Carlisle United have today signed versatile right back Christie Elliott on a one-year deal (with a club option) which keeps him at Brunton Park until at least the summer of 2020.
South Shields born Elliott, 28 at the end of this month, started his footballing life as a centre forward in non-league with Jarrow and Whitley Bay before being snapped up by Partick Thistle, a Scottish Championship outfit at that time.
He scored on his debut for the Jags, and became an almost ever-present on return from a loan with Albion the following year. He was part of the squad which took Thistle into the Scottish Premiership in May 2013, and was tied down on a further two-year deal at the end of that successful campaign.
His versatility came to the fore as he covered a number of positions through a series of injury and suspension crises, and his conversion to right back was completed as he made the position his own at Firhill. He made just under 250 appearances in total whilst with Partick.
Manager Steve Pressley said: “In my opinion he is very much a modern-day full back. He’s 6ft 2” and he’s strong, athletic and he likes to get forward.
“He’s probably been Partick’s most impressive performer over the last couple of seasons and we’re delighted with this acquisition. I think he’s a good coup for the club.
“Location wise he’s from South Shields, so he’s not too far from home, and that obviously helps when a player is thinking through his options.
“He’s made the right back berth his own with Partick and that’s very much where we see him play. As with all players, it’s good if they can play in several positions but we’ve identified him as being able to do a job for us in that position.
“With playing there he’ll add pace, size, athleticism and a real desire to get forward. These are things I’ve spoken about which I feel we need to bring to the club and he’s a really good find for us with that in mind.
“He also has a great character. He was captain at Partick for a period, which shows the type of person he is, and we’re really pleased that we’ve got a good individual as well as a good player.”
This deal remains subject to international clearance and the registration of all relevant paperwork.
