Craig Stones

Craig Stones (born 31 May 1980) is an English former professional footballer who played primarily in the centre of midfield.

Craig Stones
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-05-31) 31 May 1980
Place of birth Scunthorpe, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2000 Lincoln City 21 (0)
1999–2000 → Grantham Town (loan)
2000–2001 Spalding United
2000–2003 Brigg Town
2002–2003 Gainsborough Trinity
2002–2007 Brigg Town
2006–2009 Sleaford Town
2009–2010 Bottesford Town
2010–???? Sleaford Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:57, 23 December 2008 (UTC)

Career

Stones made his Football League debut for Lincoln City as a 72nd-minute substitute for Worrell Sterling in the 4–0 home victory over Swansea City on 5 April 1997. Stones was aged just 16 years 309 days old and, at the time, the third youngest player to appear for the club in the Football League: he is currently the fourth after Jack Hobbs, Shane Nicholson and Carl Dawson.[1][2] He spent the end of the 1999–2000 season on loan at Grantham Town, debuting in the 1–0 home defeat to Burton Albion on 1 April 2000 and making a total of seven league appearances for the club, scoring a solitary goal in the 6–0 home victory over Atherstone United on 8 April 2000.[3] It was no surprise that, after just 21 league appearances in three seasons as a professional, he was released by the Sincil Bank based club at the end of season.[4]

He dropped out of professional football to sign with Spalding United before moving onto Brigg Town in March 2001. Having spent some time with the club during the pre-season[5] in November 2002 Stones signed for Gainsborough Trinity who were under the command of his former Lincoln coach Phil Stant.[6] He made his Northern Premier League debut for the club in the 2–1 home victory over Colwyn Bay on 23 November 2002 and made a further eight league appearances, scoring a single goal in the 4–2 home victory over Worksop Town on 26 December 2002, before returning to Brigg Town in February 2003.[7] He helped Brigg to secure the FA Vase that season, appearing in the 2–1 final victory over AFC Sudbury at Boleyn Ground on 10 May 2003.[8]

He moved to Sleaford Town in November 2006.[9] Stones was forced to miss the entire 2007–2008 season after breaking his leg in two places just two minutes into a friendly with Lincoln Moorlands Railway on 7 July 2007, the first fixture at Sleaford's new Eslaforde Park ground.[10] He returned to fitness ahead of the 2008–2009 season.[11] He departed Sleaford Town in July 2009 to link up with his one-time Brigg Town manager Ralph Clayton at Bottesford Town.[12] He remained with the club for a single season before returning to Sleaford Town ahead of the 2010–11 season.[13] Outside of football, Stones works as a branch manager in the Grantham residential office of estate agents Pygott & Crone.[14]

References
  1. "Teenager Hobbs makes history". Lincoln City F.C. Official Website. 17 January 2005. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  2. "Appearances – Football League". Lincoln City F.C. Official Archive. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  3. Jon Barnes, The Who's Who of Grantham Town Football Club, pp. 167, Gingerjonny Publications, 2005.
  4. "Stant takes over at Lincoln". BBC Sport. 28 June 2000. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  5. "Trinity newcomers retain trophy". NonLeagueDaily.com. 23 July 2002. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  6. "Stant recruits". NonLeagueDaily.com. 21 November 2002. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  7. "Trinity clear out". NonLeagueDaily.com. 24 February 2003. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  8. Metcalf, Rupert (11 May 2003). "Carter and Steer deliver the Brigg time". London: The Independent. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  9. "Stones could be the key to promotion". NonLeagueDaily.com. 20 November 2006. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  10. "Horror injury marrs pre-season friendly". Lincolnshire Echo. 10 July 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  11. "Stones return will be like signing a new player". NonLeagueDaily.com. 14 July 2008. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  12. "Clayton bolsters Bottesford squad". Scunthorpe Telegraph. 6 July 2009. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  13. "Call-offs hamper Rowland's preparations". NonLeagueDaily.com. 9 August 2010. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  14. "Pygott and Crone – Staff Contact Craig Stones". Archived from the original on 23 March 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
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