Nathan Craig Explained

Nathan Craig
Fullname:Nathan Lee Craig[1]
Birth Date:25 October 1991
Birth Place:Caernarfon, Wales
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Everton
Youthyears1:2009–2010
Clubs1:Everton
Clubs2:Caernarfon Town
Years1:2010–2011
Years2:2011–2012
Caps1:0
Caps2:17
Goals1:0
Goals2:5
Years3:2012–2014
Clubs3:Torquay United
Caps3:47
Goals3:1
Years4:2014
Clubs4:Dorchester Town (loan)
Caps4:6
Goals4:1
Years5:2014–2020
Clubs5:Caernarfon Town
Caps5:200
Goals5:82
Years6:2020
Clubs6:Flint Town United
Caps6:10
Goals6:1
Years7:2021
Clubs7:Caernarfon Town
Caps7:1
Goals7:0
Years8:2021–2022
Clubs8:Porthmadog
Caps8:9
Goals8:3
Totalcaps:290
Totalgoals:93
Nationalyears1:2007–2008
Nationalteam1:Wales U17
Nationalcaps1:11
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2008–2009
Nationalteam2:Wales U19
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2009
Nationalteam3:Wales U21
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalgoals3:0

Nathan Lee Craig (born 25 October 1991) is a Welsh former footballer.

He has previously played for Premier League team Everton, Torquay United and his home town club, Caernarfon Town. He is also a Wales under-21 international. Craig is a left-footed midfielder who can play in both central or wide roles.

Club career

Everton

Craig joined Everton at the age of 12 and, having progressed through the youth team ranks, he was offered a place as a first-year scholar in the summer of 2008. A deadball specialist, he became a regular in the Under-18s during the 2008/09 season. His versatility down the left flank and set-piece delivery saw him progress to Everton's reserves in the 2009/2010 and he became a regular for the reserves during the 2010/2011 season. He made his competitive first-team debut versus BATE Borisov on 17 December 2009 in the UEFA Europa League.[2]

Caernarfon Town

After being released by Everton in the summer of 2011, he joined up with home town club Caernarfon Town.[3]

Torquay United

Craig Joined Torquay United after a successful trial in 2012 and went on to make 47 appearances, scoring 1 goal a freekick. Following the club's relegation to the Conference in May 2014 Craig, along with 7 other teammates, was placed on the transfer list. On 7 June 2014 following the player's request, his contract was mutually terminated.[4]

Caernarfon Town

Recently he was reunited with his hometown club after leaving Torquay United. Craig has scored 14 goals in the first 18 games of the 16/17 season. This was followed by an excellent return of 21 goals in 26 games so far in 2017/2018. Craig scored 13 league goals as Caernarfon returned to the Welsh premier league in 18/19, with the team finishing an impressive 4th and qualifying for the Europa league play off.

On 22 June 2020, the club announced on Twitter that Craig had departed the club, for a "new challenge", later revealed to be Flint Town United.

Craig later returned to Caernarfon appearing in only one match before moving to Porthmadog.

He announced his retirement in April 2022, citing injuries as the reason.[5]

International career

Craig made a goalscoring debut for the Wales under-17 side on 27 August 2007 during a 2–1 victory over Belgium after replacing Matthew Hurdman as a first-half substitute.[6] Two months after making his debut, Craig was included in the squad for the qualifying round of the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, making appearances in matches against Spain and Andorra.[7] [8] Having advanced to the elite round of qualifying, Craig played in all three group matches as Wales finished second in their group, failing to qualify for the tournament.

He made his debut for the Wales under-21 side against Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 2009.[9]

Personal life

Craig was born in the town of Caernarfon in Wales and speaks fluent Welsh and English.

References

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/DEVON-DERBY-COUNTDOWN-Torquay-United-s-Nathan/story-16848352-detail/story.html#axzz2MDlrWZbXhttp://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/Booking-cramped-Nathan-Craig-s-combative-style/story-16893794-detail/story.html#axzz2MDlrWZbX

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Barry J. . Hugman . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 . 2010 . Mainstream Publishing . 978-1-84596-601-0 . 99 .
  2. Web site: Moyes names starting XI. Evertonfc.com. 16 December 2009. 17 December 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20140119034834/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/moyes-names-starting-xi.html. 19 January 2014. dead.
  3. Web site: Welsh Premier League Football – Former Toffee joins hometown Canaries. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120324224950/http://welsh-premier.com/index.php/news/3909-former-toffee-joins-hometown-canaries. 2012-03-24.
  4. Web site: Nathan Departs. TorquayUnited.com. 7 June 2014. 7 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160802143218/http://www.torquayunited.com//news/article/craig-contract-cancelled-1618460.aspx. 2 August 2016. dead.
  5. Web site: Nathan Craig on his career highlights as Cofi legend hangs up his boots . 26 April 2022 .
  6. Web site: Wales 2–1 Belgium . Football Association of Wales . 27 August 2007 . 20 December 2009.
  7. Web site: Spain 2–2 Wales . Football Association of Wales . 6 October 2007 . 20 December 2009.
  8. Web site: Andorra 0–1 Wales . Football Association of Wales . 1 October 2007 . 20 December 2009.
  9. Web site: Wales U21 2–0 Bosnia-H U21. 10 October 1009. BBC Sport. 18 December 2009.