Crainey: Stephen Daniel (Stephen)

2004-2007 (Player Details)

Left Back

Born: Glasgow: 22-06-1981

Debut v Wolverhampton Wanderers (a): 14-08-2004

5’9” 9st 11lb (2002)

With Celtic as a youngster, he had broken into the first-team in 2001-02 and went on to play thirteen times for the Glasgow giants but his chances were restricted, in the next year’s campaign when Celtic reached the UEFA Cup final, due to strained knee ligaments. Further frustration followed with boss Martin O’Neill preferring three centre backs while Crainey’s talents were more suited to the role of an orthodox left back in a back four. As a Scottish international, that had also picked up seven caps for the Under-Twenty-one side as well as having played at ‘B’international level, the thought of sitting on the bench did not appeal. An ill fated move to Southampton followed in the Christmas transfer window. Signed by ex-United star Gordon Strachan, he saw his chances of holding down a first team place evaporate when Strachan promptly decided to quit his post at St Mary's and another Scot, Paul Sturrock was brought in. Towards the end of the season he picked up a groin strain that was deemed sufficiently serious to require surgery at the start of the summer, but that went well and he arrived at Elland Road fully fit. The full-back joined Leeds on what was initially a loan deal on Friday 6th August 2004, possibly the shortest loan spell ever, before his move from Southampton was made permanent for £200,000 the following Monday. He suffered a recurrence of the groin injury and underwent an operation which put him out of action for the rest of the 2004/05 season. Fully fit again, he hoped to remain injury free and establish a place in the first team despite increased competition for places in his second season at Elland Road. Possessing a good temperament combined with passing ability and a powerful shot make Crainey an excellent addition to the squad. He featured regularly in United’s advance to the play-off Final at Cardiff in the 2005-06 season but missed the Millenium Stadium game as he was sent of in the Semi-Final victory at Preston. He was released by United at the end of his contract on 15th May 2007. He joined Blackpool on 13th August 2007 and soon became a regular and was twice selected for the team of the week in the Championship by the Press Association. He was elected Blackpool’s ‘Player of the Year’ but had to undergo another groin operation early the next season. He made his comeback on 24th January 2009 as an eighty-seventh minute substitute in a 2-0 win over Birmingham City at Bloomfield Road and went on to make a total of seventeen appearances for the season. He continued to feature regularly as first choice left back and had brought his record to one goal in ninety-eight League games, of which five were as a substitute, and he had made two F.A. Cup and three League Cup appearances together with a further three appearances in the play-offs for Blackpool to the end of the 2009-10 season. He was also the possessor of six Scottish caps.