Craig Liddle
 |
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Craig George Liddle | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Darlington (head of youth) | ||
Craig George Liddle (born 21 October 1971 in Chester-le-Street)[1] is an English former footballer who made more than 300 appearances in the Football League playing for Middlesbrough[2] and Darlington, where he spent most of his professional career.[3] His predominant position was as a defender.
Playing career
He was a centre half that played professional football for Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Darlington
Liddle started his professional career at Aston Villa back in 1990 where he signed his first professional contract at the club where he had been a trainee. The Chester-le-Street-born star was released after just one season however after failing to impress. He joined local team Blyth Spartans where he spent the next three seasons.
In 1994 he got a dream move to Middlesbrough when Bryan Robson signed him at the start of the Boro revolution, he went on to make 25 first teams appearances in his four years at the Riverside.
He joined Darlington on loan in February 1998. In 16 games he made a big impression playing not only in defence but also as a midfielder. On the 1 July 1998, David Hodgson got 'Lidds' to put pen to paper and he joined Darlo for a nominal fee.
During his time at the Quakers Liddle showed just what a true professional footballer should be like and was a popular club captain. Not the biggest or the quickest Liddle was absolutely committed commanding his defence excellently, reading the game well and tackling excellently. Rated by the fans as one of the best defenders in the Third Division, and attracting interest from other clubs. During some turbulent times in Darlington's history Liddle became a talisman for the club, showing commitment on and off the pitch that made him a fans favourite. Something demonstrated by him being voted Darlington's all-time cult hero by BBC Football Focus viewers with 70% of the vote.
His last seasons at the club were sadly marked by injury, as his committed approach took its toll. His 300th appearance for Darlington on the 1 May 2004 was marked by a commemorative beer brewed by the Darwen Brewery - Liddle's Best, as well as specially printed T-shirts going on sale. On the announcement on his retirement in May 2005 Liddle was granted a testimonial against his former club Middlesbrough in July 2005, sadly due to a hoax bomb threat the game had to be abandoned at half time.
Coaching career
Craig Liddle worked as a football coach at Darlington College from September 2005 up until June 2007.
In February 2008 after Mick Tait had left Darlington, and Neil Maddison took over his role as reserve team coach, Liddle came into the club taking over the role left by Maddison as youth team coach.
On 8 May 2009 it was revealed Darlington's administrators Brackenbury Clark and Company, in order to cut costs, had released the "majority of the first-team squad" from their contracts with immediate effect as well as the club's coaching staff and administrative staff including caretaker manager Martin Gray, leaving Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison as joint temporary caretaker managers.[4]
Since the appointment of Colin Todd as manager on 20 May 2009 Liddle has been working as Darlington's head of youth.
After the departure of Todd on 26 September 2009, Liddle took over as temporary caretaker manager and was assisted by Neil Maddison until a replacement for Todd had been found. Liddle ruled himself out of taking the job full-time, saying he doesn't yet have the experience needed to run a club.[5]
On 5 October it was announced that former Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton had been appointed as the new permanent manager until the end of that season. As well as Staunton the club brought in former Sunderland coach Kevin Richardson as assistant to him on the same deal. The pair started their job roles later on that week after Liddle finished off his temporary caretaker manager role and his assistant Maddison finished off his temporary caretaker assistant manager role after the Football League Trophy tie against Leeds United earlier that week, but the new pair's first game as the football management was against Dagenham & Redbridge later that week in League Two.[6]
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Darlington (temporary joint caretaker) | 
|
8 May 2009 | 20 May 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Darlington (temporary caretaker) |
|
September 2009 | October 2009 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.00 |
Honours
As a player
- Darlington
- Natiowide Division Three Play-Off Final runner-up: 1999–00
References
- ^ Hugman, Barry, ed. (2005). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2005/2006. Queen Anne Press. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-85291-662-1.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: checksum (help) - ^ "Middlesbrough : 1946/47 – 2008/09". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ "Darlington : 1946/47 – 1988/89 & 1990/91 – 2008/09". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ "Quakers Forced to Release Players". bbc.co.uk. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "Craig Liddle rules himself out of the job". www.darlington-fc.net. Retrieved 4 Oct 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "Staunton appointed new Quakers boss". Darlington Football Club. 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
External links
- Craig Liddle at Soccerbase