 Davies in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Craig Martin Davies[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1986-01-09)9 January 1986 (age 39)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Burton upon Trent,Staffordshire, England[2] | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Shrewsbury Town | |||
| Manchester City | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2004 | Manchester City | 0 | (0) |
| 2004–2006 | Oxford United | 48 | (8) |
| 2006–2007 | Hellas Verona | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | →Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) | 23 | (0) |
| 2007–2009 | Oldham Athletic | 44 | (10) |
| 2008 | →Stockport County (loan) | 9 | (5) |
| 2009–2010 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 21 | (1) |
| 2009 | →Yeovil Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2010 | →Port Vale (loan) | 24 | (7) |
| 2010–2011 | Chesterfield | 41 | (23) |
| 2011–2013 | Barnsley | 60 | (19) |
| 2013–2015 | Bolton Wanderers | 53 | (10) |
| 2014 | →Preston North End (loan) | 15 | (5) |
| 2015–2017 | Wigan Athletic | 40 | (3) |
| 2017 | Scunthorpe United | 19 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Oldham Athletic | 40 | (11) |
| 2018–2020 | Mansfield Town | 19 | (2) |
| Total | 461 | (104) | |
| International career | |||
| 2002–2003 | Wales U17 | 8 | (2) |
| 2003–2004 | Wales U19 | 7 | (0) |
| 2004–2007 | Wales U21 | 7 | (3) |
| 2005–2013 | Wales | 7 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Craig Martin Davies (born 9 January 1986) is a former professionalfootballer who played as astriker. In a 16-year professional career, he scored 118 goals in 516 league and cup games. Born in England, he wascapped seven times forWales in an eight-year international career.
Davies started his career atManchester City, though he became a first-team regular atOxford United between 2004 and 2006. He briefly spent time in Italy withHellas Verona. He swiftly returned to England onloan withWolverhampton Wanderers before signing withOldham Athletic in 2007. Spending time on loan withStockport County in 2008, he left Oldham the following year and signed withBrighton & Hove Albion. Enjoying loan spells withYeovil Town andPort Vale, hetransferred permanently to Chesterfield in 2010, who he helped to win theLeague Two title in his first season. He signed withBarnsley in July 2011 before being sold toBolton Wanderers for £300,000 in January 2013. He joinedPreston North End on loan 12 months after losing his place in the Bolton team. He signed withWigan Athletic in July 2015 and helped the club to winpromotion as champions ofLeague One. He joined Scunthorpe United in January 2017 and rejoined Oldham Athletic five months later. He was sold on toMansfield Town in June 2018 and stayed with the club for two years.
Davies was a member of theyouth team atShrewsbury Town andManchester City. He was arrested atMaine Road after fighting with a fan who had attempted to steal a match ticket off him.[3]
Davies moved on toLeague Two clubOxford United in August 2004. He made his league debut under the stewardship ofRamón Díaz on 30 August 2004 in a 1–0 win atNotts County. He was suspended two months later, along with two other youth team players, for being unwitting accomplices to a leud prank on a fellow youth team player by first-team strikerJulian Alsop.[4] He signed acontract extension in February 2005.[5] Speaking in September 2005, managerBrian Talbot praised him for his "pace and aggression" after having previously been critical of the player for his perceived selfishness and choosingLee Bradbury andSteve Basham ahead of him.[6][7] He went on to score eight goals in 29 appearances for the first-team during the season and came close to signing forPremier League sideCharlton Athletic in June 2005.[8] He was out of favour under Talbot and the club looked to move him on.[9] After leaving theKassam Stadium, Davies spoke out against Talbot, saying the manager forced him to submit a transfer request and "he has achieved nothing [as a manager]".[10]
Davies moved toHellas Verona ofSerie B in January 2006 for a fee of £85,000.[2] He hoped the move would improve his international prospects.[11] He signed a five-year contract as managerMassimo Ficcadenti showed a lot of faith in him,[12][13] but managed only one appearance for the Italian club in a 3–2 defeat byBrescia.[14]
"Family and friends are the main things I am missing, and my old daily routine. Some days I am fine and I will not think about it, but other times it plays on my mind. Earlier this week I really felt like I wanted to see my family, so I am still a bit homesick I suppose."
— Early signs of Davies's dissatisfaction in Italy.[15]
In July 2006, Davies had a trial atNorthampton Town.[16] The next month he moved onloan toChampionship sideWolverhampton Wanderers, claiming he wanted out of Italy as he was too young to adapt to the change in culture.[17] He was a regular choice throughout the first half of the2006–07 season after impressing managerMick McCarthy in substitute appearances on the wing and then as a lone striker.[18][19] Still, he found himself largely unused after the Januarytransfer window saw Wolves sign strikerAndy Keogh. He never managed a league goal for the club in 23 games, but did score twice in theFA Cup, ironically against the club he would join permanently,Oldham Athletic, once in the original tie[20] and again in thereplay.[21]
After Wolves opted not to make his loan a permanent move, Davies signed forLeague One side Oldham Athletic in June 2007 for an undisclosed fee.[22] He signed a two-year contract.[23] He marked his debut againstSwansea City by scoring a last-minute winner and immediately became a first-choice player. ManagerJohn Sheridan had faith in the young striker, though said, "I keep getting on at Craig and maybe he doesn't like it but I will carry on".[24] In August 2008, he signed a contract extension to keep him at Oldham until summer 2010.[25] Later that month he received the first red card fo his career for headbutting an opposing player in aLeague Cup game.[26] He said "the sending-off has taught me a lesson" as he reflected on his career during his suspension.[27] Three months later, Davies was loaned to Oldham's League One rivalsStockport County to regain form after a poor start to the season, failing to score in ten appearances. He settled in well atEdgeley Park and managerJim Gannon was keen to sign him permanently.[28][29][30] He made 13 appearances for Stockport, scoring six goals, including ahat-trick overBristol Rovers.[2] County showed interest in signing him permanently.[31]
In January 2009, Davies agreed atransfer to League One sideBrighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee believed to be £150,000;[32][33] the transfer was completed on 2 February.[34] On 10 February, Davies made his debut and scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 loss toPeterborough United, scoring in the 27th-minute for the first goal of the game.[35] NewmanagerRussell Slade steered the club away fromrelegation despite injuries to the front two ofNicky Forster andGlenn Murray; Davies failed to add to his goal tally in ten starts and sixsubstitute appearances, though late loan arrivalLloyd Owusu managed to find the form to help fire Brighton to safety.[2]
On 25 September 2009, Davies joined League One rivalsYeovil Town on loan, initially for one-month.[36][37] He made his debut for Yeovil on 26 September in a 2–0 win overBrentford atHuish Park.[38] He played four games forTerry Skiverton's side.
On 15 January 2010, Davies joined League Two sidePort Vale on an initial one-month loan deal,[39][40][41] rejoiningMicky Adams, the manager who had signed him for Brighton.[42] He hoped this loan move could reignite his career at theWithdean Stadium,[43] and end his eleven-month goal drought.[44] He quickly earned the praise of teammateMarc Richards, who said: "Craig is big, tall and strong, which is everything a good striker would want, and he can score goals as well".[45] Assistant managerGeoff Horsfield said Davies' signing was "fantastic for the club".[46] Micky Adams said that "He's a big, strong boy who is also quick. He is different to what we've got and he'll certainly cause defences some problems."[47]
He made a highly impressive start during his first two appearances,[48] and ended his year-long goal drought in his fourth.[49] His loan deal was then quickly extended until the end of the season.[50] He finished the campaign with seven goals in 24 games for the Vale.
On 6 July 2010, Davies had his Brighton contract cancelled by mutual consent following an agreement with managerGus Poyet.[51] Later that same day, Davies signed a one-year contract with League Two sideChesterfield.[52][53] He made history when in a 5–4 pre-seasonfriendly defeat toDerby County he became the first player to score at Chesterfield's newB2net Stadium.[54] A similar, more dubious honour came on 7 August 2010, when in a 2–1 win overBarnet he became the first player to besent off at the stadium – also his competitive debut for the club.[55] His eleven goals in his opening 13 league games helped to propel his side to the top of the league, and he was made the division's Player of the Month for October after scoring five goals in six games.[56] He again won the same honour for March, tallying up six goals in six games.[57] Chesterfield ended the season as league champions, thereby winningpromotion to League One.[58] Davies finished with 23 league goals to his name, putting him joint fourth (withAdam Le Fondre) in the division's scoring charts - five goals above striker partnerJack Lester, but five goals behindCrewe Alexandra'sClayton Donaldson. He was also named in thePFA Team of the Year, along with teammatesDanny Whitaker andTommy Lee.[59]
Davies' highly successful season with Chesterfield earned him attention from numerous Championship clubs, includingReading.[60] However, it wasBarnsley managerKeith Hill who was able to tempt the young striker, who signed a contract with the club in July 2011.[61] It took until his ninth appearance for Davies find his first goal for the club, when he struck from 12 yards (11 m) out in a 2–1 defeat toBristol City atOakwell.[62] This was the first of a streak of eight goals in eight games, during which he scored twice againstDoncaster Rovers andIpswich Town.[63][64] He finished the2011–12 campaign with 11 goals in 42 appearances.
On 22 September, Davies scored four goals in the space of 19 second-half minutes in a 5–0 demolition ofBirmingham City atSt Andrew's, earning himself a place on the Championship Team of the Week.[65][66] On 17 November, he marked his return from almost a month out with ahamstring problem with the equalizing goal in a 1–1 draw withBolton Wanderers atThe Reebok.[67] He totalled nine goals for the "Tykes" in 22 appearances in the first half of the2012–13 campaign.
In January 2013, Championship rivals Bolton Wanderers made a successful £300,000 transfer bid for Davies, and began negotiating personal terms.[68][69] He agreed to a two-and-a-half-year deal, and becameDougie Freedman's first permanent signing as the "Trotters" manager.[70] He made his debut for Bolton on 19 January, as a late substitute forDarren Pratley in a goalless draw withCrystal Palace atSelhurst Park.[71] He scored his first goal for Bolton on 9 February in a 2–1 win overBurnley at theReebok Stadium,[72] and followed this up with the equalising goal for Bolton in a 1–1 draw withNottingham Forest at theCity Ground just a week later.[73] He was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in a 3–2 defeat toCharlton Athletic atThe Valley on 30 March.[74]
He played ten games without scoring a goal as he struggled with injuries during the first half of the2013–14 season.[75] He was reported to be joining Wolves on loan in November, with managerKenny Jackett having previously bid £400,000 for the striker in the summer.[76] On 31 January 2014, Davies joinedPreston North End on loan for the rest of the season, where he scored five goals in 15 appearances.[77] He marked his debut atDeepdale the following day with the opening goal of a 2–0 win overNotts County.[78] On 12 April, he scored a hat-trick for the Lilywhites in a 6–1 home win overCarlisle United.[79] ManagerSimon Grayson praised him for his form and described Davies as the complete package.[80] The Lilywhites went on to secure aplay-off place at the end of the2013–14 season, losing toRotherham United at the semi-final stage.[81]
He won the club's Player of the Month award for August 2014.[82] However in the2014–15 season, Davies struggled with hamstring problems, as did a number of his teammates.[83][84] On 6 April, he scored a second-half brace in an away game againstCardiff City, but yet again he pulled up in training later that week with another hamstring injury.[85] He was released by managerNeil Lennon in May 2015.[86]
In July 2015, Davies signed a two-year contract with newly relegated League One sideWigan Athletic after securing his release from Bolton; "Latics" managerGary Caldwell said that he was "a powerful striker who has a proven track record in this division".[87] He scored two goals in 30 appearances across the2015–16 campaign as Wigan won promotion as champions of League One.[58] However, he struggled for game time under new managerWarren Joyce as Wigan struggled in the Championship in the2016–17 season.[88]
On 7 January 2017, Davies joined League One clubScunthorpe United on a contract until the end of the2016–17 season, withGraham Alexander's side third in the table.[89][90][91] He failed to score in 21 appearances in the second half of the campaign, though was predominantly a substitute and only made three league starts.[92]
In June 2017, Davies rejoined Oldham Athletic – again in League One – on a two-year deal as manager John Sheridan's second summer signing.[93] He said the chance to be reunited with Sheridan was a major factor in his decision to join the club.[94] He was linked with a move toCoventry City in the January transfer window, but new managerRichie Wellens stated that it would be "suicidal" of the club to accept any offer.[95] Davies ended the2017–18 campaign with 14 goals in 44 appearances, but could not prevent Oldham being relegated into League Two. After leaving Oldham, he slammed chairman Abdallah Lemsagam for his treatment of staff.[96]
On 29 June 2018, Davies signed a two-year contract with League Two clubMansfield Town after the "Stags" paid Oldham an undisclosed fee.[97] He said that managerDavid Flitcroft could get the best out fo him, having previously coached him at Barnsley.[98] However, he was reported to have been playing at "about 60 per cent of capacity" in the first half of the2018–19 season due to bits of flaked-off bone getting trapped in his ankle joints and causing him constant pain; he underwent surgery in December and was ruled out of action for the rest of the season.[99] He managed to make only five appearances during the2019–20 season, but was getting back to match fitness when the season was ended in March due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in England.[100] He was released by managerGraham Coughlan at the end of the campaign.[101]
Davies holds a record for theWales under-21 team by being one of only four people to have scored a hat trick at that level alongsideJohn Hartson,Lee Jones andChed Evans.[102] This feat saw him earn a call-up to the senior squad.[103] However, he was sent off in August 2006 in a 3–2 defeat byIsrael under-21s,[104] and received a five-match international ban.
He wascapped seven times byWales, qualifying through a grandparent, having made his international debut as asubstitute in a goalless draw withSlovenia on 17 August 2005.[105] Two months later, he withdrew from the international squad for personal reasons.[106]
He was recalled to the squad in January 2008 for a friendly withNorway atWrexham after serving 18 months out due to international suspension.[107] A further re-call in August 2008 was denied by his club Oldham due to a disciplinary issue. He was called up to feature inqualification to the2014 FIFA World Cup. He came on as a second-half substitute againstScotland on 12 October 2012.[108]
In May 2007, he was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence forharassment and given a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting his former girlfriend.[109] In February 2015, he was called a 'Good Samaritan' after assisting an elderly couple who had broken down in a hire car.[110]
| Season | Club | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Oxford United | 2004–05[111] | League Two | 28 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 29 | 6 |
| 2005–06[112] | League Two | 20 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 26 | 2 | |
| Total | 48 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 55 | 8 | ||
| Hellas Verona | 2006–07 | Serie B | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) | 2006–07[113] | Championship | 23 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 |
| Oldham Athletic | 2007–08[114] | League One | 32 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2[a] | 1 | 41 | 13 |
| 2008–09[115] | League One | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Total | 44 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 55 | 13 | ||
| Stockport County (loan) | 2008–09[115] | League One | 9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 6 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2008–09[115] | League One | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| 2009–10[116] | League One | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| Yeovil Town (loan) | 2009–10[116] | League One | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Port Vale (loan) | 2009–10[116] | League Two | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 7 |
| Chesterfield | 2010–11[117] | League Two | 41 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 45 | 25 |
| Barnsley | 2011–12[118] | Championship | 40 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 11 |
| 2012–13[119] | Championship | 20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 9 | |
| Total | 60 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 20 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2012–13[119] | Championship | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 |
| 2013–14[120] | Championship | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[121] | Championship | 27 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 7 | |
| Total | 53 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 11 | ||
| Preston North End (loan) | 2013–14[120] | League One | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
| Wigan Athletic | 2015–16[122] | League One | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| 2016–17[92] | Championship | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| Total | 40 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 3 | ||
| Scunthorpe United | 2016–17[92] | League One | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Oldham Athletic | 2017–18[123] | League One | 40 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[a] | 2 | 44 | 14 |
| Mansfield Town | 2018–19[124] | League Two | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| 2019–20[125] | League Two | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 461 | 104 | 25 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 516 | 118 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 0 | |
Individual
Chesterfield
Wigan Athletic