Craig Skelton Explained

Craig Skelton
Birth Date:14 September 1980
Birth Place:Middlesbrough, England
Currentclub:Marske United (joint manager)
Position:Striker
Youthclubs1:Darlington
Years1:1999–2000
Clubs1:Darlington
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2000
Clubs2:→ Altrincham (loan)
Caps2:4
Goals2:0
Years3:2000–2001
Clubs3:Whitby Town
Years4:2001–2002
Years5:2002
Clubs5:Whitby Town
Years6:2002–2003
Clubs6:Billingham Town
Goals6:19
Years7:2003
Years8:2003–2004
Years9:2004–2005
Clubs9:Thornaby
Years10:2005–2007
Years11:2007–2008
Years12:2008–2010
Clubs12:Marske United
Years13:2010–2011
Clubs13:Redcar Athletic
Years14:2011
Clubs14:Marske United
Years15:2011–2012
Clubs15:Thornaby[1]
Goals15:15
Years16:2012
Clubs16:Marske United
Years17:2012–201?
Clubs17:Redcar Athletic
Manageryears1:2024–
Managerclubs1:Marske United

Craig Skelton (born 14 September 1980) is an English footballer who played as a striker in the Football League for Darlington[2] and in non-league football for a large number of clubs, mostly in the north east of England. He is currently joint manager of Marske United.

Playing career

Darlington

As a youngster with Darlington, the Middlesbrough-born Skelton was a regular goalscorer for the junior teams. Celtic's city rivals Rangers also showed an interest, but an ankle injury prevented further progress. He returned to Scotland for further trials after his recovery,[3] but no move ensued.

In February 2000, Skelton signed on loan for Conference Premier club Altrincham: his debut, playing in midfield in a home defeat to the division's bottom club, Welling United, was described in the local newspaper as "a baptism of fire for Skelton, who could add nothing to an ineffective Robins attack, and found himself in referee Clattenburg's book for an over-zealous challenge".[4] He appeared in four Conference matches without scoring.[5]

In October, his improved scoring form for Darlington's reserves[6] earned him inclusion in the first-team squad for the visit to Cardiff City in Division Three. With Cardiff a goal up, Skelton came on for his Football League debut as an 82nd-minute substitute, but Darlington were unable to prevent the home side increasing their lead.[7] [8] He made no more first-team appearances for the club and, to the reported surprise of supporters, was released at the end of November when his latest monthly contract expired.[9]

Non-league football

He signed for Whitby Town of the Northern Premier League,[9] with whom he spent what remained of the season. He moved on to Blyth Spartans, also of the Northern Premier League, for 2001–02,[10] but by March 2002 was back with Whitby.[11] In November 2002, he signed for Northern League club Billingham Town,[12] and scored 19 goals to help them reach the highest league finish in their history, third in the Northern League First Division.[13] Early the next season, he returned to the Northern Premier with Spennymoor United, newly promoted to the First Division,[14] but he stayed there only a month before being released back to Billingham.[15] In his first game back, away at Durham City, he scored what was believed to be the fastest Northern League goal ever, after no more than eight seconds,[16] and he was a member of the team that beat Bishop Auckland to win the 2004 Durham Challenge Cup, the first major trophy in the Billingham club's history.[17]

Skelton began the 2004–05 season with Billingham,[18] but soon moved on to fellow Northern League side Thornaby,[19] and in January 2005, dropped down a division to join Northallerton Town, for whom he scored twice on his debut in a 3–1 win at Marske United[20] and scored 14 goals as they came close to achieving promotion. He broke his ankle in the following pre-season,[21] and was only able to return in the last few weeks of the campaign[22] as Northallerton clinched promotion to the First Division. Skelton missed much of the season with injuries,[23] [24] and returned to the Northern League second tier with Guisborough Town in the 2007 close season.[25]

He moved to Marske United for 2008–09,[26] helping them reach the quarter-finals of the 2009 FA Vase[27] fifth place in Northern League Division Two in 2008–09 and fourth in 2009–10.[28] After a first foray into the Wearside League with Redcar Athletic for 2010–11,[29] Skelton rejoined Marske United, newly promoted to the first tier of the Northern League, for 2011–12.[30] He soon left for the second tier with former club Thornaby,[31] but returned to Marske United in March 2012.[32] He started the next season back with Redcar Athletic in the Wearside League.[33]

Coaching career

In March 2024 Skelton was appointed joint manager of Marske United alongside Simon Kasonali.[34]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Northern League Division 2 Leading Scorers 2011–12 . Keith . Greener . Chester-le-Street Town F.C. . 21 May 2012 . 6 November 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106203127/http://www.petersen-stainless.co.uk/cfc/NewFiles/Season%202011-12/NLLeadingScorers.html . 6 November 2014 . dmy-all .
  2. Web site: Darlington: 1946/47–1988/89 & 1990/91–2009/10 . Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database . Neil Brown . 6 November 2014.
  3. News: Rangers to eye the new Beardsley . Daily Record . Glasgow . 29 September 1999 . 63 . NewsBank.
  4. News: Leroy Chambers tries in vain to set up a chance for the Robins . Crewe & Nantwich Guardian . 18 February 2000 . 6 November 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106192110/http://www.creweguardian.co.uk/archive/2000/02/18/7231353.Leroy_Chambers_tries_in_vain_to_set_up_a_chance_for_the_Robins/ . 6 November 2014 . dmy-all .
  5. Book: John . Harman . Alliance to Conference 1979–2004: The first 25 years . Tony Williams Publications . 2005 . 978-1-869833-52-7 . 32, 39.
  6. News: Ref clears Gray but Molby faces charge . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 18 October 2000 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106211708/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2000/10/18/7127956.Ref_clears_Gray_but_Molby_faces_charge/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  7. Web site: Craig Skelton . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 6 November 2014.
  8. News: Bennett left fuming as Quakers crash . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 25 October 2000 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106213227/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2000/10/25/7127428.Bennett_left_fuming_as_Quakers_crash/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  9. News: Quakers release Skelton . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 29 November 2000 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106210144/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2000/11/29/7124270.Quakers_release_Skelton/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  10. News: Quakers slip to embarassing [sic?] defeat ]. The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 22 July 2001 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106214757/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2001/07/22/7103569.Quakers_slip_to_embarassing_defeat/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  11. News: Bishops' boss praises players . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 1 April 2002 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106213231/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2002/04/01/7079229.Bishops__boss_praises_players/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  12. News: Cup money under threat . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 8 November 2002 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106214743/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2002/11/08/7053863.Cup_money_under_threat/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  13. News: Billingham Town scale the heights . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 2 May 2003 . NewsBank.
  14. News: Shocks abound in FA Cup . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 5 September 2003 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106214749/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/09/05/7017012.Shocks_abound_in_FA_Cup/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  15. News: UniBond League . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 3 October 2003 . NewsBank . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106213215/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/10/03/7013730.UniBond_League/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  16. News: The Albany Northern League Today . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 10 October 2003 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106214739/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/10/10/7012992.The_Albany_Northern_League_Today/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  17. News: Non-league round-up: Billingham grab first major trophy . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 10 October 2003 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106213224/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2004/04/13/6994693.Non_league_round_up__Billingham_grab_first_major_trophy/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  18. News: Northallerton give Billingham a scare in FA Cup battles . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 10 September 2004 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106214752/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2004/09/10/6978954.Northallerton_give_Billingham_a_scare_in_FA_Cup_battles/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  19. News: Albany Northern League: Young lays down the Law after sorry loss to leaders . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 13 September 2004 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106213220/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2004/09/13/6978768.Albany_Northern_League__Young_lays_down_the_Law_after_sorry_loss_to_leaders/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  20. News: Skelton's debut brace keeps Town in the hunt . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 28 January 2005 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106211702/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2005/01/28/6963559.Skelton_s_debut_brace_keeps_Town_in_the_hunt/ . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  21. News: Moors' revival begins tonight . Ray . Simpson . The Northern Echo . Middlesbrough . 12 August 2005 . NewsBank.
  22. News: Town head into critical week as games pile up . Harrogate Advertiser . 18 April 2006 . 6 November 2014.
  23. News: Town seek success in weather-jinxed cup tie . Andrew . Groves . Harrogate Advertiser . 3 January 2007 . 6 November 2014.
  24. News: Burton impressed by Town youngsters . North Yorkshire News . 19 March 2007 . 6 November 2014.
  25. News: I've no intention of retiring, Scaife . Ray . Simpson . The Northern Echo . Darlington . 29 June 2007 . NewsBank.
  26. News: West look for new boss after Owers resignation . Ray . Simpson . The Northern Echo . Darlington . 22 September 2008 . 6 November 2014.
  27. News: Seasiders on a cruise into FA Vase semis . Steve . Brown . The Journal . Newcastle . 2 March 2009 . NewsBank.
  28. Web site: Northern League 2008–09. and Web site: Northern League 2009–10 . Football Club History Database . Richard Rundle . 6 November 2014.
  29. News: Rebuilt Prudhoe alive and kicking . Malcolm . Pratt . The Journal . Newcastle . 2 August 2010 . NewsBank.
  30. News: STL Northern League . The Journal . Newcastle . 15 August 2011 . 6 November 2014.
  31. News: FA Carlsberg Vase/STL Northern League . Malcolm . Pratt . The Journal . Newcastle . 24 October 2011 . 6 November 2014.
  32. News: Bishop play for 80 minutes with ten men and beat Benfield . Ray . Simpsom . The Northern Echo . Darlington . 25 March 2012 . 6 November 2014.
  33. News: Wearside League . Malcolm . Pratt . The Journal . Newcastle . 4 August 2012 . 6 November 2014.
  34. Web site: Club update. Marske United. 11 March 2024.

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