Craig Lawton (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Craig Lawton


fullname = Craig Thomas Lawton
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1972|1|5
cityofbirth = Mancot, Flintshire
countryofbirth = Wales
height = height|ft=5|in=7
position = Left midfield, centre midfield
currentclub = Bala Town
clubnumber =
youthyears = ?-1990
youthclubs = Manchester United
years = 1990-1994
1994-1996
1996-2002
2002-2006
2006-
clubs = Manchester United
Port Vale
Colwyn Bay
Connah's Quay Nomads
Bala Town
caps(goals) = 0 (0)
3 (0)
? (?)
? (?)
? (?)
nationalyears =
nationalteam = England U-21
nationalcaps(goals) = ? (?)
pcupdate = 22:46, 23 August 2007 (UTC)
ntupdate = 22:46, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

Craig Thomas Lawton (born 5 January 1972 in Mancot, Flintshire) is a Welsh-born English footballer currently playing as a left winger for Bala Town in the Cymru Alliance.

Lawton began his career at Manchester United, signing his first professional contract with the club in July 1990. The closest Lawton got to making an appearance for the Red Devils came in a Premier League match against Queens Park Rangers in January 1993, when he was an unused substitute. He was given the number 22 jersey for the 1993-94 season, but did not make a single appearance for United. Soon after, he suffered a broken leg, [cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/archive/columns/2001/0925/20010925premfocusjb.html |title=Premier Focus: Players should stand and be counted |accessdate=2007-08-23 |author=John Brewin |date=2001-09-25 |work=Columns |publisher=ESPN Soccernet |quote=...Lawton was moved on to Port Vale after a bad leg break. ] and was allowed to join Port Vale on a free transfer in August 1994.

Lawton made only three appearances for the Stoke-on-Trent club in his two seasons there and left to join Colwyn Bay in 1996. He played for Colwyn Bay for six years, before moving to Connah's Quay Nomads, and then Bala Town four years later.

Despite being born and raised in Wales, and representing Wales at various levels, [cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/colwynbayfc/squad.htm |title=Colwyn Bay FC first team squad |accessdate=2007-08-23 |year=2001 |publisher=ColwynBay.fc |quote=An exceptionally skilful player he has also won Welsh representative honours at various levels. ] Lawton played his most senior level of international football for England, but made only a few appearances at Under-21 level. [cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19971116/ai_n14136017 |title=Lawton recovers in Bay of hope |accessdate=2007-08-23 |author=Andrew Baker |date=1997-11-16 |publisher=Independent |quote=He played a handful of games there, then broke a leg, which is how the former England Under-21 international came to Colwyn Bay. ]

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=4435|name=Craig Lawton
* [http://www.citizens-choice.co.uk/xconnahsquay.htm Connah's Quay Nomads profile]
* [http://premiersoccerstats.com/PlayerHome.cfm?PlayerId=LAWTONC Craig Lawton profile] at [http://premiersoccerstats.com/indexa.cfm PremierSoccerStats.com]