Craig Cathcart

Craig George Cathcart (born 6 February 1989) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Championship club Watford and the Northern Ireland national team. He has also captained his country's under-21 side.

Craig Cathcart
Cathcart playing for Northern Ireland in 2019
Personal information
Full name Craig George Cathcart[1]
Date of birth (1989-02-06) 6 February 1989[2]
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Watford
Number 15
Youth career
1999–2003 Carnmoney Colts
2003–2005 St Andrew's Boys' Club
2005–2007 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Manchester United 0 (0)
2007 → Royal Antwerp (loan) 13 (2)
2008–2009 → Plymouth Argyle (loan) 31 (1)
2009 → Watford (loan) 12 (0)
2010–2014 Blackpool 112 (3)
2014– Watford 168 (8)
National team‡
Northern Ireland U16 24 (0)
Northern Ireland U17 13 (1)
Northern Ireland U20 3 (0)
2006–2009 Northern Ireland U21 15 (0)
2010– Northern Ireland 52 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:57, 22 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:21, 30 September 2020 (UTC)

A product of the Manchester United youth academy, Cathcart spent time on loan at Belgian club Royal Antwerp, and English Football League Championship sides Plymouth Argyle and Watford, before joining newly promoted Blackpool in 2010. Cathcart returned to Watford in July 2014 on a permanent deal.

Club career

Early career

Born in Belfast,[2] Cathcart was spotted playing football for Glengormley High School at the age of 14, and, despite being coveted by clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea and Rangers upon winning the Northern Ireland Youth Player of the Year award in 2003,[4] he began training at the Manchester United School of Excellence in Belfast. He signed trainee terms at Manchester United in July 2005, and turned professional on his 17th birthday in February 2006. Cathcart became a regular in the Manchester United Under-18s team, and was a member of the Under-17s team that played at the 2007 Northern Ireland Milk Cup, scoring the first goal in a 5–0 win over Liechtenstein. In the national teams he became very good friends with Kvik Halden-players Markus Manirakiza. They have played golf together and their families are very close.[5] During the 2006–07 season, he was made captain of the United youth team that reached the FA Youth Cup Final,[6] although he missed both legs of the final, the first through selection for the first team and the second through injury.[7][8]

Manchester United

On 19 March 2007, Cathcart received his first call-up to the Manchester United senior squad for the FA Cup Sixth Round replay with Middlesbrough.[9] After an injury to Nemanja Vidić, Cathcart was promoted to the first team squad as cover on 31 March 2007.[10] He was an unused substitute in Manchester United's 7–1 win against Roma in the Champions League less than two weeks later,[11] the FA Cup semi-final victory over Watford a further four days later,[12] and the victory over Sheffield United on 17 April.[13]

Speculation that this defensive injury crisis would lead to Cathcart making his senior debut ended when he suffered a season-ending knee injury during training after the match against Sheffield United. As a result, he also missed the second leg of the FA Youth Cup final; he had already missed the first leg due to his call-up to the senior squad.[14] Despite his injury, Cathcart's performances in the club's youth teams earned him the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award for the 2006–07 season.

Loan to Antwerp

At the start of the 2007–08 season, Cathcart was sent on a half-season loan to United's Belgian feeder club, Royal Antwerp, to gain match experience.[15] He made his debut for the Belgians on 22 September 2007, in a match against OC Charleroi. The next game saw Cathcart score Antwerp's only goal of the game in a 4–1 loss to Kortrijk. He scored again in a match against Tubize, to earn a 1–1 draw, and also the Man of the Match award. He made a further nine appearances for "The Great Old", to bring his total to 13, before returning to Manchester United at the end of 2007. Although he was not originally selected for the squad, Cathcart was briefly called up to the Manchester United first team for their tour of South Africa on 24 July 2008, and played the full 90 minutes in the team's 4–0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs on 26 July, his first appearance for the first team.[16] He then came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Jonny Evans in a match against Portsmouth in Nigeria the following day, before then coming on for Wes Brown at half-time in a friendly against Peterborough United on 4 August.

Loans to the Championship

On 8 August 2008, in a search for first-team football, Cathcart joined Championship side Plymouth Argyle, on loan until the end of 2008.[17] This was later extended to the entire 2008–09 season, as Cathcart has quickly become a regular at Home Park. He scored his first Plymouth goal in their 3–1 defeat at home to Ipswich in October 2008.[18]

Cathcart returned to Manchester United at the end of the 2008–09 season and played in two pre-season friendlies for the reserve team before joining up with the first team for the Audi Cup in Munich.[19] After Nemanja Vidić suffered a calf strain in the warm-up before the semi-final against Boca Juniors, Cathcart was promoted to the starting XI.[20] Manchester United won the match 2–1, with Cathcart giving a good performance, although he did head the ball against his own crossbar midway through the second half.[21]

Cathcart scored the opening goal in a 3–1 away win over Bolton Wanderers in the first game of the 2009–10 Premier Reserve League season on 24 August 2009.[22] The following season, Cathcart was sought after by a number of Championship sides, and Manchester United received a bid of £1.25m from a Championship side but United preferred a loan deal. Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town both showed an interest in the young defender, but he instead signed for Watford on loan until 4 January 2010, where he joined fellow Old Trafford teammate Tom Cleverley and Arsenal youngster Henri Lansbury on loan.[23]

Blackpool

On 11 August 2010, Cathcart signed for Blackpool for an undisclosed fee, after agreeing a three-year contract, with an option for a further year.[24] Three days later, he made his debut as Blackpool marked their Premier League debut with a 4–0 win over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.[25] He scored his first goal in the Premier League with a powerful header against his former club, Manchester United, at Bloomfield Road on 25 January 2011; the 15th-minute goal opened the scoring for the match, but Blackpool went on to lose 3–2.[26]

Watford
Cathcart with Watford in 2015

On 24 June 2014, Cathcart agreed terms on a two-year deal with Watford having been out-of-contract at Blackpool.[27] He officially became a Watford player on 1 July.[28]

Cathcart's first Watford appearance came as a substitute for Gabriel Tamaș against Bournemouth on 20 September 2014, scoring an equalising goal on his debut. In total, he played 29 league games, scoring three times, as Watford were promoted to the Premier League. Cathcart has since signed new four-year deals in July 2015, June 2017 and June 2019.[29][30][31]

International career

Cathcart has been involved with the Northern Ireland national team since Under-17 level, and was part of the team that attempted to qualify for the 2006 European Under-17 Championship.[32]

By November 2006, still just 17 years old, Cathcart had been promoted to the Northern Ireland Under-21 team, and was named in the squad for a friendly against Germany on 14 November 2006.[33] In February 2007, Cathcart was selected in the European squad for the 2007 Meridian Cup, a competition between two "all-star" Under-18 teams from Europe and Africa.[34]

Since his first call-up, Cathcart has been a regular name in Northern Ireland Under-21 squads, and has so far made seven appearances for the team, the most recent being a 3–0 defeat by Germany on 5 September 2008.[35]

Cathcart was called up to the Northern Ireland squad in May 2009, along with nine other uncapped players for the international friendly against Italy on 6 June.[36] Cathcart made his full international debut in Northern Ireland's 1–0 win against Slovenia in Maribor on 3 September 2010. Playing out of position at left-back, due to an injury to Jonny Evans, Cathcart put in a strong performance and set up the winning goal for Corry Evans.[37]

He played at 2016 UEFA European Championship when his squad made it out of the group, which is the best result in the European Championships.[38]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 22 January 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United 2007–08[39] Premier League 0000001111
2008–09[40] 00——0000
2009–10[41] 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Royal Antwerp (loan) 2007–08[42] Belgian Second Division 13200——132
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2008–09[40] Championship 3111010—331
Watford (loan) 2009–10[41] Championship 120———120
Blackpool 2010–11[43] Premier League 3010000—301
2011–12[44] Championship 270200000290
2012–13[45] 2511000—261
2013–14[46] 3011010—321
Total 11234010001173
Watford 2014–15[47] Championship 2931000—303
2015–16[48] Premier League 3515000—401
2016–17[49] 1501000—160
2017–18[50] 700000—70
2018–19[51] 3634010—413
2019–20[52] 2900010—300
2020–21[53] Championship 171000000171
Total 168811020—1818
Career total 3361416040—35614

International
As of match played 22 January 2021[54]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Northern Ireland 201010
201180
201240
201340
201420
201551
201681
201710
201880
201990
202070
Total572
Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.[54]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
111 October 2015Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland Finland1–01–1UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
224 March 2016Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales Wales1–01–1Friendly

Honours

Watford

Individual

References
  1. "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. "Craig Cathcart: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. "Cathcart tipped for the top". BBC Sport. 14 May 2003. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  5. "Fitzmaurice hits four for Orchard". BBC Sport. 31 July 2006. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  6. Bartram, Steve (19 March 2007). "Report: United 1 Boro 0". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  7. Hibbs, Ben (16 April 2007). "FAYC: Liverpool 1 United 2". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  8. Coppack, Nick (25 April 2007). "Youth Cup Final: Show your support". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  9. Mercer, Nathan (19 March 2007). "Man Utd 1–0 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  10. Bartram, Steve (31 March 2007). "Vidic injury blow confirmed". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  11. Bevan, Chris (10 April 2007). "Man Utd 7–1 Roma (agg 8–3)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  12. McNulty, Phil (14 April 2007). "Watford 1–4 Man Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  13. McNulty, Phil (17 April 2007). "Man Utd 2–0 Sheff Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  14. Coppack, Nick (21 April 2007). "Injuries continue to mount". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  15. Bartram, Steve (30 August 2007). "Youngster heads to Antwerp". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  16. Thompson, Gemma (26 July 2008). "Boss hails Vodacom triumph". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  17. "Cart Before The Start". pafc.co.uk. 8 August 2008. Archived from the original on 4 September 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  18. "Plymouth 1–3 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  19. "Cathcart revels in senior start". Manchester United F.C. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  20. "Antonio aces Reds bow". Manchester United F.C. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  21. "Boca Juniors 1 United 2". Manchester United F.C. 29 July 2009. p. 3. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  22. Bartram, Steve (24 August 2009). "Reserves: Bolton 1 United 3". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  23. "Cathcart joins the Hornets". Watford F.C. 14 September 2009. Archived from the original on 23 September 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  24. "Blackpool sign quartet ahead of Premier League debut". BBC Sport. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  25. Sanghera, Mandeep (14 August 2010). "Wigan 0–4 Blackpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  26. McNulty, Phil (25 January 2011). "Blackpool 2–3 Man Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  27. "Craig Cathcart: Watford sign Blackpool defender". BBC Sport. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  28. "OFFICIAL: Cathcart Returns". Watford F.C. 24 June 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  29. "Official New Contract For Cathcart". Watford F.C. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  30. "Official New Deal For Cathcart". Watford F.C. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  31. "Official: Extended Cathcart Contract Confirmed". Watford F.C. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  32. "NI Under-17 European hopes dashed". BBC Sport. 28 March 2006. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  33. "Millar names squad for Germany". BBC Sport. 10 November 2006. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  34. "Europe's Meridian squad selected". UEFA. 21 February 2007. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  35. "Germany 3–0 Northern Ireland – Lineups". EUFA. 5 September 2008. Archived from the original on 1 November 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  36. "Irish League quintet in NI squad". BBC Sport. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  37. "Slovenia 0–1 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  38. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36566171
  39. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  40. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  41. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  42. "Spelersstatistiek Craig Cathcart" (in Dutch). R.A.F.C.-Museum. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  43. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  44. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  45. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  46. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  47. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  48. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  49. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  50. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  51. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  52. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  53. "Games played by Craig Cathcart in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  54. "Cathcart, Craig". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
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  57. Bostock, Adam (4 May 2010). "Award joy for Keane". Manchester United F.C. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
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