Craig Madden
Encyclopedia
Craig Anthony Madden is an English
former professional football
striker
. He is assistant manager at Fleetwood Town.
, Madden began his professional career at Bury
in 1977. He spent nine years at Gigg Lane
, making almost 300 league appearances and scoring 129 goals. He still holds the record for the most goals (35) in a season (1981-82
).
A short spell at West Brom
followed, before he joined Blackpool
, then under the guidance of Sam Ellis
, in February 1987. At Bloomfield Road
he began to fall prey to niggling injuries, and each time he dropped out of the team it became more difficult for him to break back in. On 11 November 1989, he opened the scoring in Blackpool's home League game against Brentford
after just eighteen seconds, which was only seven seconds outside Bill Slater
's all-time record for the club. Midway through that disastrous 1989-90
season for Blackpool, Jimmy Mullen allowed him to move to non-league Fleetwood Town
, where he found his scoring touch again and continued to enjoy the game.
Madden maintained his connection with Blackpool
, becoming the community officer at Bloomfield Road in April 1991. "I am delighted to have landed the job here at Bloomfield Road," he said at the time. "I am looking forward to getting out and about and meeting people from different groups of the community. My immediate aims are to settle in and carry on with the same activities as before — but hopefully there will be some new ideas too, including two new summer schools for the children's holidays in the summer." He was succeeded in the position by his former Bury and Blackpool teammate Derek Spence
.
after the dismissal of Andy Kilner
. He is still at the club coaching Stockport's youth team having also helped with the first team in the past.
In June 2010 Madden was appointed assistant manager at newly promoted Fleetwood Town
, alongside Micky Mellon
.
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...
former professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He is assistant manager at Fleetwood Town.
Playing career
After playing for Northern NomadsNorthern Nomads F.C.
Northern Nomads F.C. was an English football club based in the Manchester area. Established around 1862, they were known as the "Nomads" or "Roaming Brigade" as they never possessed a home ground.-History:...
, Madden began his professional career at Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in 1977. He spent nine years at Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
, making almost 300 league appearances and scoring 129 goals. He still holds the record for the most goals (35) in a season (1981-82
1981-82 in English football
The 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football in England.It was also the first season that the Three points for a win system was introduced.- First Division :Three points for a win was introduced for the first time in England...
).
A short spell at West Brom
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...
followed, before he joined Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, then under the guidance of Sam Ellis
Sam Ellis
Samuel "Sam" Ellis is an English football coach and former player. He left his post as assistant manager of on December 30, 2010.-Career:...
, in February 1987. At Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
he began to fall prey to niggling injuries, and each time he dropped out of the team it became more difficult for him to break back in. On 11 November 1989, he opened the scoring in Blackpool's home League game against Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
after just eighteen seconds, which was only seven seconds outside Bill Slater
Bill Slater
William John "Bill" Slater , OBE is an English former professional footballer....
's all-time record for the club. Midway through that disastrous 1989-90
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
season for Blackpool, Jimmy Mullen allowed him to move to non-league Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
, where he found his scoring touch again and continued to enjoy the game.
Madden maintained his connection with Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, becoming the community officer at Bloomfield Road in April 1991. "I am delighted to have landed the job here at Bloomfield Road," he said at the time. "I am looking forward to getting out and about and meeting people from different groups of the community. My immediate aims are to settle in and carry on with the same activities as before — but hopefully there will be some new ideas too, including two new summer schools for the children's holidays in the summer." He was succeeded in the position by his former Bury and Blackpool teammate Derek Spence
Derek Spence
Derek William Spence is a Northern Irish former professional footballer. He played as a forward in a career spanning seventeen years from 1969 to 1986....
.
Management
In 2001, Madden became caretaker manager of Stockport CountyStockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
after the dismissal of Andy Kilner
Andy Kilner
Andy Kilner is a former manager of Stockport County.He was appointed the youngest manager in the country at the age of just 32 having played in the glory days of Stockport County under Danny Bergara,reaching the playoff finals twice and gaining promotion,Kilner was a fans favourite with his...
. He is still at the club coaching Stockport's youth team having also helped with the first team in the past.
In June 2010 Madden was appointed assistant manager at newly promoted Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
, alongside Micky Mellon
Micky Mellon
Michael Joseph "Micky" Mellon is a Scottish former professional footballer, though he never played professionally in his native land. He is currently manager of Fleetwood Town.-Playing career:...
.