Jody Craddock
Encyclopedia
Jody Darryl Craddock is an English
football defender
signed to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers
.
Craddock broke into league football at Cambridge United
in the mid 1990s before spending six years at Sunderland
, with whom he won promotion to the Premier League. When they were relegated in 2003 he switched to newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers
where he eventually became club captain and has made over 200 appearances.
, Craddock started his career at non-league Christchurch
before earning a move to third tier Cambridge United
in August 1993 on a free transfer. He made his league debut on 11 December 1993 in a 0–0 draw with Stockport County
.
and he joined for £300,000 in August 1997. His second season with the Black Cats saw him help them to promotion to the top level, however, he ended up spending part of their first Premier League campaign on loan at Sheffield United
.
for £1.75million to replace the injured Joleon Lescott
at centre back. He has remained with the club since and was made captain at the start of the 2006–07 season by new manager Mick McCarthy
. He found himself sent to Stoke City
on loan in August 2007 though, but this spell was cut short through the emergency 24 hour clause the following month.
His 2008–09 season was interrupted when he broke a metatarsal in his foot in just the second league game, ruling him out for several months. After months of rehabilitation, Craddock was on the verge of a loan move, however injuries and loans meant that he stayed with the club. After a poor run of form for Richard Stearman
, Craddock found himself once again in Wolves first team, where he remained as the side went on to win the division and a return to the Premier League. He lifted the Championship
trophy after the final game against .
His return to the Premier League brought him a series of goals, as he netted against , , and to help the club achieve safety. The season ended with him being voted the club's Player of the Season Award winner.
On 14 May 2011, the penultimate Premier League game of the 2010-11 season, Craddock opened the scoring for Wolves in their league game against his old club Sunderland at the Stadium of Light
. Wolves won the game 3-1, taking a big step towards Premier League survival.
On 22 June 2011, it was confirmed that Craddock had agreed a new one-year deal to stay at Molineux.
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...
football defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
signed to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
.
Craddock broke into league football at Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
in the mid 1990s before spending six years at 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...
, with whom he won promotion to the Premier League. When they were relegated in 2003 he switched to newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
where he eventually became club captain and has made over 200 appearances.
Early career
Born in RedditchRedditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
, Craddock started his career at non-league Christchurch
Christchurch F.C.
Christchurch F.C. is a football club based in Christchurch, Dorset, England. They were established in 1885. In the 2002–03 and 2008–09 seasons, they reached the 4th round of the FA Vase. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division...
before earning a move to third tier Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
in August 1993 on a free transfer. He made his league debut on 11 December 1993 in a 0–0 draw with Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
.
Sunderland
After four seasons at Cambridge, his talent was noted by SunderlandSunderland 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 he joined for £300,000 in August 1997. His second season with the Black Cats saw him help them to promotion to the top level, however, he ended up spending part of their first Premier League campaign on loan at Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
When Sunderland were relegated after four seasons in the Premier League in 2003, Craddock was sold to newly-promoted WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
for £1.75million to replace the injured Joleon Lescott
Joleon Lescott
Joleon Patrick Lescott is an English footballer who currently plays for Manchester City. He plays as a centre-back, though he has played in various other positions across the defensive line, in particular left-back....
at centre back. He has remained with the club since and was made captain at the start of the 2006–07 season by new manager Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
. He found himself sent to 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...
on loan in August 2007 though, but this spell was cut short through the emergency 24 hour clause the following month.
His 2008–09 season was interrupted when he broke a metatarsal in his foot in just the second league game, ruling him out for several months. After months of rehabilitation, Craddock was on the verge of a loan move, however injuries and loans meant that he stayed with the club. After a poor run of form for Richard Stearman
Richard Stearman
Richard James Michael Stearman is an English footballer of Irish descent who plays as a defender for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers...
, Craddock found himself once again in Wolves first team, where he remained as the side went on to win the division and a return to the Premier League. He lifted 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...
trophy after the final game against .
His return to the Premier League brought him a series of goals, as he netted against , , and to help the club achieve safety. The season ended with him being voted the club's Player of the Season Award winner.
On 14 May 2011, the penultimate Premier League game of the 2010-11 season, Craddock opened the scoring for Wolves in their league game against his old club Sunderland at the Stadium of Light
Stadium of Light
The Stadium of Light is an all-seater football stadium in Sunderland, England. With space for 49,000 spectators, the Stadium of Light has the fifth-largest capacity of any English football stadium. The stadium primarily hosts Sunderland A.F.C. matches...
. Wolves won the game 3-1, taking a big step towards Premier League survival.
On 22 June 2011, it was confirmed that Craddock had agreed a new one-year deal to stay at Molineux.
Personal life
Craddock has also taken to the hobby of painting, and has frequently stated that this is something he wishes to pursue after he retires from his career as a professional footballer.Honours
- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
/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...
(II): 1999, 2009