Craig Lindfield

Craig Anthony Lindfield (born 7 September 1988 in Greasby, Merseyside) is an English semi-professional footballer who plays as a Winger for Runcorn Linnets.

Craig Lindfield
Personal information
Full name Craig Anthony Lindfield
Date of birth (1988-09-07) 7 September 1988
Place of birth Greasby, England[1]
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Runcorn Linnets
Youth career
1996–2006 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Liverpool 0 (0)
2007 → Notts County (loan) 3 (1)
2008 → Chester City (loan) 7 (0)
2008 → Bournemouth (loan) 3 (1)
2009 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 20 (2)
2010 Macclesfield Town 18 (2)
2010–2013 Accrington Stanley 84 (5)
2010 → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 1 (0)
2013–2014 Chester 22 (2)
2014–2016 FC United of Manchester 67 (19)
2016 → Ashton United (loan) ? (?)
2016–2017 Marine 10 (1)
2017 Trafford
2017–2018 FC United of Manchester 30 (7)
2018 Nantwich Town 13 (4)
2018 Runcorn Town (dual reg)
2019 Curzon Ashton
2019 Radcliffe
2019–2020 Marine
2020– Runcorn Linnets 2 (1)
National team
2006–2007 England U19 7 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:51, 16 February 2020 (UTC)

Early life

Lindfield attended Brookdale Primary School from 1993 to 2000 and then Calday Grange Grammar School between 2000 and 2005, and played cricket for his local club Upton CC.

Youth career

He joined the Liverpool Academy in 1996 aged 8, and worked his way up through the club's youth teams. In 2005–06 he won the FA Youth Cup for the first time as a 17-year-old when Liverpool beat Manchester City 3–2 on aggregate, finishing the competition as Liverpools leading goal scorer in the competition. In 2006–07, he scored 3 goals, including 2 in front of the Kop at Anfield in the 7–3 aggregate score against Newcastle in the semi final of the 2006–07 FA Youth Cup to secure a place in Liverpool's second consecutive final appearance[2]

In the final they faced archrivals Manchester United. He scored the opener in the first leg which they lost 2–1.[3] In the return leg, held at Old Trafford on 26 April 2007, Liverpool won 4–3 on penalties when the score stood at 2–2 on aggregate after extra time. Craig scored the second penalty in the penalty shoot-out at the Stretford End, bringing his goal tally to 12 in 12 Youth Cup games.[4]

Senior career

Liverpool

In the summer of 2006 he was promoted from the academy to the first team squad. On 22 July 2006, he made his debut for Liverpool's senior team in a pre-season friendly against Crewe. He scored the only goal when Robbie Fowler back heeled the ball into his path and it was dispatched by him left footed into the top corner of the net as the Reds triumphed 1–0.

He was a member of Liverpool's 2008 Dallas Cup winning side, returning from the US as the tournament's top scorer with 6 goals.[5] In July 2009 he had a double hernia operation and on 11 August 2009 his contract with Liverpool was terminated by mutual consent[6]

Loan spells

On 1 November 2007 he joined Notts County on a month's loan,[7] and on 3 November 2007 he scored 23 minutes into his league debut against Accrington Stanley which ended in a 2–0 win to the Magpies.[8] He made seven appearances before returning to Liverpool at the end of the loan period.[9][10]

On 18 January 2008 he returned to League Two when he joined Chester City in a one-month loan deal.[11] His debut for the club came as a substitute the following day, in a 1–0 loss to his former loan club Notts County,[12] with his final game coming against the same opponents the following month.[13] He then returned to Liverpool.

On 22 August 2008 he joined Bournemouth on an initial one-month loan deal[14] and on 30 August on his full debut he scored against Port Vale.[15] His loan was extended until the end of 2008.[16]

In January 2009 he gained further Football League experience when he went on loan to Accrington Stanley,[17] where he scored his first goal for the club on 28 February in a league match against Aldershot Town.[18] and he scored his second goal for the club on 21 March 2009 in league match against Exeter City.[19]

Macclesfield Town

He subsequently had trials with Carlisle United[20] and Morecambe[21] before training with Accrington Stanley and later with Macclesfield Town [22] and an impressive trial at Macclesfield offered Linfield a contract and he joined Macclesfield Town in December 2009 on a short-term deal,[23] scoring first goal for the Silkmen in a 2–2 draw on his home debut against Morecambe on 26 January 2010[24] After some impressive performances his contract was extended until the end of the season on 26 February 2010.[25] On 13 March 2010, Linfield scored his second goal for the Silkmen in a 2–0 win over Bury.[26] At the end of the 2009–10 campaign, He was released by the club, along with ten other players at the end of the 2009–10 season.[27]

Accrington Stanley

He re-signed for Accrington Stanley in June 2010 on a one-year contract.[28] His first goal for Stanley in his second spell with the club came on 10 August 2010 when he scored the extra-time winning goal in a League Cup match to knock Doncaster Rovers out of the competition.[29]

After suffering a knee injury in late August, on 26 November 2010 he signed a short-term loan deal with Kidderminster Harriers in an attempt to gain match fitness.[30] He made his debut for the club on 30 November in a Football Conference match against York City where he came on for the last 12 minutes.[31] All subsequent football league games were postponed due to the weather and he returned to Accrington on 23 December 2010.[32]

In the 2011–12 season he scored for the club as Accrington Stanley beat Dagenham & Redbridge 3–0 and received the man of the match from the sponsors.[33] His second goal came when Accrington Stanley beat Wimbledon 2–0.[34] His third league goal for the club as Accrington Stanley beat Macclesfield Town 4–0.[35] His fourth league goal for the club as Accrington Stanley beat Northampton Town 2–1.[36]

He finished the last six games of the season as right back due to a shortage of defenders through injuries and suspensions and received high praise from his manager Paul Cook for the performances that he put in during that period. He was rewarded with a new one-year contract and signed on 3 May 2012.

Chester

On 29 May 2013, Chester announced the signing of Lindfield after his Accrington contract came to an end.[37]

FC United of Manchester

On 30 June 2014, FC United of Manchester announced the signing of Lindfield after joining from Chester FC.[38] On 4 March 2016 Lindfield was loaned out to Ashton United in a month long deal. The deal got extended on 4 April 2016 until the end of the season.[39]

Marine

Lindfield signed for Marine on 23 July 2016.[40]

Trafford

On 4 March 2017, Lindfield signed for Northern Premier League-side Trafford.[41]

FC United of Manchester (second spell)

In July 2017 he re-joined FC United of Manchester having played a number of pre-season friendlies for the club, scoring four goals.[42]

Nantwich Town

In August 2018 he joined Nantwich Town.[43] Whilst at the club we went on dual registration with Runcorn Town in September 2018.[44]

Curzon Ashton

In January 2019 he joined Curzon Ashton.[45]

Radcliffe

The following month he moved to Radcliffe.[46]

Marine (second spell)

In July 2019 he rejoined Marine.

Runcorn Linnets

In January 2020 he joined Runcorn Linnets.[47]

International career

Lindfield received England U19 international recognition when he was called up[48] and then selected for the international friendly against the Netherlands on 5 September 2006 held at the Bescot Stadium, Walsall.[49] He also represented his country in the friendly international tournament held in Austria in October 2006, scoring two goals against Austria in a 3–3 draw on 9 October 2006.[50]

Personal life

He has a first class degree in Sports Journalism and as part of his journalism course he wrote columns for the Lancashire Telegraph and the Daily Mail.[51] The degree was from Staffordshire University and was studied via distance-learning.[52] Following on from completion of this degree he studied for a second degree in Quantity Surveying at Liverpool John Moores University.[53]

Honours
Liverpool
F.C. United of Manchester
Radcliffe
  • Promotion Winners 2018-19

References
  1. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  2. ."Lindfield scores twice as Reds reach Youth final for second consecutive year". The Football Association. 19 March 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  3. "Hewson takes control". The Football Association. 17 April 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  4. "Liverpool retain Youth Cup". The Football Association. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  5. "Player profile: Craig Lindfield". Macclesfield Town FC. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  6. "Pacheco signs new deal". Liverpool FC. 11 August 2009.
  7. "Johnson added to Magpies backroom". BBC Sport. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  8. "Accrington 0-2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 3 November 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  9. "Games played by Craig Lindfield in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  10. "Trio Return to Melwood After Spell Out On Loan". Liverpool Echo. MGN. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  11. "Reds striker joins Chester". Sky Sports. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  12. "Magpies give Chester the Blues". teamtalk.co.za. 19 January 2008. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  13. "Crow header halts Magpies away rut". teamtalk.co.za. 16 February 2008. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  14. "Cherries land Liverpool striker". BBC Sport. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
  15. "Vale ease to stylish victory". teamtalk.co.za. 30 August 2008. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  16. "Bournemouth extend Lindfield loan". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  17. "Reds loan out strike duo". Sky Sports. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  18. "Robinson nets twice in Shots win". teamtalk.co.za. 28 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  19. "Match: Accrington Stanley v Exeter City". ESPN Soccernet. 21 March 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  20. "Lindfield extends Carlisle trial". BBC Sport. 29 August 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  21. "Morecambe look at Lindfield". Sky Sports. 6 October 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  22. Transferüberblick 28. December 2009
  23. "Lindfield seals Macc move". Sky Sports. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  24. ."Macclesfield 2-2 Morecambe". MTFC.co.uk. 26 January 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  25. "Lindfield extends Silkmen stay". Sky Sports. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  26. "Match Report: Macclesfield Town vs Bury". ESPN Soccernet. 13 March 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  27. "Macclesfield release Jon Brain but make Rooney offer". BBC Sport. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  28. "Stanley bring in duo". Sky Sports. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  29. "Doncaster 1-2 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  30. "Loans in: Burr Swoops for Two". Kidderminster Harriers F.C. 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  31. "Kidderminster 0-0 York City". BBC Sport. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  32. "Accrington Stanley pair return from loans". Lancashire Telegraph. 2 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  33. "Accrington 3-0 Dag and Red". BBC News. 26 November 2011.
  34. "AFC Wimbledon 0 - 2 Accrington Stanley". BBC News. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  35. "AFC Wimbledon 0 - 2 Accrington Stanley". BBC News. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  36. "Accrington Stanley". BBC News. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  37. "Craig Lindfield: Chester FC to sign Accrington Stanley winger". BBC News. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  38. "FC United announce new signing". FC United. 30 June 2014.
  39. Lindfield Extends Loan At Hurst Cross‚ glossopchronicle.co.uk, 4 April 2016
  40. CRAIG LINDFIELD SIGNS FOR MARINE‚ pitchero.com, 23 July 2016
  41. Latest Moves…… Archived 9 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine‚ nonleague.pitchero.com
  42. "PLAYER UPDATE as of 21st July 2017". FC United of Manchester. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  43. "Saturday's Transfer List". Northern Premier League. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  44. "Herbie snaps up Lindfield". Runcorn Town FC. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  45. https://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/62339/teams/away
  46. "Radcliffe Add Two New Players". Northern Premier League. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  47. McMillan, Dave. "Craig Lindfield". Marine FC. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  48. "Dutch date for England". The Football Association. 16 August 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  49. "Lions held by Holland". The Football Association. 5 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  50. "Craig claws England back". The Football Association. 9 October 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  51. "He was an Anfield starlet, but now Craig Lindfield is a Red Rebel!". The Non League Football Paper. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  52. "New Chester striker Lindfield answers our 10 questions". The Leader. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  53. https://uk.linkedin.com/in/craig-lindfield-81286aa4
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