Tony Crane

Football player infobox
playername = Tony Crane


fullname = Anthony Steven Crane
nickname =
height = height|ft=6|in=5
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|9|8
cityofbirth = Liverpool
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Free Agent
clubnumber =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1999-2003
2003-2006
2005
2006-2007
2007-2008
clubs = Sheffield Wednesday
Grimsby Town
Worksop Town (Loan)
Worksop Town
Boston United
caps(goals) = 48 (4)
45 (4)
N/A
N/A
13 (2)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = December 12, 2007
ntupdate =

Anthony Steven "Tony" Crane (born 8 September 1982 in Liverpool, England) is an English footballer, he is currently without a club after leaving Boston United. Tony played professionally for Sheffield Wednesday and Grimsby Town.

Crane started his career with Sheffield Wednesday in 1999.cite web
title = Tony Crane
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=18514
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2007-09-03] however following the clubs relegation from the Premiership, he failed to make an appearance in England's top division for The Owls. Despite this he settled down with The Owls playing a role in the clubs next three seasons in the First Division . Crane played in three positions for the club, in defence, midfield and as make shift striker. In May 2003, Sheffield Wednesday were relegated from the First Division, down with them came Grimsby Town after both clubs suffered poorly in a tough season. Following this, Crane shocked Owls supporters by leaving Hillsborough to sign for Grimsby on a free transfer, thus making him Town's first signing of the new season.cite news
title = Grimsby snap up Crane
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grimsby_town/2977878.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2003-10-06
accessdate = 2007-09-03] after both clubs had been relegated in the previous season.

After playing the majority of his football in midfield and attack at Hillsborough, Tony found himself installed as one the clubs first choice centre back, usually featuring alongside Mike Edwards, Simon Ford or Player-Manager Paul Groves. His career at Grimsby had its highs and its lows, on one side his passion and commitment for the club earned his respect amongst the clubs supporters, but despite being popular in that respect, he was sent off more than once for the club.

In his second season at Blundell Park Crane came foul to a nasty injury that would keep him out of the game for up to 8 months; despite returning late on in the 2004-2005 season he would not reclaim his position at the back until the following season. Following some decent performances in the clubs pre-season friendlies, Crane had cemented himself at the back with Rob Jones, thus seeing club captain Justin Whittle moved onto the substitute bench.

However a slight aggravation in his old injury saw Tony lose his place to Whittle in the team, and after this the player piled on weight and became alarmingly unfit by the standards of current Grimsby boss Russell Slade. Crane returned from injury but his chances were basically non-existent with Slade even choosing utility player Glen Downey as the defensive option on the bench ahead of Crane. Slade blasted Crane in late September for his poor fitness and lack of enthusiasm to shed weight, and he was loan listed come late October. In November 2005 Wrexham offered Crane an escape route, but strangely the player decided against the move. Also interested was Non-League side Worksop Towncite news
title = Defender Crane attracts interest
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grimsby_town/4399690.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2005-11-09
accessdate = 2007-09-03] , Worksop had also recently signed former Grimsby forward Darren Mansaram on loan, and Crane made the move to Worksop on an initial three-month loan. With many people expecting Crane to return to Grimsby and fight for his place, he didn't and he moved to Worksop in January 2006 on a free transfer.cite news
title = BAD NEWS FOR TIGERS
url = http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=32028
publisher = NonLeagueDaily.com
date = 2005-01-02
accessdate = 2007-09-04] Tony played out the remainder of the season for the club, but soon attracted more attention from Welsh clubs with The Tigers turning down a bid for Crane from Newport County in December 2006.cite news
title = LONG-RANGE TRANSFER?
url = http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=39095
publisher = NonLeagueDaily.com
date = 2006-12-15
accessdate = 2007-09-04] In May 2007, Worksop were relegated from the Blue Square North division; this would be Tony's third career relegation. With finances low at Worksop, the majority of the squad left, and in June he joined Boston United on trial along with fellow former Grimsby players Jonathan Rowan, Matthew Bloomer and Adam Buckley. A month later Crane made the move to Boston a permanent one.cite news
title = THREE MORE NEW PILGRIMS
url = http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=44144
publisher = NonLeagueDaily.com
date = 2007-08-08
accessdate = 2007-09-04] After a mediocre season, Tony left Boston at the end of the campaign.

Notes

External links

*soccerbase|id=18514|name=Tony Crane