Craig Mackail-Smith
Encyclopedia
Craig Anthony Robert Mackail-Smith (born 25 February 1984) is a footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion
as a striker. He has also played for England C and at full international level for Scotland
. He was the winner of League One
Player of the Year
for the 2010–11 season.
where he played for only one season, a highlight of which was knocking Dagenham & Redbridge
out of the FA Trophy
.He later joined Dagenham & Redbridge
in 2004 when the club was in the Football conference
e,When he was at the club he scored 14 times in the league he picked up 5 yellow cards and received 0 red cards he was also substituted 3 times. then on 29 January 2007 he was signed by Peterborough United with Dagenham retaining 15% of any future transfer fee.
,Mclean would later move to Hull City A.F.C in 2010.Steve Claridge posted a scouting report on the 23rd of September 2008 on Mackail Smith he described him as a “ a rampaging Nordic Viking with his long blond hair” and he was impressed by the way he would pick up the ball and run at defenders, attacking at every opportunity in what Claridge described as a positive way. Mackail Smith managed to rack up 35 goals for the club during the the 2010- 2011 season. The 35 goals that he scored during that season made him the most prolific scorer in England for the season and also bagged him the coveted prize of Npower Football league One Player of the Year Award.
His then manger Darren Ferguson
(the son of Sir Alex Ferguson) described him as a hard working front man who has an excellent goal to game ratio. When Mackail Smith was interviewed by BBC Sport
in June 2011 he was quoted in saying that“ I want to play at the highest level I can attain and I want to play in the Premier League” and he continued to say that “Though obviously it all depends on what kind of club comes in for me” He was the subject of interest from premiership teams Norwich City, Everton F.C.
, Wigan Athletic F.C.
and QPR
On 29 May 2011 Mackail-Smith scored the second goal in the 3–0 win against Huddersfield at Old Trafford
to clinch promotion for Peterborough United to the Championship
.
for an initial £2.5million, possibly rising to £3.25million, signing a four-year deal. Mackail-Smith's first goal for Brighton was a winner in the south coast derby against Portsmouth
.
, Mackail-Smith scored one goal in one appearance for England C. Mackail-Smith qualified to play for Scotland through his Edinburgh
-born grandmother Margaret and confirmed his interest in playing for Scotland if called up. On 24 March 2011, he received a call-up from Scotland boss Craig Levein
for a friendly with Brazil
on 27 March. He made his international debut when he came on as a substitute for Kenny Miller
in the 87th minute. He scored his first international goal against Liechtenstein
on 8th October 2011 in a crucial Euro 2012 qualifier. and played in the match v Spain in Alicante on 12th Oct 2011, winning a penalty which David Goodwillie scored from, in a match that Spain won 3-1.
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 striker. He has also played for England C and at full international level for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. He was the winner of 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....
Player of the Year
Football League Awards
The Football League Awards is an annual awards ceremony commemorating football-related people involved in the three divisions of the Football League...
for the 2010–11 season.
Early Career
Mackail-Smith was brought through the youth system at St Albans City, scoring two goals in 30 starts and 15 substitute appearances. He was released at the end of the 2003 season and joined Arlesey TownArlesey Town F.C.
Arlesey Town Football Club is an English association football club from Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England. They currently play in the Southern Football League Premier Division.The club is affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association.-History:...
where he played for only one season, a highlight of which was knocking Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
out of the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
.He later joined Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
in 2004 when the club was in the Football conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
e,When he was at the club he scored 14 times in the league he picked up 5 yellow cards and received 0 red cards he was also substituted 3 times. then on 29 January 2007 he was signed by Peterborough United with Dagenham retaining 15% of any future transfer fee.
Peterborough United
Mackail-Smith had a slow start to life as a Peterborough United striker, playing only rarely in his first season in League Two. But when the side had reached league 1 he took up a regular forward position in the first team and he linked up well with the then Peterborough United striker Aaron McLeanAaron McLean
Aaron McLean is an English footballer who plays for Hull City as a striker.-Early career:Born in Hammersmith, London, McLean attended Robert Clack School in Dagenham. He has played for Leyton Orient and Aldershot Town....
,Mclean would later move to Hull City A.F.C in 2010.Steve Claridge posted a scouting report on the 23rd of September 2008 on Mackail Smith he described him as a “ a rampaging Nordic Viking with his long blond hair” and he was impressed by the way he would pick up the ball and run at defenders, attacking at every opportunity in what Claridge described as a positive way. Mackail Smith managed to rack up 35 goals for the club during the the 2010- 2011 season. The 35 goals that he scored during that season made him the most prolific scorer in England for the season and also bagged him the coveted prize of Npower Football league One Player of the Year Award.
His then manger Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as the manager of Peterborough United...
(the son of Sir Alex Ferguson) described him as a hard working front man who has an excellent goal to game ratio. When Mackail Smith was interviewed by BBC Sport
BBC Sport
BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC. It became a fully dedicated division of the BBC in 2000. It incorporates programmes such as Match of the Day, Grandstand , Test Match Special, Ski Sunday, Rugby Special and coverage of Formula One motor racing, MotoGP and the Wimbledon Tennis...
in June 2011 he was quoted in saying that“ I want to play at the highest level I can attain and I want to play in the Premier League” and he continued to say that “Though obviously it all depends on what kind of club comes in for me” He was the subject of interest from premiership teams Norwich City, Everton F.C.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Wigan Athletic F.C.
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...
and QPR
QPR
QPR usually refers to Queens Park Rangers F.C., an English football club.QPR may also refer to:*Queen + Paul Rodgers, a 2004-2009 musical supergroup*Queen's Park Rangers , a football club playing in the Grenada League...
On 29 May 2011 Mackail-Smith scored the second goal in the 3–0 win against Huddersfield at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
to clinch promotion for Peterborough United to the Championship
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...
.
Brighton & Hove Albion
On 4 July 2011 Mackail-Smith joined 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 initial £2.5million, possibly rising to £3.25million, signing a four-year deal. Mackail-Smith's first goal for Brighton was a winner in the south coast derby against Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
.
International career
While playing in the Football ConferenceFootball Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
, Mackail-Smith scored one goal in one appearance for England C. Mackail-Smith qualified to play for Scotland through his Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
-born grandmother Margaret and confirmed his interest in playing for Scotland if called up. On 24 March 2011, he received a call-up from Scotland boss Craig Levein
Craig Levein
Craig William Levein is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager of the Scotland national team. During his playing career he played for Cowdenbeath and Heart of Midlothian...
for a friendly with Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
on 27 March. He made his international debut when he came on as a substitute for Kenny Miller
Kenny Miller
Kenneth "Kenny" Miller is a Scottish footballer who plays as a striker for Cardiff City and the Scotland national football team...
in the 87th minute. He scored his first international goal against Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein national football team
The Liechtenstein national football team is the national football team of Liechtenstein and is controlled by the Liechtenstein Football Association. The organisation is known as the Liechtensteiner Fussballverband in German. The team's first match was an unofficial match against Malta in Seoul, a...
on 8th October 2011 in a crucial Euro 2012 qualifier. and played in the match v Spain in Alicante on 12th Oct 2011, winning a penalty which David Goodwillie scored from, in a match that Spain won 3-1.
International goals
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8 October 2011 | Rheinpark Stadion Rheinpark Stadion The Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz is the national stadium of Liechtenstein. It plays host to the home matches of the Liechtenstein national football team, and is also the home of Liechtenstein's top football club, FC Vaduz.... , Vaduz Vaduz Vaduz is the capital of the principality of Liechtenstein and the seat of the national parliament. The town, located along the Rhine, has about 5,100 inhabitants , most of whom are Roman Catholic. Its cathedral is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop.... |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying The qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2012 is a series of parallel association football competitions held over 2010 and 2011 to decide the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine... |
Career statistics
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | Play-Offs | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||||
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2004–05 | Conference Football Conference The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 12 | ||
| 2005–06 | Conference | 38 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 11 | |||
| 2006–07 | Conference | 28 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 15 | |||
| Total | 106 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 38 | ||||
| Peterborough | 2006–07 | League Two Football League Two Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system.... |
15 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 8 | ||
| 2007–08 | League Two Football League Two Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system.... |
36 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 19 | |||
| 2008–09 | 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.... |
46 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 26 | |||
| 2009–10 2009–10 Football League The Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The... |
Championship 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... |
43 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 11 | |||
| 2010–11 2010–11 Football League The Football League 2010–11, called the Npower Football League, was the 111th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2010 and concluded in May 2011, with the promotion play-off finals.... |
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.... |
45 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 56 | 35 | |||
| Total | 185 | 80 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 211 | 99 | ||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2011–12 | Championship 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... |
19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 7 | ||
| Career total | 310 | 124 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 340 | 144 | ||||
Promotions
- 2010–112010–11 in English footballThe 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
: League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Play Off Winner (promotion to The ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe 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...
) – Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... - 2008–09: League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Runner Up (promotion to The ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe 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...
) – Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... - 2007–082007-08 in English footballThe 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
: League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Runner Up (promotion to The League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) – Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... - 2006–072006-07 in English footballThe 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
: Conference NationalFootball ConferenceThe Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
Champion (promotion to League Two) – Dagenham & RedbridgeDagenham & Redbridge F.C.Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
Individual
- League One Player of the Year: 2010–11
- PFA Team of the Year: 2010–11 League One2010–11 Football League OneThe 2010–11 Football League One is the seventh season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format...