Darren Craddock

Darren Craddock (born 23 February 1985) is an English former footballer who played as a defender.

Darren Craddock

Craddock playing for York City in 2007
Personal information
Full name	Darren Craddock[1]
Date of birth	(1985-02-23) 23 February 1985 (age 40)[1]
Place of birth	Bishop Auckland, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position	Defender
Youth career
2001–2003	Hartlepool United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2006	Hartlepool United	24	(0)
2004	→ Whitby Town (loan)	5	(0)
2006	→ York City (loan)	4	(0)
2006–2008	York City	65	(0)
2008–2009	Newcastle Blue Star	?	(?)
2009–2010	Blyth Spartans	19	(0)
2010–2011	Whitby Town	?	(?)
2011–2013	Newton Aycliffe	83	(2)
2014–2016	Shildon	?	(?)
2016–2017	West Auckland Town	?	(?)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10:55, 11 November 2020 (UTC)

Craddock started his career with Hartlepool United in 2003. He joined York City on a one-month loan in 2006, who he joined permanently later that year, after making 24 league appearances for Hartlepool.

Career

Born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham,^[1] Craddock joined the Hartlepool United youth system in 2001. Craddock played at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup third-round tie against Manchester United alongside Antony Sweeney and Matty Robson.^[2] Man United won 3-2 (AET) and featured future stars such as Darren Fletcher, Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson.

Craddock made his first team debut in a 4–0 victory over Whitby Town in the FA Cup first round on 8 November 2003.^[3][4] He joined Whitby Town on work experience in January 2004,^[5] where he made five appearances.^[6] He was handed his first professional contract by Hartlepool in June 2004, which was signed on 6 July.^[1][7]

In 2005, Craddock played at the Millennium Stadium in front of 79,000 fans in the 2005 Football League One play-off final for Hartlepool against Sheffield Wednesday.

He was signed by Conference National team York City on a one-month loan in January 2006.^[8] He was released by Hartlepool at the end of the 2005–06 season.^[9]

He signed for York permanently in May 2006, following his release by Hartlepool.^[10] He was warned he could face a spell on the sidelines by manager Billy McEwan after receiving a one-match ban after he was booked for fouling Forest Green Rovers striker Allan Russell after losing possession on the halfway line.^[11] He missed the rest of the 2006–07 season due to a fractured jaw, which was sustained against Cambridge United.^[12] He was offered a new contract by York at the end of the 2006–07 season.^[13] He was placed on standby for the England C team in February 2008 but two months later was released by York at the end of the 2007–08 season.^[14][15]

He joined Newcastle Blue Star of the Northern Premier League Division One North in June 2008.^[16] A year later, Craddock signed for Conference North side Blyth Spartans. He re-signed for former club Whitby in July 2010.^[17] Craddock signed for newly promoted Northern League Division One outfit Newton Aycliffe in July 2011,^[18] and scored on his debut for the team, a 6–1 victory over Stokesley Sports Club.^[19] Craddock made 83 appearances for the club.^[20]

Craddock signed for Shildon in May 2013 and won player of the year in his first season.^[21] He signed for West Auckland Town in May 2016.^[21]

Career statistics

As of 17 December 2011.

Club	Season	League[A]		FA Cup		League Cup		Other[B]		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hartlepool United	2003–04[4]	10	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
	2004–05[22]	10	0	0	0	1	0	4	0	15	0
	2005–06[23]	4	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	7	0
	Total	24	0	3	0	1	0	5	0	33	0
Whitby Town (loan)	2003–04[6]	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
York City (loan)	2005–06[24]	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
York City	2006–07[25]	35	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	38	0
	2007–08[26]	30	0	2	0	0	0	5	0	37	0
	Total	69	0	4	0	0	0	6	0	79	0
Blyth Spartans	2009–10[27]	19	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	23	0
Newton Aycliffe	2011–12[28]	24	2	1	0	0	0	2	0	27	2
Career totals		141	2	10	0	1	0	15	0	167	2

Footnotes

A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League, Football Conference, Northern Premier League and Northern League.

B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Conference League Cup, Durham Challenge Cup, FA Trophy, Football League Trophy, play-offs and Northern League Cup.