Craig Stones
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 31 May 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Scunthorpe, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Sleaford Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1996–2000 | Lincoln City | 21 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | →Grantham Town (loan) | ||
| 2000–2001 | Spalding United | ||
| 2000–2003 | Brigg Town | ||
| 2002–2003 | Gainsborough Trinity | ||
| 2002–2007 | Brigg Town | ||
| 2006–2009 | Sleaford Town | ||
| 2009–2010 | Bottesford Town | ||
| 2010– | Sleaford Town | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:57, 23 December 2008 (UTC). | |||
Craig Stones (born 31 May 1980 in Scunthorpe, England) is a former professional footballer who plays for Sleaford Town. His predominant position is in the centre of midfield.
Career
Stones made his Football League debut for Lincoln City as a 72nd-minute substitute for Worrell Sterling in the 4–0 home victory over Swansea City on 5 April 1997. Stones was aged just 16 years 309 days old and, at the time, the third youngest player to appear for the club in the Football League: he is currently the fourth after Jack Hobbs, Shane Nicholson and Carl Dawson.[1][2] He spent the end of the 1999–2000 season on loan at Grantham Town, debuting in the 1–0 home defeat to Burton Albion on 1 April 2000 and making a total of seven league appearances for the club, scoring a solitary goal in the 6–0 home victory over Atherstone United on 8 April 2000.[3] It was no surprise that, after just 21 league appearances in three seasons as a professional, he was released by the Sincil Bank based club at the end of season.[4]
He dropped out of professional football to sign with Spalding United before moving onto Brigg Town in March 2001. Having spent some time with the club during the pre-season[5] in November 2002 Stones signed for Gainsborough Trinity who were under the command of his former Lincoln coach Phil Stant.[6] He made his Northern Premier League debut for the club in the 2–1 home victory over Colwyn Bay on 23 November 2002 and made a further eight league appearances, scoring a single goal in the 4–2 home victory over Worksop Town on 26 December 2002, before returning to Brigg Town in February 2003.[7] He helped Brigg to secure the FA Vase that season, appearing in the 2–1 final victory over AFC Sudbury at Boleyn Ground on 10 May 2003.[8]
He moved to Sleaford Town in November 2006.[9] Stones was forced to miss the entire 2007–2008 season after breaking his leg in two places just two minutes into a friendly with Lincoln Moorlands Railway on 7 July 2007, the first fixture at Sleaford's new Eslaforde Park ground.[10] He returned to fitness ahead of the 2008–2009 season.[11] He departed Sleaford Town in July 2009 to link up with his one-time Brigg Town manager Ralph Clayton at Bottesford Town.[12] He remained with the club for a single season before returning to Sleaford Town ahead of the 2010–11 season.[13] Outside of football, Stones works as a branch manager in the Grantham residential office of estate agents Pygott and Crone.[14]
References
- ↑ "Teenager Hobbs makes history". Lincoln City F.C. Official Website. 17 January 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ↑ "Appearances – Football League". Lincoln City F.C. Official Archive. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ↑ Jon Barnes, The Who's Who of Grantham Town Football Club, pp. 167, Gingerjonny Publications, 2005.
- ↑ "Stant takes over at Lincoln". BBC Sport. 28 June 2000. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ↑ "Trinity newcomers retain trophy". NonLeagueDaily.com. 23 July 2002. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ↑ "Stant recruits". NonLeagueDaily.com. 21 November 2002. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ↑ "Trinity clear out". NonLeagueDaily.com. 24 February 2003. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ↑ Metcalf, Rupert (11 May 2003). "Carter and Steer deliver the Brigg time". London: The Independent. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ↑ "Stones could be the key to promotion". NonLeagueDaily.com. 20 November 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ↑ "Horror injury marrs pre-season friendly". Lincolnshire Echo. 10 July 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ↑ "Stones return will be like signing a new player". NonLeagueDaily.com. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ↑ "Clayton bolsters Bottesford squad". Scunthorpe Telegraph. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
- ↑ "Call-offs hamper Rowland's preparations". NonLeagueDaily.com. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
- ↑ "Pygott and Crone – Staff Contact Craig Stones". Retrieved 11 August 2010.