Craig Barr

Craig Barr
Personal information
Full name Craig Mango Barr[1]
Date of birth (1987-03-29) 29 March 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Tranent
Youth career
2003–2006 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Gretna 47 (5)
2008–2010 Queen of the South 24 (1)
2010–2013 Livingston 100 (8)
2013 Östersunds FK 13 (1)
2014 Airdrieonians 11 (2)
2014–2017 Raith Rovers 39 (4)
2017–2019 Dumbarton 48 (4)
2019–2022 Cowdenbeath 85 (7)
2022- Tranent
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:34, 29 October 2020 (UTC)

Craig Barr (born 29 March 1987) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a defender for Tranent. Barr has previously played for Gretna, Queen of the South, Livingston, Airdrieonians, Raith Rovers and Dumbarton, as well as Swedish club Östersunds FK.

Career

Early years

Born in Edinburgh, Barr moved south as a 16-year-old to join Blackburn Rovers and spent three years with the Lancashire club winning the FA Premier Academy League in 2004–05.[2]

Gretna

Barr played in the early part of his career with Gretna signing for the club when they were bankrolled by Brooks Mileson.[3] He was part of the squad who won the Scottish Football League First Division in the 2006–07 season which earned them promotion into the SPL. In 47 league appearances for Gretna, Barr scored five goals.

Mileson pulled the plug on the club's cashflow when his health deteriorated. The club thus became financially stricken and went into administration. Administrators for Gretna laid off their last 40 staff including Barr on 19 May 2008.[4]

Queen of the South

Barr signed a two-year contract with Dumfries-based First Division side Queen of the South on 26 June 2008.[5]

Just after signing, Barr said "I'm really looking forward to the move. Queens are coming off the back of a fantastic season and I'm excited at the prospect of playing for the Scottish Cup finalists. I know big Neilly MacFarlane, Jamie McQuilken and 'Tosher' from my time at Gretna and also have a lot of respect for ex-Queens player, big Derek Townsley, who I also know well".

Barr played both games in Queen of the South's Uefa Cup Second qualifying round against FC Nordsjælland losing out 4-2 on aggregate.[6]

After playing over thirty games in his first season with the club, Barr suffered a season-ending injury on his knee during the pre-season of 2009–10. He had two operations on this injury, with the major one being a complete cruciate reconstruction. As Queens refused to pay for the operation, Barr took it upon himself to fund it. Due to this matter, he then spent the last six months of his contract doing his own rehab away from the club. Barr was among the players announced as released by the club at the end of the 2009–10 season.[7]

Livingston

Barr signed for Livingston in August 2010.[8] In his first season, he played a pivotal role in helping the club to win the Second Division title. He subsequently signed a new two-year deal, keeping him at the club until the end of season 2012–13.[9]

In his second season, he won the end of season Players' Player of the Year award [10]

Barr left Livingston at the end of the 2012–13 season, following a relatively successful three-year spell with the club making 112 appearances in all competitions.[11]

Östersunds FK

In July 2013, Barr signed for Swedish Superettan club Östersunds FK,[12] then managed by current Chelsea F.C. manager, Graham Potter.

Airdrieonians

On 23 February 2014, Barr returned to Scottish football, signing for Airdrieonians on a contract until the end of the 2013–14 season.[13]

Raith Rovers

In summer 2014, Barr joined Raith Rovers.[14] He left the club in June 2017, following their relegation to Scottish League One.[15]

Dumbarton

Having left Raith, Barr joined Scottish Championship side Dumbarton on a two-year deal in June 2017.[16] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Clyde in July 2017.[17] He won the club's Players' Player of the Year award in his first season at the Rock and captained the side on a number of occasions.[18] Barr turned down a new deal and left the club in May 2019 after an injury hit second season.[19]

Cowdenbeath

On 11 June 2019, Barr signed for Scottish League Two club Cowdenbeath.[20] In his first couple of months at the club, Barr was voted as Ladbrokes Player of the Month for September for the whole of League 2.[21] Barr won historic back-to-back awards for the first time since 1952 as he was named Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year for two consecutive season's in a row.[22]

Tranent

Barr signed for Tranent in 2022.[23]

Career Statistics

As of 17 September 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Gretna 2007–08[24] Scottish Premier League 26 4 1 0 1 1 0 0 28 5
Queen of the South 2008–09[25][26][27][28][29] Scottish First Division 24 1 1 0 1 0 5[a] 1 31 2
2009–10[30] Scottish First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 1 0
Total 24 1 1 0 1 0 6 1 32 2
Livingston 2010–11[31][26] Scottish Second Division 33 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 35 2
2011–12[32][26] Scottish First Division 35 2 2 0 2 0 2[b] 0 41 2
2012–13[33] Scottish First Division 32 4 1 0 2 0 0 0 35 4
Total 100 8 4 0 5 0 2 0 111 8
Östersunds FK 2013[26] Superettan 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 1
Airdrieonians 2013–14[34] Scottish League One 11 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 2
Raith Rovers 2014–15[35] Scottish Championship 12 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 1
2015–16[36] Scottish Championship 12 1 0 0 0 0 2[c] 0 14 1
2016–17[37] Scottish Championship 15 2 0 0 0 0 2[d] 0 17 2
Total 39 4 1 0 0 0 4 0 44 4
Dumbarton 2017–18[38] Scottish Championship 32 2 3 0 3 1 8[e] 2 46 5
2018–19[39] Scottish League One 16 2 0 0 4 1 1[b] 0 21 3
Total 48 4 3 0 7 2 9 2 67 8
Cowdenbeath 2019–20[40] Scottish League Two 6 1 0 0 3 0 1[b] 1 10 2
Career total 267 25 10 0 17 3 22 4 316 32
  1. ^ Three appearances and one goal in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two appearances in the UEFA Cup
  2. ^ a b c d Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs
  4. ^ Appearances in the Scottish Championship play-offs
  5. ^ Six appearances and one goal in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two appearances and one goal in the Scottish Championship play-offs

References

  1. ^ "City footballer became minister to marry friend". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Under18s Table 2004/05". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  3. ^ "McMenamin completes Gretna move". BBC Sport. 1 August 2006. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Gretna lay off remaining 40 staff". BBC News. 19 May 2008.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Nordsjaelland 2-1 QoS (4-2)". Queen of The South FC. 26 August 2008.
  7. ^ "Retained List", www.qosfc.com Archived 7 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Barr-signs-on-for-Livingston.6451557.jp". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 1 August 2010.
  9. ^ "Barr puts pen to paper". Livingston FC. 13 May 2011.
  10. ^ "Barr handed top award". Livingston FC. 3 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Livingston captain Liam Fox tops list of players to exit Almondvale". West Lothian Courier. 2 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Craig Barr set to join Swedish side Ostersunds". SPFL. 1 July 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  13. ^ "CRAIG BARR". airdriefc.com. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  14. ^ "2014 / 2015 Squad Begins To Take Shape". raithrovers.net. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  15. ^ Elder, Matthew (8 June 2017). "Possible return for former Raith striker as Smith closes in on first signings". Fife Free Press. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  16. ^ Galloway, Andy. "SIGNING NEWS: BARR ARRIVES AT THE ROCK". Dumbarton Football Club. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  17. ^ Barrow, Simon. "SONS GO DOWN 2–1 TO CLYDE". Dumbarton Football Club. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  18. ^ Findlay, Alan (23 April 2018). "2018 Players of the Year". Dumbarton Football Club. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011.
  19. ^ Galloway, Andy (11 May 2019). "SQUAD MOVEMENTS". Dumbarton Football Club.
  20. ^ Williams, Ieuan (12 June 2019). "Barr signs on in "major coup" for Cowden". Central Fife Times. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  21. ^ N/A, N/A (5 October 2019). "Gary Bollan and Craig Barr win Ladbrokes League Two prizes". Central Fife Times. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  22. ^ Stark, Jim (16 May 2021). "Cowden captain wins back-to-back awards". Central Fife Times. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Tranent Juniors lose to East Kilbride in Lowland League clash". East Lothian Courier. 25 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  25. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  26. ^ a b c d Craig Barr at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Berwick Rangers 1–5 QoS". BBC Sport. 26 July 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  28. ^ "Dunfermline 0–2 Queen o' South". BBC Sport. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Queen of the South 0–2 Morton". BBC Sport. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  30. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  31. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  32. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  33. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  34. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  35. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  37. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  38. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  39. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  40. ^ "Games played by Craig Barr in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2019.