Rowan Vine - Career

Career

Born in Basingstoke, Vine began his career at Portsmouth, making his way through the club's youth scheme. He made his first-team debut in a goalless draw with Sheffield United in December 2000 at the age of 18. However, he struggled to break through into the side on a regular basis and was loaned out to Division Two side Brentford for the 2002–03 season.

Vine enjoyed a successful campaign at Griffin Park, netting his first ever goal on his debut in a 2–0 win at Huddersfield Town, and going on to score 13 further goals in 44 starts for the Bees. Despite his impressive season, he was again loaned out, this time to Colchester United for the 2003–04 campaign where he scored 10 league goals in 30 starts.

For the third year running, Vine spent an entire season away from Portsmouth on loan, this time at Luton Town for the 2004–05 season. Vine's nine goals helped the Hatters clinch the League One title. Despite this relative lack of goals for a striker during a season, a section in the Luton News newspaper showed that Vine was the "King of Assists" – one of the main reasons for the Hatters' success.

Vine signed for Luton for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £250,000, on 4 July 2005. In his first season after his permanent move to the club, he scored 10 goals in 30 games after missing the start of the season with a back injury. Again, he was near the top of the assist charts, proving his worth further to Luton Town.

On 11 January 2007, a £2.5 million deal with Birmingham City saw Vine leave Luton, which later rose to £3 million when Birmingham gained promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season. Vine's only goal in his short stay at St Andrew's came in a 1–0 win over Derby County.

On 2 October 2007, he joined Queens Park Rangers on loan until November 2007; when this expired, it was extended until 1 January 2008. Vine signed for Queens Park Rangers on a four-and-a-half-year contract on 8 January 2008 for a fee of £1 million.

Vine suffered a serious fracture of his left tibia and fibula on 3 April 2008 during a training session. He did not make another first-team appearance until April 2009, and has since been used mainly as a substitute. Vine was told by manager Neil Warnock in July 2010 that he had no future with the club, and was not given a squad number come the new season. He was then consequently loaned out to Hull City on a month's loan on 1 October 2010. He made his debut the following day at the KC Stadium in the 0–0 draw against Coventry City.

On 25 November 2010 he started a loan period at Brentford until 4 January 2011, but never played. He joined Milton Keynes Dons on an initial one-month loan on 15 January 2011.

In July 2011 Vine joined Doncaster Rovers on trial, but on 2 August, manager Sean O'Driscoll said he had not yet decided whether to offer him a contract. At the start of the 2011–12 season, Vine spent time on loan at Exeter City. In March 2012, he had a trial with Southend United, but manager Paul Sturrock suggested he had concerns over Vine's fitness. He then signed for Gillingham on loan until the end of the season.

On 31 July 2012, Vine signed for Scottish Premier League club St. Johnstone where he had previously been on trial. On 15 September 2012, Vine scored his first goal for St. Johnstone. His goal, struck 10 minutes before time, ensured St Johnstones' their first win of the season and against reigning SPL champions Celtic in a 2-1 victory and after the match, Vine described his goal as ‘right up there’ of his career highlights