Craig Noone
Encyclopedia
Craig Stephen Noone is an English footballer who plays for Football League Championship
club Brighton & Hove Albion
as a winger, having previously played for Skelmersdale United
, Burscough
, Southport
, Plymouth Argyle
and Exeter City
.
, he was signed as a school boy by Liverpool
, but was released aged 11. He then trained as a roofer, and tiled the roof of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard
's new sports and gym complex at his house.
as a youth team player, and rose up through the ranks to make his first team debut in the 2005/2006 season
.
In the summer of 2007, Noone had a trial with Belgian
club Royal Antwerp, but ultimately did not sign for them. In October of the same year, Liam Watson
took Noone to Burscough
on a two-year contract.
Nine months later, in July 2008, Watson signed the player once again, this time for Southport
, where he played only one game before moving on again.
club Plymouth Argyle
for an undisclosed fee, on 30 August 2008, Noone made his debut for Plymouth as he came of the bench against Burnley in a league match. He scored his first goal for Plymouth on 15 November 2008 in a 1–0 win away at Coventry City, coming off the bench to score an 87th minute winner.
After 10 substitute appearances for Plymouth, Noone made his first start for the club in the league match versus Southampton
on Boxing Day 2008, where his team won 2–0. On 3 January 2009, Noone made his FA Cup debut coming off the bench during a 3–1 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
On 6 January 2009, Noone was linked with potential transfers to Premier League clubs Sunderland
and Wigan Athletic
.
On 10 September 2009, after Noone had only made two league substitute appearances so far in the 2009/10 season, Exeter City
signed him on a 3-month loan deal. He made his debut against Leyton Orient
and scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw. Noone scored in his final appearance for Exeter against Brentford
before being recalled on 2 November.
for an undisclosed fee. He has become a fan favourite in Brighton with his electric pace and his unerring ability to beat the defender. He scored twice for Brighton in their League One
title season, a great individual goal at home against Colchester United
and a volley at home against Hartlepool United
.
He was part of Brighton's first match of pre-season in preparation for the 2011-2012 season against Burgess Hill
. He played 45 minutes and impressed, having a long range effort well saved and he earned a penalty which he subsequently scored to make it 2-0.
On 21 September 2011, Noone was announced as the stadium sponsor's man of the match in a 1-2 defeat against his former employers and boyhood club, Liverpool
, in Third Round Carling Cup match at Falmer Stadium
. The Liverpool-born player hit the crossbar from a long-range shot during the game and was praised by his boyhood hero Steven Gerrard.
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
as a winger, having previously played for Skelmersdale United
Skelmersdale United F.C.
Skelmersdale United F.C. are a football club from Skelmersdale, West Lancashire competing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. The club is a member of both the Liverpool F.A. and the Lancashire County Football Association.-The first 75 years:...
, Burscough
Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
, Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
, Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
.
Early life
Born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, he was signed as a school boy by Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, but was released aged 11. He then trained as a roofer, and tiled the roof of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard
Steven George Gerrard MBE is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 89 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfielder role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger...
's new sports and gym complex at his house.
Non-league
Noone joined Skelmersdale UnitedSkelmersdale United F.C.
Skelmersdale United F.C. are a football club from Skelmersdale, West Lancashire competing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. The club is a member of both the Liverpool F.A. and the Lancashire County Football Association.-The first 75 years:...
as a youth team player, and rose up through the ranks to make his first team debut in the 2005/2006 season
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
.
In the summer of 2007, Noone had a trial with Belgian
Football in Belgium
Football, a sport which has been played in Belgium since the end of the 19th century, is that country's most popular sport. The national association was founded in 1895 with the intention of bringing some order and organization to the sport...
club Royal Antwerp, but ultimately did not sign for them. In October of the same year, Liam Watson
Liam Watson (footballer)
Liam Watson is an English former professional footballer and currently manager of Conference National side Southport.-Professional career:...
took Noone to Burscough
Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
on a two-year contract.
Nine months later, in July 2008, Watson signed the player once again, this time for Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
, where he played only one game before moving on again.
Plymouth Argyle
Signed by ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
for an undisclosed fee, on 30 August 2008, Noone made his debut for Plymouth as he came of the bench against Burnley in a league match. He scored his first goal for Plymouth on 15 November 2008 in a 1–0 win away at Coventry City, coming off the bench to score an 87th minute winner.
After 10 substitute appearances for Plymouth, Noone made his first start for the club in the league match versus Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on Boxing Day 2008, where his team won 2–0. On 3 January 2009, Noone made his FA Cup debut coming off the bench during a 3–1 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
On 6 January 2009, Noone was linked with potential transfers to Premier League clubs Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
.
On 10 September 2009, after Noone had only made two league substitute appearances so far in the 2009/10 season, Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
signed him on a 3-month loan deal. He made his debut against Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
and scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw. Noone scored in his final appearance for Exeter against Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
before being recalled on 2 November.
Brighton & Hove Albion
On 31 December 2010 it was confirmed that Noone had transferred to Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
for an undisclosed fee. He has become a fan favourite in Brighton with his electric pace and his unerring ability to beat the defender. He scored twice for Brighton in their League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
title season, a great individual goal at home against Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
and a volley at home against Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
.
He was part of Brighton's first match of pre-season in preparation for the 2011-2012 season against Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill Town F.C.
Burgess Hill Town Football Club is an English association football club currently playing in Division One South of the Isthmian League, the eighth tier of English football...
. He played 45 minutes and impressed, having a long range effort well saved and he earned a penalty which he subsequently scored to make it 2-0.
On 21 September 2011, Noone was announced as the stadium sponsor's man of the match in a 1-2 defeat against his former employers and boyhood club, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, in Third Round Carling Cup match at Falmer Stadium
Falmer Stadium
Falmer Stadium, known for sponsorship purposes as the American Express Community Stadium, or The Amex, is a football stadium near the village of Falmer in Brighton and Hove and is the home of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.. The stadium was handed over from the developers to the club on 31 May 2011...
. The Liverpool-born player hit the crossbar from a long-range shot during the game and was praised by his boyhood hero Steven Gerrard.