Craig Lawton
Encyclopedia
Craig Thomas Lawton is a Welsh
footballer who plays as a left winger for Bala Town
in the Cymru Alliance
.
, Flintshire
, Lawton began his career at Manchester United
, signing his first professional contract with the club in July 1990. The closest Lawton got to making an appearance for the Red Devils came in a Premier League match against Queens Park Rangers
in January 1993, when he was an unused substitute. He was given the number 22 jersey for the 1993–94 season
, but did not make a single appearance for United. Soon after, he suffered a broken
leg, and was allowed to join Port Vale
on a free transfer in July 1994.
He made his debut as a substitute in a 3–2 defeat at Watford
on New Year's Eve
1994, but broke a leg in a reserve game in March 1995. His full debut came in a goalless home draw with Genoa in an Anglo-Italian Cup
game on 8 November 1995. Unable to gain a first team place, he was given a free transfer to Colwyn Bay
in May 1996. He played for Colwyn Bay for six years, before moving to Connah's Quay Nomads, and then Bala Town
four years later.
and "B" internationals, Lawton was once included in an England Under-21 squad; he did not make any appearances.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
footballer who plays as a left winger for Bala Town
Bala Town F.C.
Bala Town Football Club are a Welsh football team that currently play in the Welsh Premier League. They play their games at Maes Tegid in Bala, Gwynedd, Wales...
in the Cymru Alliance
Cymru Alliance
The Huws Gray Alliance is a football league and forms the second level of the Welsh football league system in north and central Wales....
.
Club career
Born in MancotMancot
Mancot is a village in south east Flintshire, Wales, approximately 1.5 miles from Queensferry, 1.2 miles from Hawarden and 5 miles from Chester...
, Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, Lawton began his career at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, signing his first professional contract with the club in July 1990. The closest Lawton got to making an appearance for the Red Devils came in a Premier League match against Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in January 1993, when he was an unused substitute. He was given the number 22 jersey for the 1993–94 season
1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1993–94 season was Port Vale's eighty-second season of football in the Football League, and fifth successive season in the Second Division. They won promotion to the First Division as the division's runners-up, just one point away from champions Reading...
, but did not make a single appearance for United. Soon after, he suffered a broken
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
leg, and was allowed to join 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...
on a free transfer in July 1994.
He made his debut as a substitute in a 3–2 defeat at Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
1994, but broke a leg in a reserve game in March 1995. His full debut came in a goalless home draw with Genoa in an Anglo-Italian Cup
Anglo-Italian Cup
The Anglo-Italian Cup is a defunct European football competition that was played intermittently between 1970 and 1996 between clubs from England and Italy. Founded by Gigi Peronace in 1970, following the success of the Anglo-Italian League Cup, it was played as a professional tournament until 1973...
game on 8 November 1995. Unable to gain a first team place, he was given a free transfer to Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay F.C.
Colwyn Bay F.C. are a Welsh football club, as of the 2011–12 season are playing in the Conference North. Nicknamed the Seagulls, the club play at Llanelian Road in Old Colwyn.-History:...
in May 1996. He played for Colwyn Bay for six years, before moving to Connah's Quay Nomads, and then Bala Town
Bala Town F.C.
Bala Town Football Club are a Welsh football team that currently play in the Welsh Premier League. They play their games at Maes Tegid in Bala, Gwynedd, Wales...
four years later.
International career
Despite being born and raised in Wales, and representing Wales at various levels, including schoolboy, youth, under-21Wales national under-21 football team
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
and "B" internationals, Lawton was once included in an England Under-21 squad; he did not make any appearances.