking to loan him out once again.
Recruited to bolster Pompey’s promotion ambitions to the Championship in January 2024, he ended up totalling 14 games during his two-year stay, with little going right.
Out of favour at Fratton Park
Despite attending last summer’s Slovakian training camp, injury kept McIntyre out of the early part of their friendly programme - and he subsequently wasn’t selected for any of them.
His last appearance in a Blues shirt was the 2-0 FA Cup third-round defeat at Wycombe in January 2025, when he partnered Rob Atkinson in the centre of defence against the League One side.
Now he’s searching for match minutes at Aberdeen, who are presently eighth in the Scottish Premiership after winning one of their last nine league fixtures.