Erik Paartalu

Erik Endel Paartalu (born May 3, 1986) is an Australian football (soccer) player of Estonian descent, currently with Scottish Football League First Division team Greenock Morton F.C..

Club career

NSL

Paartalu began his career with Northern Spirit FC in the National Soccer League after stints with the Spirit youth team and the New South Wales Institute of Sport. His NSL career at the Spirit was however limited to a single appearance as a substitute on January 11, 2004 against the Melbourne Knights.

After the dissolution of the Northern Spirit FC Paartalu moved to the Northern Tigers in the New South Wales Winter Super League where he played 17 matches scoring four goals in the 2004 season.

During 2004 Paartalu moved to the Parramatta Eagles who were then playing in the New South Wales Premier League. He continued with the Eagles until the latter half of the 2006 season when he decided to take his chances on a career in England.

Scotland

After a trial with Doncaster Rovers F.C. in Football League One it was expected he would sign a contract until the departure of manager Dave Penney put an end to the deal.
Arriving at Gretna F.C. in September Paartalu was signed on a short term contract after a trial. A number of impressive performances led to a two and a half year contract being signed in January 2007. He was made redundant along with several other players in March 2008.

Paartalu joined Stirling Albion F.C. on January 1, 2008 on a loan deal from Gretna F.C. until the end of the 2007/2008 season. Paartalu made his debut for the Binos against Hamilton Academical F.C on January 5, 2008 at New Douglas Park.

Paartalu joined Greenock Morton F.C. on March 29, 2008 after being released by Scottish Premier League side Gretna F.C. due to them entering administration. After helping Morton stay in the Scottish Football League First Division, Paartalu signed a two-year deal at the end of April 2008 to keep him at Cappielow until 2010.