Steven Craig

Steven Craig (born 5 February 1981) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Worcester City as a striker.

Steven Craig

Personal information
Full name	Steven Craig[1]
Date of birth	5 February 1981
Place of birth	Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland
Position(s)	Striker
Club information
Current team	Worcester City
Youth career
	Raith Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2003	Falkirk	60	(9)
2003–2004	Motherwell	37	(5)
2004–2005	Aberdeen	17	(2)
2005–2006	→ Dundee (loan)	20	(6)
2006–2008	Livingston	55	(12)
2008–2012	Ross County	99	(21)
2012	→ Partick Thistle (loan)	8	(5)
2013	Partick Thistle	17	(8)
2013–2015	Wycombe Wanderers	58	(6)
2015–2016	Dumbarton	11	(1)
2016	Forfar Athletic	14	(6)
2016–	Worcester City	12	(1)
2017[2]	→ Stafford Rangers (loan)	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:36, 15 May 2017 (UTC)

Craig has previously played for Falkirk, Motherwell, Aberdeen, Dundee, Livingston, Ross County, Partick Thistle, Wycombe Wanderers and Dumbarton. His father Joe was also a footballer, who played for Partick Thistle and Celtic.[3]

Career

Craig began his career as a youth player at Raith Rovers and after leaving the club in 2000, played one match for junior club Broxburn Athletic [4] He then signed his first professional contract at Scottish First Division club Falkirk, signing initially for three months, but after scoring on his debut on 30 September 2000 against Livingston, he was given a three-year contract.[3]

In January 2003, Craig moved to Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.[5] He made his debut for the club on 29 January 2003 in a 1–0 defeat against Kilmarnock[6] and scored his first goal on 19 February 2003, in a 2–1 win against Dunfermline Athletic.[7] On 5 June 2003, he signed a new one-year contract with the club.[8]

On 12 May 2004, Craig, along with Motherwell team-mate Derek Adams, signed a pre-contract with Aberdeen to join the club on 1 June 2004.[9] He made his debut on the opening day of the 2004–05 season against Rangers.[10] On 24 August 2004, he scored against Berwick Rangers[11] then four days later, scored twice against Livingston in a 2–0 win.[12] These turned out to be his only goals for the club. After falling out of favour with Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood, Craig was allowed to go on trial with Belgian club Sint Truiden[13] and was placed on the transfer list at the end of the season.[14] He also went on trial at Bradford City,[15] At the end of the summer transfer window in August 2005, Craig was released by Aberdeen.[16]

After his release from Aberdeen, Craig had trials at Dunfermline Athletic[17] and Carlisle United.[18] On 15 September 2005, he signed for Dundee.[19] After one season with Dundee, Craig signed for Livingston on 19 June 2006.[20]

Craig signed for Ross County on 6 May 2008.[21] During the 2009–10 season he scored in Ross County's 2–0 victory against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi–final.[22] He also started in the final, but was on the losing side as Dundee United won 3–0. In the 2010–11 season he scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out as Ross County beat Partick Thistle 4–3 on penalties to reach the Challenge Cup Final.[23] He was an unused substitute in the final as Ross County lifted the trophy, beating Queen of the South 2–0. He was also part of the squad as Ross County won the 2011–12 Scottish First Division and promotion to the top-flight for the first time. At the end of the season, he signed a new one-year contract with the club after turning down a move to Iceland.[24][25]

Craig left Ross County in August 2012 to sign for Partick Thistle on loan.[26] After being released by Ross County, he then moved to Partick Thistle on a permanent basis on 1 January 2013.[27] Craig won a second successive Scottish First Division winners medal as Partick Thistle won the 2012–13 title, but at the end of the season he was informed by manager Alan Archibald that he would not be offered a new contract by the club.[28]

Craig signed a one-year deal with Wycombe Wanderers on 22 July 2013.[29] On 3 May 2014, he scored Wycombe's second goal in a 3–0 win against Torquay United on the final day of the season, a result which ensured the club avoided relegation from League Two.[30] With Wycombe having secured their place in League Two for another season, Craig signed a contract extension to keep him at the club for another year.[31]

He joined Scottish Championship outfit Dumbarton in July 2015[32] Making his first start the following week in a 2–1 victory over Hibernian[33] He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 defeat against Hibs in October 2015, just two minutes after coming on as a substitute.[34] However, Craig was released after just 6 months with the club.[35]

On 8 February 2016 Craig signed a contract with Forfar Athletic in a deal until the end of the season.[36]

Career statistics

As of 14 January 2016

Club	Season	League		Cup		League Cup		Other^[A]		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Falkirk	2000–01	27	5	2	0	0	0	0	0	29	5
	2001–02	29	4	2	0	2	1	2	1	35	6
	2002–03	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	Total^[B]	60	9	4	0	2	1	2	1	68	11
Motherwell	2002–03	13	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	15	3
	2003–04	24	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	25	4
	Total	37	5	2	1	1	1	0	0	40	7
Aberdeen	2004–05	14	2	1	0	2	1	0	0	17	3
	2005–06	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
	Total	17	2	1	0	3	1	0	0	21	3
Dundee	2005–06	20	6	3	1	0	0	0	0	23	7
Livingston	2006–07	27	7	2	0	2	2	1	1	32	10
	2007–08	28	5	4	1	2	1	0	0	34	7
	Total	55	12	6	1	4	3	1	1	66	17
Ross County	2008–09	31	10	2	0	1	0	2	2	36	12
	2009–10	24	5	5	4	2	1	2	1	33	11
	2010–11	18	2	3	1	2	1	1	0	24	4
	2011–12	26	4	3	1	2	1	1	0	32	6
	2012–13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total^[C]	99	21	12	6	6	3	6	3	123	33
Partick Thistle	2012–13[37]	8	5	2	0	0	0	2	2	12	7
		17	8	0	0	0	0	1	0	18	8
	Total	25	13	2	0	0	0	3	2	30	15
Wycombe Wanderers	2013–14	27	4	3	1	1	0	2	0	33	5
	2014–15	31	2	1	0	1	0	3	1	36	3
	Total	58	6	4	1	2	0	5	1	69	8
Dumbarton	2015–16	11	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	14	1
Forfar Athletic	[2015–16]	4	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
Career total		367	75	34	10	18	9	17	8	436	102

A. ^ Other includes Scottish Challenge Cup and Football League Trophy.

B. ^ Falkirk total includes two First Division appearances not recorded on soccerbase. One in 2001–02[38] and one in 2002–03.[39]

C. ^ Ross County total includes one Scottish Cup and one Scottish Challenge Cup appearance and goal in 2008–09 not recorded on soccerbase.[40][41]

Honours

Ross County

• Scottish Challenge Cup: 2010–11
• Scottish First Division (second tier): 2011–12

Partick Thistle

• Scottish First Division (second tier): 2012–13

References

1. "Steven Craig". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
2. Worcester City striker Steven Craig joins Stafford Rangers on loan‚ worcesternews.co.uk, 26 January 2017
3. Docherty, John (3 October 2000). "THAT'S MY BAIRN; Hero Steven follows in his father's footsteps". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
4. "Toppling Raith will be ideal payback". Daily Record. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
5. "Butcher calls on Craig in bid for Rugby Park repeat". The Scotsman. 29 January 2003. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
6. "Killie gain revenge". BBC Sport. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
7. "Well dent Pars Euro hopes". BBC Sport. 20 February 2003. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
8. "Motherwell complete triple signing". BBC Sport. 5 June 2003. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
9. "Dons land Well duo". BBC Sport. 12 May 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
10. "Aberdeen 0-0 Rangers". BBC Sport. 7 August 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
11. "Aberdeen 3-0 Berwick". BBC Sport. 24 August 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
12. "Aberdeen 2-0 Livingston". BBC Sport. 28 August 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
13. "Dons forward courts Belgian move". BBC Sport. 20 April 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
14. "Whelan to leave as Dons cull six". BBC Sport. 9 May 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
15. "Craig joins Bradford on trial". BBC Sport. 19 July 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
16. "Dunfermline turn to Craig for goals". The Scotsman. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
17. "Craig fails to win Pars contract". BBC Sport. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
18. "Simpson releases trialist Craig". BBC Sport. 14 September 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
19. "Dundee sign up free agent Craig". BBC Sport. 15 September 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
20. "Craig swaps Dundee for Livingston". BBC Sport. 19 June 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
21. "Ross County make trio of signings". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 May 2008.
22. Gibson, Fraser (10 April 2010). "Celtic 0-2 Ross County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
23. Lindsay, Clive (10 October 2010). "Ross County 2-2 Partick Thistle (4-3 pen)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
24. "Michael Fraser and Steven Craig stay at Ross County". BBC Sport. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
25. "Craig gives Iceland cold shoulder". Highland News. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
26. "STEVEN CRAIG SIGNS ON LOAN". ptfc.co.uk. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
27. "Partick Thistle sign Steven Craig after Ross County exit". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 January 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
28. "SPL dream dead and buried as gutted Craig axed by Jags". Evening Times. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
29. "Wycombe Wanderers sign Scottish striker Steven Craig". BBC Sport. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
30. Pilnick, Brent (3 May 2014). "Torquay 0-3 Wycombe". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
31. "Craig extends Wycombe stay". Sky Sports. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
32. http://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=1966
33. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33744899
34. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34493891
35. "Striker departs the Rock". dumbartonfootballclub.com. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
36. http://www.forfarathletic.co.uk/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=6%3Anews&id=2217%3Aloons-sign-steven-craig&Itemid=27
37. Note – Craig signed for Partick Thistle on loan initially before signing permanently on 1 January 2013
38. "Scoreline flatters". Falkirk Herald. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
39. "Yogi: it's time to start fighting". Falkirk Herald. 28 November 2002. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
40. "Dumbarton 1-2 Ross County". BBC Sport. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
41. "Clyde 0-1 Ross County". BBC Sport. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2014.

External links

• Steven Craig at Soccerbase
• Steven Craig at Soccerway