Craig Hinchliffe Explained

Craig Hinchliffe
Fullname:Craig Peter Hinchliffe
Birth Date:5 May 1972
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Aberdeen (goalkeeping coach)
Years1:1991–1992
Years2:1992–1995
Years3:1995–2003
Years4:2003–2007
Years5:2007
Years6:2007–2013
Clubs1:Albion Rovers
Clubs2:Elgin City
Clubs3:Arbroath
Clubs4:St Mirren
Clubs5:Queen of the South (loan)
Clubs6:Partick Thistle
Caps1:1
Caps2:104
Caps3:164
Caps4:65
Caps5:5
Caps6:13
Goals1:0
Goals2:0
Goals3:0
Goals4:0
Goals5:0
Goals6:0

Craig Hinchliffe (born 5 May 1972) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently the goalkeeping coach at Aberdeen.

Playing career

Hinchliffe made one Scottish Football League (SFL) appearance for Albion Rovers in the 1991/92 season, before moving to Highland League club Elgin City. In 1995, he moved back into the SFL with Arbroath, where he made nearly 200 appearances for the club. In the summer of 2003 he transferred to St Mirren and made 70 appearances, including several in their promotion season in 2005–06. In the 2006–07 season, he played a handful of games for Queen of the South during a loan spell at the Dumfries club.

In the summer of 2007, he signed for Partick Thistle as goalkeeper and goalkeeper coach. Thistle's manager, Ian McCall, had also signed Hinchliffe (on loan) for Queen of the South. He was released at the end of the 2009/10 season but rejoined in a player-coach role in time for the 2010/11 season.[1]

Coaching career

In April 2011, Hinchliffe continued his role under the new management team of Jackie McNamara and Simon Donnelly. McNamara and Donnelly left Partick Thistle in January 2013, with the club sitting in 2nd place, to join Dundee United. Hinchliffe worked closely with new caretaker manager Alan Archibald. Archibald later guided Thistle to the Championship gaining the Jags promotion to the Scottish Premiership with a 16-game unbeaten run. Despite Thistle's attempts to secure Hinchliffe's services he opted to rejoin Jackie McNamara and Simon Donnelly at Dundee United, signing a three-year deal in time for season 2013–2014.[2] [3] [4] Hinchliffe left Dundee United in September 2015, following McNamara's departure.[5] In November 2015 he was appointed as goalkeeping coach at Airdrieonians,[6] but a month later reunited with McNamara at League Two club York City.[7] Returning to Scotland, he became goalkeeping coach at Motherwell in June 2017.[8] On 13 May, after 5 successful seasons at Motherwell working with Trevor Carson, Mark Gillespie and Liam Kelly, Hinchliffe returned to Dundee Utd for a second spell under Thomas Courts. Before the 22/23 SPFL season began Courts left the club.[9] On June 21 2023, he was announced as St Johnstone's

On June 24 2024 he signed for Aberdeen F.C. as goalkeeper coach.[10]

Honours

St Mirren

2005–06[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Quartet sign on again at Firhill. BBC Sport. 2 July 2010.
  2. http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/sport/dundee-united/united-goalie-coach-has-big-say-in-selection-1.93527
  3. Web site: Welcome to Tannadice - Dundee United Football Club.
  4. Web site: Dundee United: Goalkeeper Luis Zwick earns professional deal . BBC Sport . 1 July 2015 . 2 July 2015.
  5. Web site: Dundee United confirm Jackie McNamara exit as manager . BBC Sport . 28 September 2015 . 28 September 2015.
  6. News: Paterson. Colin. Airdrieonians gaffer Gary Bollan questions why team paid derby-day penalty. 23 November 2015. Daily Record. 4 November 2015. Glasgow.
  7. News: Dave . Flett . Craig Hinchliffe joins York City as goalkeeper coach . The Press . York . 10 December 2015 . 10 December 2015.
  8. News: Mullen. Scott. Hinchcliffe new goalkeeping coach at Motherwell. 27 June 2017. The Herald. 26 June 2017. Glasgow.
  9. http://www.thecourier.co.uk%2Ffp%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fdundee-united%2F3294308%2Fdundee-united-craig-hinchliffe-motherwell-premiership-goalkeeping-coach%2F&usg=AOvVaw0-Kaev1xxOKUOIhYkn9Ebj
  10. Web site: Appointed Johnstone's goalkeeping coach. www.bbc.co.uk. 21 June 2023.
  11. Web site: St Mirren 2-1 Hamilton Accies. BBC. 6 November 2005 . 31 March 2021.