Craig Dawson
Encyclopedia
Craig Dawson is an English
footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion
as a Centre Back. He previously played for Radcliffe Borough
and Rochdale
.
in the middle of the 2007–08 season, and became a first team regular after just a few games. In the two seasons he was at the club, he became a favourite of the fans and other team members. During this time, he caught the attention of a few scouts from league clubs, with Tottenham Hotspur
, Blackburn Rovers
and Middlesbrough
sending scouts to Radcliffe games on regular basis. Dawson received offers from Rochdale
, Port Vale
and Northwich Victoria
. He finally signed for his local club Rochdale in February 2009 on a two-year contract. Although a Rochdale player, Dawson stayed at the club until April 2009 as a loan. In the season he left, he was voted the Player of the season by Radcliffe.
. Dawson was set to make his debut in the second half of the 2008–09 season; however, was set back by injury. Dawson finally got his Rochdale debut on 8 August 2009 by starting in the League Two
clash with Port Vale at Vale Park
. The match ended in a 1–1 draw. Dawson's second game was at Hillsborough Stadium
in the League Cup
against Sheffield Wednesday
. Despite conceding three goals, Rochdale fans gave Dawson rave reviews and named him man of the match.
He scored 10 goals in all competitions during the 2009–10
season and won a place in the League Two 'Team of the Year'. He also won the League Two 'Player of the Year' award.
for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract, plus a year's option in the club's favour. Rochdale played West Bromwich Albion in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday 26th July 2011. Dawson featured in West Brom's opening squad but West Brom suffered a shock 3-0 defeat from Rochdale, in which he was substituted in the 54th minute. Dawson made his first Premier League start on Saturday 17th September 2011, away from home against Swansea City A.F.C.
as a fill-in central defender for the suspended Gabriel Tamaş
.
season.
debut against Azerbaijan on 1 September 2011.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
as a Centre Back. He previously played for Radcliffe Borough
Radcliffe Borough F.C.
Radcliffe Borough F.C. is an English football club based in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester. The club was formed on 24 April 1949 and currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One North...
and Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
.
Radcliffe Borough
Dawson started his career at Northern League side Radcliffe BoroughRadcliffe Borough F.C.
Radcliffe Borough F.C. is an English football club based in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester. The club was formed on 24 April 1949 and currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One North...
in the middle of the 2007–08 season, and became a first team regular after just a few games. In the two seasons he was at the club, he became a favourite of the fans and other team members. During this time, he caught the attention of a few scouts from league clubs, with Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
sending scouts to Radcliffe games on regular basis. Dawson received offers from Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
, Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
and Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
. He finally signed for his local club Rochdale in February 2009 on a two-year contract. Although a Rochdale player, Dawson stayed at the club until April 2009 as a loan. In the season he left, he was voted the Player of the season by Radcliffe.
Rochdale
Dawson made his debut for Rochdale reserves, scoring a header from a corner against Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. Dawson was set to make his debut in the second half of the 2008–09 season; however, was set back by injury. Dawson finally got his Rochdale debut on 8 August 2009 by starting in the League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
clash with Port Vale at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
. The match ended in a 1–1 draw. Dawson's second game was at Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. Despite conceding three goals, Rochdale fans gave Dawson rave reviews and named him man of the match.
He scored 10 goals in all competitions during the 2009–10
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
season and won a place in the League Two 'Team of the Year'. He also won the League Two 'Player of the Year' award.
West Bromwich Albion
On 31 August 2010, Dawson signed for Premier League club West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract, plus a year's option in the club's favour. Rochdale played West Bromwich Albion in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday 26th July 2011. Dawson featured in West Brom's opening squad but West Brom suffered a shock 3-0 defeat from Rochdale, in which he was substituted in the 54th minute. Dawson made his first Premier League start on Saturday 17th September 2011, away from home against Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
as a fill-in central defender for the suspended Gabriel Tamaş
Gabriel Tamas
Gabriel Sebastian Tamaș is a Romanian footballer who currently plays for Premier League club West Bromwich Albion.-Club career:Tamaș started his career at Romanian clubs in lower divisions...
.
Loan to Rochdale
Immediately after signing for West Brom, he was loaned back to Rochdale for the remainder of the 2010–112010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
season.
International career
Dawson scored two goals on his England under-21England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
debut against Azerbaijan on 1 September 2011.
External links
- Craig Dawson profile at the West Bromwich Albion website