Robert Sloan

Robert Sloan (born July 14, 1983 in Paisley) is a Scotland Football (soccer), currently playing for Scottish Football League Second Division side Raith Rovers F.C..

Career

Sloan started his professional career with Heart of Midlothian F.C., making his debut as an 18-year-old in a 2-0 defeat at Motherwell F.C.. He scored his first senior goal on Hearts' next visit to Fir Park, as the Maroons won 2-1 towards the end of the 2001-02 in Scottish football. The following season he found his opportunities limited by the arrival of France winger Jean-Louis Valois and agreed a 6-month loan move to Alloa in January 2003. Initially this appeared to have benefited Sloan, as he made 15 first team appearances for Hearts when they finished third in the Scottish Premier League in 2003-04 in Scottish football but he again slipped out of first team contention the following year.

In January 2005 long-term admirer John Connolly (football manager) eventually succeeded in signing Sloan for St Johnstone F.C., having earlier tried to secure him on a loan deal. However, Connolly was replaced by Owen Coyle only months after Sloan joined Saints and, not in the new manager's plans, the Paisley winger left the Perth, Scotland side for Alloa Athletic F.C. in the summer.

Alloa are a part-time club and after joining them Sloan worked as a building labourer to augment his football earnings. A contract dispute led to him being transfer-listed in 2006 but when this was resolved he returned to the Wasps starting line-up. Perhaps his career highlight occurred in the 2005-06 in Scottish football Scottish Cup, when he scored the winning goal as Alloa upset SPL side Livingston F.C. 2-1 in a third round replay. He joined Raith Rovers in June 2007.