Darren Craddock

Darren Craddock
Craddock playing for York City in 2007
Personal information
Full name Darren Craddock[1]
Date of birth (1985-02-23) 23 February 1985 (age 39)[1]
Place of birth Bishop Auckland, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2001–2003 Hartlepool United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Hartlepool United 24 (0)
2004 → Whitby Town (loan) 5 (0)
2006 → York City (loan) 4 (0)
2006–2008 York City 65 (0)
2008–2009 Newcastle Blue Star ? (?)
2009–2010 Blyth Spartans 19 (0)
2010–2011 Whitby Town ? (?)
2011–2013 Newton Aycliffe 83 (2)
2014–2016 Shildon ? (?)
2016–2017 West Auckland Town ? (?)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:55, 11 November 2020 (UTC)

Darren Craddock (born 23 February 1985) is an English former footballer who played as a defender.

Craddock started his career with Hartlepool United in 2003. He joined York City on a one-month loan in 2006, who he joined permanently later that year, after making 24 league appearances for Hartlepool.

Career

Born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham,[1] Craddock joined the Hartlepool United youth system in 2001. Craddock played at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup third-round tie against Manchester United alongside Antony Sweeney and Matty Robson.[2] Man United won 3-2 (AET) and featured future stars such as Darren Fletcher, Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson.

Craddock made his first team debut in a 4–0 victory over Whitby Town in the FA Cup first round on 8 November 2003.[3][4] He joined Whitby Town on work experience in January 2004,[5] where he made five appearances.[6] He was handed his first professional contract by Hartlepool in June 2004, which was signed on 6 July.[1][7]

In 2005, Craddock played at the Millennium Stadium in front of 79,000 fans in the 2005 Football League One play-off final for Hartlepool against Sheffield Wednesday.

He was signed by Conference National team York City on a one-month loan in January 2006.[8] He was released by Hartlepool at the end of the 2005–06 season.[9]

He signed for York permanently in May 2006, following his release by Hartlepool.[10] He was warned he could face a spell on the sidelines by manager Billy McEwan after receiving a one-match ban after he was booked for fouling Forest Green Rovers striker Allan Russell after losing possession on the halfway line.[11] He missed the rest of the 2006–07 season due to a fractured jaw, which was sustained against Cambridge United.[12] He was offered a new contract by York at the end of the 2006–07 season.[13] He was placed on standby for the England C team in February 2008 but two months later was released by York at the end of the 2007–08 season.[14][15]

He joined Newcastle Blue Star of the Northern Premier League Division One North in June 2008.[16] A year later, Craddock signed for Conference North side Blyth Spartans. He re-signed for former club Whitby in July 2010.[17] Craddock signed for newly promoted Northern League Division One outfit Newton Aycliffe in July 2011,[18] and scored on his debut for the team, a 6–1 victory over Stokesley Sports Club.[19] Craddock made 83 appearances for the club.[20]

Craddock signed for Shildon in May 2013 and won player of the year in his first season.[21] He signed for West Auckland Town in May 2016.[21]

Career statistics

As of 17 December 2011.
Club Season League[A] FA Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hartlepool United 2003–04[4] 10 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
2004–05[22] 10 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 15 0
2005–06[23] 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 7 0
Total 24 0 3 0 1 0 5 0 33 0
Whitby Town (loan) 2003–04[6] 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
York City (loan) 2005–06[24] 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
York City 2006–07[25] 35 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 38 0
2007–08[26] 30 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 37 0
Total 69 0 4 0 0 0 6 0 79 0
Blyth Spartans 2009–10[27] 19 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 23 0
Newton Aycliffe 2011–12[28] 24 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 27 2
Career totals 141 2 10 0 1 0 15 0 167 2

Footnotes

A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League, Football Conference, Northern Premier League and Northern League.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Conference League Cup, Durham Challenge Cup, FA Trophy, Football League Trophy, play-offs and Northern League Cup.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2006). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2006–07. Mainstream Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-84596-111-4.
  2. ^ "Just what became of Hartlepool United's Old Trafford cup heroes?".
  3. ^ "Players". In The Mad Crowd. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Season 2003/2004". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 June 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Experience Needed". Hartlepool United F.C. 14 January 2004. Retrieved 11 October 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ a b "Player Details: Season 2003–2004". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Craddock earns Pools deal". BBC Sport. 21 June 2004. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Craddock makes York loan switch". BBC Sport. 20 January 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Seven players released by Pools". BBC Sport. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  10. ^ "McEwan recruits ex-Pools defender". BBC Sport. 31 May 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  11. ^ Flett, Dave (14 December 2006). "Banned Craddock comes under fire from McEwan". The Press. York. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  12. ^ Flett, Dave (16 March 2007). "Broken jaw sidelines Darren Craddock". The Press. York. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  13. ^ "York boss releases eight players". BBC Sport. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  14. ^ Flett, Dave (6 February 2008). "England call for City pair". The Press. York. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Three players released by Walker". BBC Sport. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  16. ^ Pratt, Malcolm (20 June 2008). "Darren signs for Star". TheFreeLibrary.com (taken from Evening Chronicle). Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  17. ^ "Simon Todd and Darren Craddock leave the club". Blyth Spartans A.F.C. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  18. ^ Simpson, Ray (5 July 2011). "Aycliffe sign former Hartlepool defender". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  19. ^ "Match Report". Newton Aycliffe F.C. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  20. ^ "CRADDOCK JOINS RIVALS SHILDON | Aycliffe Today". 9 May 2013.
  21. ^ a b "West Auckland Make First Signing". 25 May 2016.
  22. ^ "Season 2004/2005". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 June 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  23. ^ "Season 2005/2006". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 June 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  24. ^ Batters, Dave (2008). York City: The Complete Record. Breedon Books. pp. 407–421. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
  25. ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 408–421.
  26. ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 410–421.
  27. ^ "Season 2009/2010". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 June 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  28. ^ "Players". Newton Aycliffe F.C. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
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