Craig Whitington
Encyclopedia
Craig Whitington was a former professional
footballer, who played for Crawley Town
,Bridgeport, Scarborough
, Huddersfield Town
and Rochdale
.He has had two children Naomi and Charlie. His father is called Eric Whitington, he is also an ex-professional footballer and he played for Chelsea
and Brighton & Hove Albion
, and his mum is called Joan.
in the late 1980s. He then moved onto Crawley in 1991 after he netted a hat-trick against Mead in an FA Cup clash with Worthing.
, the team his father Eric had been a fan's favourite at some years before. Whitington followed in his Dad's footsteps and became a firm fan's favourite by scoring 75 goals in 173 appearances and this prompted interest in the young striker's talents. Cyprus club Omonicosia wanted to sign him, but they couldn't meet the asking price of £100,000. That was a disappointment, as in the same season they went on to play Juventus in the European Cup. Then in December 1993, Fourth Division Scarborough
to pay £50,000 for his services.
and in his only proper run in the Football League he scored 10 goals in 26 appearances. Then in the summer of 1994, the then Huddersfield Town
manager, Neil Warnock
signed Whitington for £20,000 after seeing him in a pre-season Yorkshire Electricity Cup
clash against Huddersfield for Scarborough.
and then the next game against Leyton Orient
Whitington made his debut wearing the number 10 shirt alongside Andrew Booth
. It turned out to be his only game for the club and he was sent out to Rochdale during the 1994/95 season. Whitington remained at Town until he was sacked in early 1996 for a drugs offence.
from 2005-2007. In 2007; a group of mates formed a football team called Brighton North End, Whitington was one of them, and Whitington played striker for the team that in their first season won the treble. They won the Brighton League Division 2, the JW Whittington Cup and The Hove and Worthing Cup. They were subsequently promoted to the Brighton Premier League. Whitington was also secretary when the club was formed, before leaving sometime in 2008 after scoring 12 goals in 25 games over 2007 and 2008. He joined Three Bridges in 2008 and they compete in the Crawley and District Premier League.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer, who played for Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
,Bridgeport, Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
, Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
and Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
.He has had two children Naomi and Charlie. His father is called Eric Whitington, he is also an ex-professional footballer and he played for Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and 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....
, and his mum is called Joan.
Early career
Craig Whitington began his playing career at non-league WorthingWorthing F.C.
Worthing Football Club are an English association football club based in Worthing, West Sussex, currently playing in the Isthmian League Division One South...
in the late 1980s. He then moved onto Crawley in 1991 after he netted a hat-trick against Mead in an FA Cup clash with Worthing.
Crawley Town
In 1990 Whitington joined Crawley TownCrawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
, the team his father Eric had been a fan's favourite at some years before. Whitington followed in his Dad's footsteps and became a firm fan's favourite by scoring 75 goals in 173 appearances and this prompted interest in the young striker's talents. Cyprus club Omonicosia wanted to sign him, but they couldn't meet the asking price of £100,000. That was a disappointment, as in the same season they went on to play Juventus in the European Cup. Then in December 1993, Fourth Division Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
to pay £50,000 for his services.
Scarborough
In 1993 Whitington arrived in Scarborough after being signed by former Crawley boss Steve WicksSteve Wicks
Steve Wicks is an English former professional footballer. He was a tall, solid imposing player who played as a centre half. He most notably played for Chelsea, Derby County and Queens Park Rangers in the 1970s and 1980s...
and in his only proper run in the Football League he scored 10 goals in 26 appearances. Then in the summer of 1994, the then Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
manager, Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
signed Whitington for £20,000 after seeing him in a pre-season Yorkshire Electricity Cup
Yorkshire Electricity Cup
The Yorkshire Electricity Cup was a short-lived pre-season tournament featuring football teams from around the Yorkshire region of England. The first tournament was in 1990 and the last 1995.-List of winners:...
clash against Huddersfield for Scarborough.
Huddersfield Town
Whitington was placed on the bench for a Coca Cola Cup tie with Scunthorpe UnitedScunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
and then the next game 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...
Whitington made his debut wearing the number 10 shirt alongside Andrew Booth
Andy Booth
Andrew David "Andy" Booth is a retired professional footballer. Whilst at Huddersfield he announced his retirement on 22 April 2009, but remains at the club as an ambassador.-Huddersfield Town:...
. It turned out to be his only game for the club and he was sent out to Rochdale during the 1994/95 season. Whitington remained at Town until he was sacked in early 1996 for a drugs offence.
Crawley Town (Again)
Whitington's ban for his drugs offence lasted for 10 months and when the ban was completed the only club that showed any interest were his old club; Crawley Town. However, he failed to live up to his promise and his second spell wasn't as good as the first and he left Crawley in 1997.Later career
Whitington left Crawley due to a troublesome knee injury and didn't play football again until 1999 when he began turning out for Rottingdean United in the Brighton League. He also played for WhitehawkWhitehawk F.C.
Whitehawk F.C. is a football club based in Whitehawk, in Brighton, England.-History:Founded in 1945 as Whitehawk & Manor Farm Old Boys, the club joined the Sussex County League in 1952/53 and after finishing third in their inaugural season, were runners-up for three successive seasons from 1954/55,...
from 2005-2007. In 2007; a group of mates formed a football team called Brighton North End, Whitington was one of them, and Whitington played striker for the team that in their first season won the treble. They won the Brighton League Division 2, the JW Whittington Cup and The Hove and Worthing Cup. They were subsequently promoted to the Brighton Premier League. Whitington was also secretary when the club was formed, before leaving sometime in 2008 after scoring 12 goals in 25 games over 2007 and 2008. He joined Three Bridges in 2008 and they compete in the Crawley and District Premier League.