Fred Craig (footballer)
Introduction '''Frederick Glover Craig''' (16 January 1891 – 30 August 1966) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, best remembered for his two spells with Plymouth Argyle, for whom he made over 430 appearances in the Southern League and the Football League. Craig made more appearances for the club than any other goalkeeper.
Club career A goalkeeper, Craig began his career in Scottish junior football, before moving to England to join Southern League First Division club Plymouth Argyle in 1912.He made just four appearances during the 1912–13 season, in which Argyle won the Southern League First Division title. He succeeded Titch Horne as Argyle's first choice goalkeeper midway through 1914–15, but the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 led to the cessation of competitive football in England at the end of the season, for the duration of the conflict.Craig returned to Scotland to play competitive Scottish League football during the war and turned out for several clubs (most notably Hamilton Academical and Motherwell), before re-joining Plymouth Argyle in time for the beginning of the 1919–20 season. Argyle were elevated into the Football League Third Division for the 1920–21 season and Craig remained with the club until the end of the 1929–30 season, when he captained the team to the Third Division South championship. During his 14 seasons at Home Park, Craig made 467 appearances and scored five goals. Towards the end of his Argyle career, he occasionally filled in as the team's penalty taker. Craig finished his career with a short spell at Third Division North club Barrow.
International career In 1923, Craig was selected for the Home Scots v Anglo-Scots international trial match alongside Plymouth Argyle teammate Patsy Corcoran (with whom he had also played at Hamilton Academical), though neither gained a full cap.
Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPlymouth Argyle1912–13Southern League First Division4000401913–14100001001914–1524020260Total38030410Hamilton Academical1915–16Scottish League Division One90—901916–17290—2901917–1840—40Total420—420Ayr United1917–18Scottish League Division One30—30Motherwell1918–19Scottish League Division One290—290Clyde1918–19Scottish League Division One10—10Plymouth Argyle1919–20Southern League First Division400304301920–21Third Division420504701921–22Third Division South360203801922–23410404501923–24420104301924–25420104301925–26420104301926–27343103531927–28121001211928–29400404401929–3030140341Total43952804675Career total51452805425
Honours ;Plymouth Argyle*Southern League First Division: 1912–13*Football League Third Division South: 1929–30
References