Allan Craig



Allan CraigAllan Craig joined Motherwell in 1924 from junior outfit Saltcoat Vics. Before Alan joined the club, he was actually due to feature for the Rangers reserves for a try-out. ‘Sailor’ Hunter on many occasions couldn’t get him to sign for the club, so one day in Paisley, Craig worked as a carter and ‘Sailor’ confronted him. As he persisted, Alan finally gave in and signed the contract. Later on, Alan was quoted as saying his motivation for signing in the local press: “Well, it got rid o’ him didn’t it!” For the first six years with the club, he was almost an entirely defensive player but in the Championship winning season of 1931/32, he became a much more adventurous player going forward, going up for attacks and combining well with the wing halfs.

 

He will be remembered as a towering centre-half who brought stability and strength to the ‘Well defence, at a time when the club was more famous for it’s attacking prowess.

The Daily Express said of him in the 1930’s “his game is the very essence of security. His tactics are the best known for combatting the liberties granted to forwards by the new offside regulations.”

To many observers Allan Craig was one of the finest defenders of his day.

It is ironic and yet typical of football, that his career should so often be remembered in context of a solitary own goal.

Paisley born and bred, Allan joined Motherwell in 1924 from Ayrshire Junior side Saltcoats Victoria. Powerful and enthusiastic he soon made the centre-half position his own.

By 1927 he had forced his way into the Scotland team and represented his country in their ‘Tour of the Continent’ playing against the likes of both Norway and Holland. In 1931 he was selected to represent the Scottish League against the English League and the ultimate accolade came in 1932 when he pulled on the Scotland jersey at Wembley.

He left Fir Park in January 1933 and in nine seasons at Fir Park he won 3 full international caps, 2 Scottish League Caps and of course won a Championship medal in 1932. A confident and commanding centre-half he made 266 league appearances between 1925 and 1932 missing only 6 matches in that 7 year spell which was quite an extraordinary feat. Yet for all his success at Motherwell he was to be remembered as the scorer of one of Scottish footballs most dramatic own goals.

In the 1930/31 Scottish Cup final Motherwell seemed set to win the cup for the first time. They comfortably led Celtic 2-1 and with the seconds slipping away it seemed that Silverware was heading back to Lanarkshire. Then in injury time, Bert Thomson whipped in a hastily delivered cross, Motherwell full-back Johnman shouted “go for it, Alan”, both keeper Alan McClory and Allan Craig both challenged for it but unfortunately hit Craig’s head and spun into the empty net. Hampden was stunned, silence greeted the blunder and 100,000 spectators looked on as Allan Craig beat the ground with his fists in sheer frustration.

Name:
Allan Craig
Height:
Weight:
 12st
Date of Birth:
 7th February 1904
Place of Birth:
 Paisley
Position:
 Centre-Half
Nationality:
 Scottish

Football Career:

 Saltcoat Victoria 1924
 Motherwell  1924 1933 
Chelsea  1933 1939

Well Career:

Apps Goals
League:
284 3
Scottish Cup:
League Cup:
Other:
Total:
284 3