Craig Lawton

Craig Thomas Lawton (born 5 January 1972) is a Welsh former footballer who played for Manchester United and Port Vale in the early 1990s, before playing football in the Welsh leagues for Colwyn Bay, Connah's Quay Nomads, and Bala Town.

Craig Lawton
Personal information
Full name Craig Thomas Lawton[1]
Date of birth (1972-01-05) 5 January 1972[1]
Place of birth Mancot, Flintshire, Wales[1]
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position(s) Left midfielder
Centre midfielder
Youth career
000?–1990 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1994 Manchester United 0 (0)
1994–1996 Port Vale 3 (0)
1996–2002 Colwyn Bay ? (?)
2002–2006 Connah's Quay Nomads ? (?)
2006–20?? Bala Town ? (?)
National team
Wales U21 1 (?)
Wales B ? (?)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born in Mancot, Flintshire, Lawton began his career at Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, signing his first professional contract at Old Trafford 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,[2] and was allowed to join Port Vale on a free transfer in July 1994.[1]

He made his First Division 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.[1] His full debut came in a goalless draw with Genoa in an Anglo-Italian Cup game at Vale Park on 8 November 1995.[1] Unable to gain a first team place with the "Valiants" with only five appearances in 1994–95 and 1995–96, manager John Rudge gave him a free transfer to Colwyn Bay in May 1996.[1] He played for Colwyn Bay for six years, before moving to Connah's Quay Nomads, and then Bala Town four years later.

International career

Lawton was capped for Wales at schoolboy, youth, under-21 and "B" internationals.[1]

Statistics

Source:[3][4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale1994–95First Division10000010
1995–96First Division20002040
Total 30002050

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 169. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. John Brewin (25 September 2001). "Premier Focus: Players should stand and be counted". Columns. ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 23 August 2007. ...Lawton was moved on to Port Vale after a bad leg break.
  3. Craig Lawton at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  4. Craig Lawton at Soccerbase
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