Stevie Crawford

Stephen Crawford (born 9 January 1974) is a Scottish professional football player and coach, who is the head coach of Dunfermline Athletic.

For other people named Steven Crawford, see Steven Crawford.

Stevie Crawford
Personal information
Full name Stephen Crawford[1]
Date of birth (1974-01-09) 9 January 1974
Place of birth Dunfermline, Scotland
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Dunfermline Athletic (head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1996 Raith Rovers 115 (22)
1996–1997 Millwall 42 (11)
1997–2000 Hibernian 73 (23)
1999–2000 → Dunfermline Athletic (loan) 25 (16)
2000–2004 Dunfermline Athletic 144 (47)
2004–2005 Plymouth Argyle 26 (6)
2005 Dundee United 21 (3)
2005–2006 Aberdeen 34 (8)
2006–2008 Dunfermline Athletic 59 (8)
2008–2011 East Fife 50 (10)
2011 Cowdenbeath 18 (2)
2011 Forfar Athletic 11 (2)
Total 618 (158)
National team
1995–2004 Scotland 25 (4)
Teams managed
2009–2010 East Fife (player/manager)
2019– Dunfermline Athletic
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Crawford started his career with Raith Rovers, with whom he won the 1994 Scottish League Cup Final and played in the UEFA Cup. This earned him a move to English football with Millwall, but Crawford returned to Scotland after just one year. He had a mixed spell with Hibernian, suffering relegation but then winning promotion. Crawford then had the most productive spell of his career with Dunfermline Athletic, during which time he became a Scotland regular, amassing 25 caps in total. Crawford played in three Scottish Cup Finals (two for Dunfermline and one for Dundee United) in the mid-2000s, losing all three to Celtic. Crawford's stint with Dundee United came after a short-lived return to English football with Plymouth Argyle.

After short spells with Aberdeen and Dunfermline Athletic, Crawford signed for lower division club East Fife in 2008. He served East Fife as player/manager for just over a year before resigning as manager in October 2010.[2] He has since worked as an assistant manager at Falkirk, Hearts and Milton Keynes Dons.

Domestic career

1990s

Crawford, who plays as a striker, began his career with Raith Rovers in 1992. Raith beat Celtic in a penalty shootout in the 1994 Scottish League Cup Final and Crawford scored one of Raith's goals in the final.[3] Raith also played in the UEFA Cup against Bayern Munich.

After the 1995–96 season, Crawford moved on to Millwall, where he spent a single season and scored 11 goals. Hibernian signed Crawford in 1997, but were relegated from the top division before winning promotion back to the Scottish Premier League in 1999. Crawford moved to Dunfermline Athletic on loan for the 1999–2000 season, scoring 16 goals in 25 games.

Dunfermline Athletic

Crawford signed for the Fife side permanently in July 2000 after a successful loan in the previous season. His first goal for the Pars came on 12 August 2000 against St Johnstone.[4] Crawford was Dunfermline's top scorer in his first season at East End Park, scoring 9 goals in 37 league matches. The next season was just as successful for Crawford in goalscoring terms and his goals elevated Dunfermline to finishing sixth in the league. His goal in the final game of the season against Rangers earned his side a 1–1 draw.[5] The 2002–03 season was perhaps Crawford's best season with the Pars. The third game of the season saw him score a hat-trick against Dundee[6] leading to him challenging for top scorer of the season with 19 goals in 35 games. Crawford's goals again helped the Pars move up the league, helping them finish fifth overall.

His final season at Dunfermline was the club most successful season in a number of years, which saw them finish 4th thanks to Crawford's 13 goals. This not only saw his side qualify for the UEFA Cup, but he also helped the Pars reach the 2004 Scottish Cup Final, which they lost 3–1 to Celtic.[7] It was at this time that Crawford decided he wanted to leave Dunfermline to sign for a club in England.

Plymouth and Dundee United

Crawford signed for Football League Championship side Plymouth Argyle in 2004.[8] He failed to settle in England due to his homesickness. After only six months he returned to Scotland, signing with Dundee United for a £80,000 fee.[9] His time at Tannadice was equally short-lived, although he did earn another Scottish Cup runners-up medal, as United lost the 2005 Scottish Cup Final to Celtic.[10]

Aberdeen and return to Dunfermline

After joining Aberdeen at the start of the 2005–06 season, Crawford returned to Dunfermline in August 2006, despite being a regular starter at Pittodrie and among the top league scorers at the time. He signed a two-year deal with his hometown team[11] but failed to be as productive as he had been in his first spell with Dunfermline, scoring only 8 goals in two seasons. He helped Dunfermline reach the 2007 Scottish Cup Final in which he played as a substitute, however for the third time in four seasons Crawford ended up on the losing side in a Scottish Cup final against Celtic.[12] In April 2008, Crawford was told he would not be offered a new contract and was free to find a new club.[13]

International career

Over the course of his career Crawford won 25 caps for Scotland, scoring 4 goals.[14] He made his debut (and scored) in a Kirin Cup tie in 1995, but did not make another appearance until 2001.[14] Crawford played regularly under the management of Berti Vogts.

Coaching career

It was reported in July 2008 that Crawford had turned down a move to the English Championship in favour of continuing his football in Scotland.[15] Crawford signed a two-year-deal with Scottish Second Division side East Fife a few days later.[16][17] After David Baikie resigned as manager on 14 April 2009, Crawford became caretaker player/manager,[18][19] and he was given the job on a permanent basis later that month.[20] After just over a year as manager, Crawford resigned as manager of East Fife, but remained with the club as a registered player.[2][21]

Crawford was appointed assistant manager of Falkirk in October 2011.[22] He moved to a similar position at Hearts in May 2014, working with Robbie Neilson.[23] Neilson and Crawford both moved to English League One side Milton Keynes Dons in December 2016.[24] They both left MK Dons in January 2018, with the team in 21st place in League One.[25]

Crawford then joined Dunfermline Athletic as a coach. He was appointed head coach in January 2019, after Allan Johnston left the club.[26]

Career statistics

International appearances
Scotland national team[27]
YearAppsGoals
199511
1996—
1997—
1998—
1999—
2000—
200110
200252
2003101
200480
Total254

International goals
Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
124 May 1995Toyama Park Stadium, Toyama Ecuador2–12–1Kirin Cup
215 October 2002Easter Road, Edinburgh Canada1–13–1Friendly match
315 October 2002Easter Road, Edinburgh Canada3–13–1Friendly match
427 May 2003Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh New Zealand1–01–1Friendly match

Managerial record
As of match played 6 February 2021
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref.
G W D L Win %
East Fife (player/manager) 14 April 2009 24 October 2010 60 15 17 28 025.00 [28]
Dunfermline Athletic 10 January 2019 Present 73 29 16 28 039.73 [29]
Career Total 133 44 33 56 033.08 —

Honours

Club
Raith Rovers
Hibernian
Dunfermline Athletic
Dundee United

Individual
Dunfermline
  • Scottish First Division Player of the Year
    • 1999–00

References
  1. "Stevie Crawford". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  2. Stewart, Craig (24 October 2010). "Crawford steps down as East Fife manager". The Scotsman. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  3. "NOW YOU KNOW: Day Rovers danced in the streets of Raith..." glasgowtimes.co.uk. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  4. "Saints fight back for point". BBC Sport. 12 August 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  5. "Pars hold Rangers". BBC Sport. 12 May 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  6. "Crawford dumps Dundee". BBC Sport. 17 August 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  7. "Larsson caps Celtic triumph". BBC. 22 May 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  8. "Plymouth land Crawford". BBC Sport. 14 June 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  9. "Dundee Utd seal Crawford transfer". BBC Sport. 4 January 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  10. "Celtic 1-0 Dundee United". BBC. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  11. "Crawford returns to Dunfermline". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  12. "Dunfermline 0-1 Celtic". BBC. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  13. "No Dunfermline deal for Crawford". BBC Sport. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  14. Stevie Crawford at the Scottish Football Association
  15. "SPL clubs interested in Crawford". BBC Sport. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  16. "Fifers sign "exceptional" Crawford". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  17. "East Fife strike to sign Crawford". BBC Sport. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  18. "Stevie Crawford- new manager". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  19. "Football: Crawford gets East Fife post". Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  20. "Crawford named East Fife manager". BBC Sport. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  21. "Stevie Crawford". East Fife F.C. official website. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  22. "Falkirk snap up Stevie Crawford as new assistant manager". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  23. Borthwick, Jamie (22 May 2014). "Stevie Crawford joins Hearts as assistant to head coach Robbie Neilson". STV Sport. STV. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  24. "Neilson named MK Dons manager". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  25. "Robbie Neilson: Milton Keynes Dons manager leaves club by 'mutual consent'". BBC Sport. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  26. "Dunfermline: Stevie Crawford appointed head coach". BBC Sport. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  27. National Football Teams profile
  28. "Stephen Crawford". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  29. "2018–19 Dunfermline Fixtures & Results". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
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