Craig Alcock Explained

Craig Alcock
Upright:0.9
Fullname:Craig Alcock[1]
Birth Date:1987 12, df=y
Birth Place:Truro, England
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:2004–2005
Youthclubs1:Yeovil Town
Years1:2005–2011
Clubs1:Yeovil Town
Caps1:107
Goals1:3
Years2:2006
Clubs2:Weston-super-Mare (loan)
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:2007
Clubs3:Taunton Town (loan)
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:2007
Clubs4:Tiverton Town (loan)
Caps4:12
Goals4:0
Years5:2011–2014
Caps5:96
Goals5:0
Years6:2014–2016
Clubs6:Sheffield United
Caps6:27
Goals6:0
Years7:2015–2016
Clubs7:Doncaster Rovers (loan)
Caps7:9
Goals7:0
Years8:2016–2018
Clubs8:Doncaster Rovers
Caps8:54
Goals8:0
Years9:2018–2019
Clubs9:Cheltenham Town
Caps9:8
Goals9:0
Years10:2019–2020
Clubs10:Yeovil Town
Caps10:21
Goals10:0
Years11:2020–2022
Clubs11:Harlow Town
Caps11:28
Goals11:5
Totalcaps:370
Totalgoals:8

Craig Alcock (born 8 December 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. Having begun his career at Yeovil Town he spent time on loan at Weston-super-Mare, Taunton Town and Tiverton Town before moving to Peterborough United. Alcock then played for Sheffield United, Doncaster Rovers and Cheltenham Town. Following a return to Yeovil Town and a stint at Harlow Town, he retired from playing in 2022. Alcock is a U16s coach at Luton Town.[2]

Career

Yeovil Town

Born in Truro, Cornwall,[1] Alcock started his career with the Yeovil Town youth system in 2004.[3] At the start of the 2005–06 season Alcock was awarded a first team contract along with fellow youth teammates Tom Clarke and Jake Smeeton.[4] Due to being over-age for playing in the youth side for Yeovil Town, he had three short-term loan spells in the 2006–07 season with Conference South side Weston-super-mare, Southern League sides Taunton Town and Tiverton Town.[5] He made his first team debut as a substitute away at Gillingham in the final league match of the 2006–07 season.[6]

After making a breakthrough and challenging for the number one right back slot in the 2007–08 season, Alcock became a regular starter during the 2008–09 season due to injuries and suspensions concerning Lee Peltier. In February 2008 Alcock had to play in goal after an injury to Steve Mildenhall against Walsall; he came on at 0-0 but Yeovil ended up losing 2–0.[7] In May 2009, Alcock signed a new 2-year contract with Yeovil Town,[8] and after new captain Stefan Stam was dropped due to injury and poor form, Alcock was made captain for the remainder of the season.[9]

In early summer 2010, Alcock was linked with a move to championship side Norwich City but remained with Yeovil for the remainder of the season and in May 2011 was informed by the club that he was one of seven Yeovil players who would be awarded new contracts.[10]

Peterborough United

Despite being offered a new deal at Yeovil, in July 2011 Alcock signed for Peterborough United on a three-year deal with Yeovil receiving £100,000 in compensation due to his age.[11] Alcock made 112 appearances for Posh in all competitions over his three seasons at the club, including winning the EFL Trophy in 2014, before being released at the end of the 2013–14 season.[12]

Sheffield United

In July 2014, Alcock signed a two-year deal with Sheffield United.[13] Alcock started as a regular in the side both at centre half and then in his more customary role at right back. However, after an injury he has found himself in a more peripheral role, made harder by the January arrivals of additional full backs Kieron Freeman and John Brayford. In his second season at United, Alcock again found match time hard to come by, and as a result joined fellow League One side Doncaster Rovers on a 28-day loan on 10 November 2015.[14] The loan was made permanent on 7 January 2016.[15]

Cheltenham Town

On 7 August 2018, Cheltenham Town signed the now free agent Alcock on a free transfer.[16] On 26 January 2019, Alcock was released by Cheltenham.[17]

Yeovil Town

On 1 February 2019, following his release from Cheltenham, Alcock re-signed for Yeovil Town on a contract until the end of the 2018–19 season.[18]

Personal life

Alcock is also a keen cricketer playing for Wincanton CC in the Somerset League.[19] Alcock studied for his A-Levels at Sexey's School in Bruton, Somerset.[20]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Yeovil Town2006–07League One1000000010
2007–08League One80101030130
2008–09League One301202010351
2009–10League One421100000431
2010–11League One261101010291
Total10735040501213
Tiverton Town (loan)2006–07[21] Southern Premier Division12030150
Peterborough United2011–12Championship4101020440
2012–13Championship2701010290
2013–14League One28010307[22] 0390
Total9603060701120
Sheffield United2014–15League One24030302[23] 0320
2015–16League One30101050
Total270304030370
Doncaster Rovers2015–16League One27020290
2016–17League Two270100010290
2017–18League One90103040170
Total630403050750
Cheltenham Town2018–19League Two80000030110
Yeovil Town2018–19League Two4040
2019–20National League1700000170
Total210000000210
Harlow Town2020–21Isthmian South Central Division20310051
2021–22[24] Southern Division One Central2651060335
Total2854160386
Career total36281911703204309

Honours

Peterborough United

2013–14[25]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Book: Barry J. . Hugman . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 . 2010 . Mainstream Publishing . Edinburgh . 978-1-84596-601-0 . 17 .
  2. Web site: The secrets behind Southampton boss Nathan Jones's Yeovil success . Southern Daily Echo . 5 December 2022 . 25 January 2023.
  3. Web site: Career History. UpThePosh!. 17 February 2012.
  4. News: Pick of the Youth. Ciderspace. 16 June 2006. 18 October 2014.
  5. News: Glovers defender leaves on loan. BBC Sport. 29 March 2007. 18 October 2014.
  6. News: Gillingham 0–2 Yeovil. BBC Sport. 5 May 2007. 18 October 2014.
  7. News: Walsall 2-0 Yeovil. . 9 February 2008 . 21 July 2021.
  8. Web site: Gaffer makes his first move. Yeovil Town F.C.. 7 May 2009. 18 October 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120214094559/http://www.ytfc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10673~1651705%2C00.html. 14 February 2012.
  9. Web site: Happy Birthday Cap'n. Yeovil Town F.C.. 9 December 2009. 18 October 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120224223152/http://www.ytfc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10673~1898693%2C00.html. 24 February 2012.
  10. News: Terry Skiverton offers seven new Yeovil Town deals. BBC Sport. 5 May 2011. 5 May 2011.
  11. News: Peterborough United complete deal for Yeovil's Alcock. BBC Sport. 7 July 2011. 18 October 2014.
  12. News: Posh Announce Retained List . Peterborough United F.C.. 14 May 2014. 14 May 2014.
  13. Web site: Craig Alcock: Sheffield United sign ex-Peterborough United defender. BBC Sport. 15 July 2014. 15 July 2014.
  14. News: Blades defender loaned to Doncaster . BBC Sport . 10 November 2015 . 10 November 2015.
  15. Web site: CONFIRMED: Craig Alcock joins Doncaster Rovers from Sheffield United . Hoden . Liam . The Doncaster Star. 7 January 2016 . 22 January 2016 .
  16. Web site: Craig Alcock: Cheltenham Town sign former Doncaster Rovers defender . BBC Sport . 7 August 2018 . 8 August 2018.
  17. Web site: Former Yeovil Town, Peterborough United, Sheffield United and Doncaster Rovers defender released by Cheltenham Town . Gloucestershire Live . 26 January 2019 . 27 January 2019 .
  18. Web site: Craig Alcock: Yeovil Town re-sign ex-Cheltenham Town defender . BBC Sport . 2 February 2019 . 3 February 2019 .
  19. Web site: Craig Alcock Statistics. Wicanton CC. 18 October 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20130131145955/http://wincanton.play-cricket.com/profile/statistics.asp?id=11096408. 31 January 2013.
  20. Web site: Football. Sexey's School. 8 December 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120426060942/http://joomlatest.sexeys.somerset.sch.uk/oldwebsite/enrichment/sports/Page-20966.html. 26 April 2012.
  21. Web site: Craig Alcock . Tivvy Archive . 30 April 2023 .
  22. Five appearances in EFL Trophy, two in League One play-offs
  23. One appearance in EFL Trophy, one in League One play-offs
  24. Web site: Craig Alcock Profile . aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk . Aylesbury United F.C. . 7 October 2021.
  25. News: Chesterfield 1–3 Peterborough United . Woodcock . Ian . BBC Sport . 30 March 2014 . 12 March 2024.
  26. News: Star Football Awards: Alcock wins Doncaster Rovers Player of the Year . Doncaster Free Press . 6 May 2016 . 28 February 2023.