Craig Calver Explained

Craig Calver
Fullname:Craig Tony Calver
Birth Date:20 January 1991
Birth Place:Cambridge,[1] England
Position:Striker
Youthclubs1:Bishop's Stortford
Youthclubs2:Peterborough United
Youthclubs3:Cambridge United
Youthyears4:2003–2005
Youthclubs4:Cambridge City
Youthyears5:2005–2009
Youthclubs5:Ipswich Town
Youthyears6:2009–2010
Youthclubs6:Southend United
Years1:2009–2010
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2009
Clubs2:Harlow Town (loan)
Caps2:2
Goals2:1
Years3:2009
Clubs3:St Albans City (loan)
Caps3:4
Goals3:0
Years4:2010
Clubs4:Braintree Town (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:1
Years5:2010
Clubs5:AFC Sudbury
Caps5:9
Goals5:2
Years6:2010–2011
Clubs6:Yeovil Town
Caps6:5
Goals6:0
Years7:2011
Clubs7:Braintree Town (loan)
Caps7:4
Goals7:0
Years8:2011
Caps8:1
Goals8:0
Years9:2011
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Years10:2011–2012
Clubs10:AFC Sudbury
Caps10:9
Goals10:0
Years11:2011–2012
Clubs11:Haverhill Rovers (loan)
Years12:2012
Caps12:14
Goals12:2
Years13:2012–2013
Clubs13:St Neots Town
Caps13:9
Goals13:1
Years14:2013
Clubs14:Cambridge City
Caps14:15
Goals14:1
Years15:2013–2017
Years16:2017
Caps16:0
Goals16:0
Years17:2017
Caps17:14
Goals17:3
Years18:2017–2018
Clubs18:Enfield Town
Caps18:6
Goals18:0
Years19:2018
Clubs19:Cheshunt
Caps19:1
Goals19:0
Years20:2018–2020
Caps20:30
Goals20:4
Years21:2020
Caps21:5
Goals21:1
Years22:2020–2023
Caps22:58
Goals22:27
Club-Update:21:11, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

Craig Tony Calver (born 20 January 1991) is an English footballer who last played as a striker for Saffron Walden Town.

Career

Born in Cambridge and brought up in Saffron Walden, Calver attended Saffron Walden County High School and spent time in the academies at Bishop's Stortford, Peterborough United, Cambridge United and Cambridge City.[2] Calver spent his early teen years at Ipswich Town where he scored goals in the third team, the youth and the reserve teams. However, he never made a first team appearance for Ipswich before being released in March 2009. He was then signed by Southend United as a first year professional where he scored 16 goals in 18 starts for their under-18 side.[3]

Soon after joining Southend, Calver was loaned out to Isthmian League Division One North side Harlow Town who he appeared for twice in his month stay scoring one goal. In August 2009, he went out on loan for another month this time to Conference South side St Albans City, but had limited opportunities appearing four times but failing to score.[4] After still failing to make the first team of Southend he was sent out on loan to fellow Conference South side Braintree Town to gain more experience again for a month making five substitute appearances scoring one goal.[5]

On 25 March 2010, Calver joined Southern Football League Division One Central side AFC Sudbury and impressed in games until the end of season, starting nine games scoring twice.[6] This successful form earned him a trial with League One side Yeovil Town and featured in all but one of their pre-season matches, these impressive performances earned him a one-year contract with the club.[7] He made his professional debut for the club in the 4–0 away defeat to Notts County on 4 September 2010 as a substitute in the 77th minute.[8] Calver was loaned back out to Conference South side Braintree Town in February 2011 but only made four substitute appearances before returning to Yeovil Town. He was released at the end of the 2010–11 season after making only six substitute appearances.[9]

Following his release from Yeovil, Calver linked up with Conference North side Histon for pre-season training,[10] but failed to earn a contract from his trial. Calver then turned up at fellow Conference North side Bishop's Stortford appearing in their pre-season friendlies.[11] In September 2011, Calver re-signed for AFC Sudbury, before joined Haverhill Rovers on dual-registration.[12]

In the summer of 2012, Calver signed for Conference South side Chelmsford City.[13] After two goals in 14 appearances for Chelmsford, Calver saw out the 2012–13 season with St Neots Town and Cambridge City.[14]

In 2013, Calver joined Eastern Counties League club Saffron Walden Town. Calver stayed at Saffron Walden for four years, before departing in 2017.[15]

Calver began the 2017–18 season at Coggeshall Town, however failed to make an appearance, being an unused substitute twice during his time at the club.[16] Following his time at Coggeshall, Calver joined Mildenhall Town, before playing for Enfield Town and Cheshunt in the 2017–18 season. In the summer of 2018, Calver rejoined Saffron Walden. In February 2020, Calver re-signed for Bishop's Stortford, before the COVID-19 pandemic halted football.[12] Following the resumption of football in England, Calver once again re-joined Saffron Walden Town in 2020, scoring 11 goals in 15 league appearances, before football was suspended for a second time due to the pandemic.[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Craig Calver Ipswich Academy Profile . Ipswich Town F.C. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328112640/http://www.itfc.co.uk/page/Academy/0%2C%2C10272~1244607%2C00.html . 28 March 2012 . dmy-all .
  2. Web site: Young striker's dream comes true. Saffron Walden Reporter. 22 November 2006. 2 May 2022.
  3. News: Sudbury Striker taken on trial . 15 July 2010 . Ciderspace .
  4. News: Calver loaned to St. Albans. 28 August 2009. Southend United F.C.. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090831103251/http://www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10444~1781391%2C00.html. 31 August 2009. dmy-all.
  5. News: Southend United forward Craig Calver joins Braintree . 10 February 2010. BBC Sport .
  6. Web site: Craig Calver. A.F.C. Sudbury.
  7. News: Yeovil Town sign former Southend striker Craig Calver. 29 July 2010. BBC Sport .
  8. News: Notts County 4–0 Yeovil.. 4 September 2010. BBC Sport .
  9. News: Terry Skiverton offers seven new Yeovil Town deals. 5 May 2011. BBC Sport .
  10. News: Oyebanjo's on his way after turning down Stutes offer . 15 June 2011 . Cambridge news . 24 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120926033613/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Sport/Histon/Oyebanjos-on-his-way-after-turning-down-Stutes-offer-14062011.htm# . 26 September 2012 . dead . dmy-all.
  11. News: Bishop's Stortford FC 0, West Ham XI 3. 16 July 2011. Herts and Essex Observer. 24 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002041123/http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Sport/Big-Sam-speaks-to-the-Observer-about-Parker-transfer-at-Stortford-friendly-with-Hammers-16072011.htm. 2 October 2011. dead. dmy-all.
  12. Web site: Craig Calver. Pride of Anglia. 2 May 2022.
  13. Web site: Craig Calver Keen To Seize Chelmsford City Chance. Non-League Paper. 31 July 2012. 2 May 2022.
  14. Web site: Craig Calver. Aylesbury United F.C.. 2 May 2022.
  15. Web site: Former Southend United striker returns to Bloods. CambridgeshireLive. 21 June 2018. 2 May 2022.
  16. Web site: CRAIG CALVER Player Stats. Full-Time FA. 2 May 2022.
  17. Web site: Craig Calver Player Stats. Full-Time FA. 2 May 2022.