Ian Cranson
Encyclopedia
Ian Cranson is an English
former professional footballer. During his career he made over 200 appearances for Stoke City
and over 100 appearances for Ispwich Town
.
Cranson began his career at Ipswich Town
where he won five England under 21-caps and made over 130 appearances before signing for Sheffield Wednesday
in 1988. However unfortunately for Cranson, Wednesday manager Howard Wilkinson
moved to Leeds United
and new manager Ron Atkinson
dropped him from the first team. Stoke City manager Mick Mills
who worked with Cranson at Ipswich paid £450,000 to take him to the Victoria Ground
. He became a solid dependable centre back for the Potters and won the player of the year award in the 1993–94 season. A knee injury prevented him from being a constant member of the first team and eventually lead to his retirement in September 1996.
before becoming reserve team manager a position he held until he left in 2003. As of November 2010 Cranson is a self-employed coach working for the Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy, for Stafford Borough Council and for the City of Stoke Sixth-Form College at Fenton.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer. During his career he made over 200 appearances for Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and over 100 appearances for Ispwich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
.
Playing career
Born in Easington, County DurhamEasington, County Durham
Easington is a town in eastern County Durham, England. It comprises the ancient village of Easington Village and the ex-mining town of Easington Colliery, which are separate civil parishes. It is located at the junction of the A182 leading north-west to Hetton-le-Hole. Seaham Harbour and...
Cranson began his career at Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
where he won five England under 21-caps and made over 130 appearances before signing for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in 1988. However unfortunately for Cranson, Wednesday manager Howard Wilkinson
Howard Wilkinson
Howard Wilkinson is a former English football player and manager, and has recently stepped down as a Non-Executive Director at Sheffield Wednesday after formerly relinquishing the chairman role to Milan Mandaric...
moved to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
and new manager Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
dropped him from the first team. Stoke City manager Mick Mills
Mick Mills
Michael 'Mick' Denis Mills is an English former football full-back who, by the end of his career, had achieved Ipswich Town's record number of appearances and captained England at the 1982 World Cup.-Club career:...
who worked with Cranson at Ipswich paid £450,000 to take him to the Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers...
. He became a solid dependable centre back for the Potters and won the player of the year award in the 1993–94 season. A knee injury prevented him from being a constant member of the first team and eventually lead to his retirement in September 1996.
After retirement
After retiring in 1996 Cranson took a year out of the sport before returning to Stoke to work as a coach at the Stoke City AcademyStoke City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Stoke City Football Club Reserves and Academy are the reserve team and the youth development system respectively of Stoke City Football Club. The reserve team play in the The Central League whilst The Academy, competes in the Premier Academy League...
before becoming reserve team manager a position he held until he left in 2003. As of November 2010 Cranson is a self-employed coach working for the Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy, for Stafford Borough Council and for the City of Stoke Sixth-Form College at Fenton.