Laurie Craker

Laurence David Craker (1 March 1953 – 16 May 2020) was an English footballer and manager who played as a midfielder. As a player, Craker played in the Third Division and the Fourth Division with Watford.

Laurie Craker
Personal information
Full name Laurence David Craker[1]
Date of birth (1953-03-01)1 March 1953[1]
Place of birth Aylesbury, England
Date of death 16 May 2020(2020-05-16) (aged 67)[2]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
0000–1971 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1972 Jewish Guild
1972–1977 Watford 66 (4)
197? → Dartford (loan)
1977–1981 Hayes
Staines Town
Chesham United
Maidenhead United
Northwood
Chalfont St Peter
Total 66 (4)
Teams managed
1984–198? Windsor & Eton
1986–1987 Chalfont St Peter
1996–1997 Walton & Hersham
1999 Chesham United
2000–2001 Flackwell Heath
2004–200? Flackwell Heath
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early life

Craker was born in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.[1]

Playing career

As a player, Craker started his career at Chelsea, but did not make an appearance for the club and left to join Jewish Guild in 1971, where he played for nine months. He returned to England, joining Watford in 1972. Craker went on to make 66 league appearances for Watford, scoring 4, between 1972 and 1977 in the Third Division and the Fourth Division. He suffered multiple injuries while at Watford, including a broken leg. Towards the end of his spell at Watford, Craker had a three-month loan spell at Dartford.[2][4][5]

After leaving Watford, Craker joined Hayes in August 1977, where he made 184 appearances, scoring 8, before being released by the club in August 1981.[5] Following his release by Hayes, Craker played for Staines Town, Chesham United, Maidenhead United, Northwood and Chalfont St Peter.[5][2]

Managerial career

Craker's first managerial role came when he was offered the manager role at Windsor & Eton in 1984, before later managing Chalfont St Peter across the 1986–87 season. In 1990, he was appointed as assistant manager at Marlow with Dave Russell, and helped guide Marlow to the FA Cup third round in the 1992–93 season, before Craker and Russell moved on to Slough Town.[6][2] Craker was manager of Walton & Hersham across the 1996–97 season.[7]

In January 1999, Craker became the assistant manager of Chesham United,[8] before becoming their manager in April 1999 following the departure of Alan Cork.[9] He later became the manager of Flackwell Heath in 2000 before resigning in August of the following year.[10][11] Craker was appointed as a coach at Kingstonian in 2003,[12] before returning to Flackwell Heath as manager in 2004.[13] Craker became assistant manager at Burnham before resigning in 2014.[14]

Personal life

Craker also worked as a thatcher alongside his father.[15]

His son Lewis was also a footballer and played for multiple clubs, including Maidenhead United,[15] and is now manager of Thame Rangers.[2]

Craker died of cancer on 16 May 2020, aged 67.[2]

References
  1. "Laurie Craker". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  2. Richings, James (20 May 2020). "Former Marlow FC manager who played for Chelsea and Watford dies". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  3. Butler, Frank; Collins, Patrick (1973). News of the World Football Annual 1973–74. London. p. 308.
  4. "Laurie Craker". Neil Brown Newcastle Fans. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  5. "A-Z of Hayes FC: Craker – Cutler". www.hyufc.com. Hayes & Yeading United F.C. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  6. "Laurie Craker 1953-2020". Slough Town F.C. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  7. "History". waltonandhershamfc.org.uk. Walton & Hersham F.C. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  8. "Robbo returns". Bucks Free Press. 16 January 1999. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  9. "Cork quits Chesham". Bucks Free Press. 17 April 1999. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  10. "Flackwell start afresh". Bucks Free Press. 17 August 2000. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. "Flackwell start with a manager". Bucks Free Press. 16 August 2001. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  12. "New Coach Appointed". www.kingstonian.net. Kingstonian F.C. 15 August 2003. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  13. "Flackwell Heath 0–1 Chertsey Town". Bucks Free Press. 20 February 2004. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  14. Darlington, Daniel (18 January 2014). "Martin Stone and Laurie Craker resign as Burnham FC's management team". Maidenhead Advertiser. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  15. Darlington, Daniel (18 May 2020). "Tributes paid to popular former footballer and assistant boss Laurie Craker". Maidenhead Advertiser. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
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