Allan Craig Explained

Height:5ft 10in
Position:Centre half
Birth Date:7 February 1904
Birth Place:Paisley, Scotland
Death Place:Paisley, Scotland
Years1:
Clubs1:Saltcoats Victoria
Years2:1924–1933
Clubs2:Motherwell
Caps2:294
Goals2:3
Years3:1933–1939
Clubs3:Chelsea
Caps3:196
Goals3:0
Years4:
Clubs4:Dartford
Totalcaps:490
Totalgoals:3
Nationalyears1:1929–1932
Nationalteam1:Scotland
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1929–1930
Nationalteam2:Scottish League XI
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0

Allan Leggat Craig (7 February 1904 – December 26, 1978) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre half for Motherwell, Chelsea and Scotland.[1]

Career

Club

Craig played junior football for Saltcoats Victoria until he signed for Motherwell in 1924. He was a key part of the side that won the Scottish league championship in the 1931–32 season, having also played in the 1931 Scottish Cup Final which Motherwell lost to Celtic after a replay, Craig scoring an unfortunate last-minute own goal in the first match[2] (this was said to have resulted from a mistake in communication: a teammate shouted for 'Allan' to claim a cross ball and both he and goalkeeper Allan McClory did so, with the ball ending up in the net).[3]

He moved to Chelsea in 1933 and played for the West London club until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, making 211 appearances in the Football League and FA Cup.[4]

International

Craig represented Scotland three times, twice in a 1929 tour and once in 1932.[5] He also appeared twice for the Scottish Football League XI.[6]

Notes and References

  1. A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players. John Litster. Scottish Football Historian magazine. October 2012.
  2. Web site: Cup Final Thrill Celtic Equalise in the Last Minute . The Scotsman. The Celtic Wiki. 13 April 1931. 11 August 2020.
  3. News: Allan Craig . MotherWELLnet. 27 June 2020.
  4. Web site: Allan Craig . Chelsea FC . 8 September 2012.
  5. Web site: [Scotland player] Allan Craig]. www.londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. 8 September 2012.
  6. Web site: [SFL player] Alan Craig [sic] ]. London Hearts Supporters' Club. 12 May 2020.