Craig Gunn Explained

Craig Gunn
Birth Date:17 July 1987
Birth Place:Wick, Scotland
Currentclub:Golspie Sutherland F.C
Position:Striker
Years1:2003–2004
Clubs1:Wick Academy
Caps1:26
Goals1:22
Years2:2004–2009
Clubs2:Ross County
Caps2:47
Goals2:2
Years3:2008–2009
Clubs3:Peterhead (loan)
Caps3:36
Goals3:4
Years4:2009–2017
Clubs4:Elgin City
Caps4:280
Goals4:111
Years5:2017
Clubs5:Brora Rangers
Years6:2017–
Clubs6:Wick Academy
Club-Update:23 December 2017 (UTC)

| club-update = 2023 -| clubs7 = Golspie SutherlandCraig Gunn (born 17 July 1987) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a striker for Highland League club, Wick Academy.

He was previously with Elgin City between 2009 and 2017, and has also played for Brora Rangers and Ross County, as well as a loan spell with Peterhead.

Career

Wick Academy

Born in Wick, Gunn started his career at his hometown team, Highland League side Wick Academy. He spent just one season there and finished as the club's top scorer with 22 of the club's 42 league goals as the side finished 11th in the table.[1] He also scored three cup goals. In the nine seasons from 1998–99 to 2006–07, Gunn was the only Wick player to get into double figures for league goals.

Ross County

After his impressive performance in the Highland League, Gunn moved to First Division side Ross County. He stayed there for five seasons, scoring only two goals in 47 league appearances. He made only two appearances for the first team in the 2004–05 season,[2] but was used a lot more in his second season at the Stags. In the league he scored in a 2–1 loss to Gretna,[3] and in a 4–1 win over Hamilton Academical on 13 March 2006.[4] Gunn also scored two cup goals that season; one in the Scottish League Cup in the first round in a 4–2 win over Stranraer[5] and one in the Scottish Challenge Cup in the 4–1 semi-final victory over Albion Rovers.[6] In the 2007–08 season, Gunn made just nine substitute appearances and failed to score.

Peterhead

In 2008–09, Gunn was sent on loan to Second Division side Peterhead. He made an immediate impact with a hat trick on his début, as Peterhead beat Montrose 6–0 in the Challenge Cup.[7] Gunn would score five more goals that season – four in the league and one in the Scottish League Cup.[8]

Elgin City

Gunn was released by Ross County in the summer of 2009, and the striker signed a 12-month deal with Third Division Elgin City.[9] Gunn was a regular scorer for the Moray side, contributing his fair share of goals. Despite Elgin finishing second bottom in his first season at the club, Gunn was top scorer for the whole division with 18 goals[10]

In the 2011–12 season, Gunn was fifth top scorer in the league with 18 goals, as Elgin finished fourth.[11] That season Gunn was awarded the Ginger Boot for August,[12] an award for the player who scored the most goals that month across the three SFL divisions.[13] Gunn continued his prolific scoring for Elgin, netting 128 times in 316 appearances. After eight years with the club, he left Elgin in May 2017.[14]

Personal life

In December 2012, Gunn's 34-year-old brother, Jamie, died after collapsing in his home. Elgin City players wore a black armband and the club held a minute's silence to pay their respects.[15]

Honours

Ross County

2006–07[16]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.highlandfootballleague.com/LeagueTable/ Highland League table 2003/04
  2. https://archive.today/20130411005526/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/43273/craig-gunn?cc=3436 Craig Gunn career statistics
  3. http://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2006-08-19 Gretna 2 Ross County 1 report
  4. https://archive.today/20130411005202/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=214911&cc=3436 Ross County 4 Hamilton Academicals 1 report
  5. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/5254388.stm Ross County 4 Stranraer 2 report
  6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/5381688.stm Ross County 4 Albion Rovers 1 report
  7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/7524235.stm Peterhead 6 Montrose 0 report
  8. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=39587&season_id=138 Peterhead 2008/09 stats
  9. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/e/elgin_city/8119841.stm Gunn and Dunn sign up for Elgin – BBC Sports
  10. https://int.soccerway.com/national/scotland/third-division/2009-2010/regular-season/ 2009/10 season stats
  11. https://int.soccerway.com/national/scotland/third-division/2011-2012/regular-season/ 2011/12 season stats
  12. Web site: IRN-BRU Phenomenal Awards for August 2011 . 8 February 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111024005526/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/news/article/irn-bru-phenomenal-awards-for-august-2011/ . 24 October 2011 . dead .
  13. Web site: IRN-BRU's Ginger Boot Kicks-off another Phenomenal Season . 8 February 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100826102816/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/news/article/irn-brus-ginger-boot-kicks-off-another-phenomenal-season . 26 August 2010 . dead .
  14. Web site: Three leave City . Aimee . Walker . Elgin City FC . 17 May 2017 . 17 May 2017.
  15. http://local.stv.tv/aberdeen/news/207849-tributes-and-support-for-elgin-star-craig-gunn-after-his-brother-dies/ Tributes and support for Elgin star Craig Gunn after his brother dies – stv news
  16. Web site: Ross County 1-1 Clyde (aet). BBC. 12 November 2006 . 31 March 2021.