Craig Davies

Craig Martin Davies (born 9 January 1986) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker.

In a 16-year professional career, he scored 118 goals in 516 league and cup games.

Born in England, he was capped seven times for Wales in an eight-year international career.

Davies started his career at Manchester City, though he became a first-team regular at Oxford United between 2004 and 2006.

Davies was a member of the youth team at Shrewsbury Town, and then Manchester City, before moving on to League Two club Oxford United in August 2004.

He made his league debut under the stewardship of Ramón Díaz on 30 August 2004 in a 1–0 win at Notts County.

He was suspended two months later, along with two other youth team players, for being unwitting accomplices to a leud prank on a fellow youth team player by first-team striker Julian Alsop.

He signed a contract extension in February 2005.

Speaking in September 2005, manager Brian Talbot praised him for his "pace and aggression" after having previously been critical of the player for his perceived selfishness and choosing Lee Bradbury and Steve Basham ahead of him.

He went on to score eight goals in 29 appearances for the first team during the season and came close to signing for Premier League side Charlton Athletic in June 2005.

He was out of favour under Talbot and the club looked to move him on.

After leaving the Kassam Stadium, Davies spoke out against Talbot, saying the manager forced him to submit a transfer request and "he has achieved nothing [as a manager]".

Davies moved to Hellas Verona of Serie B in January 2006 for a fee of £85,000.

He hoped the move would improve his international prospects.

He signed a five-year contract as manager Massimo Ficcadenti showed a lot of faith in him, but managed only one appearance for the Italian club in a 3–2 defeat by Brescia.

"'Family and friends are the main things I am missing, and my old daily routine. Some days I am fine and I will not think about it, but other times it plays on my mind. Earlier this week I really felt like I wanted to see my family, so I am still a bit homesick I suppose.'"

In July 2006, Davies had a trial at Northampton Town.

The next month he moved on loan to Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, claiming he wanted out of Italy as he was too young to adapt to the change in culture.

He was a regular choice throughout the first half of the 2006–07 season after impressing manager Mick McCarthy in substitute appearances on the wing and then as a lone striker.

Still, he found himself largely unused after the January transfer window saw Wolves sign striker Andy Keogh.

He never managed a league goal for the club in 23 games, but did score twice in the FA Cup, ironically against the club he would join permanently, Oldham Athletic, once in the original tie and again in the replay.

He spent a brief time in Italy with Hellas Verona, but swiftly returned to England on loan with Wolverhampton Wanderers, before signing with Oldham Athletic in 2007.

After Wolves opted not to make his loan a permanent move, Davies signed for League One side Oldham Athletic in June 2007 for an undisclosed fee.

He signed a two-year contract.

He marked his debut against Swansea City by scoring a last-minute winner and immediately became a first-choice player.

Manager John Sheridan had faith in the young striker, though said "I keep getting on at Craig and maybe he doesn't like it but I will carry on".

Spending time on loan with Stockport County in 2008, he left Oldham the following year and signed with Brighton & Hove Albion.

In August 2008, he signed a contract extension to keep him at Oldham until summer 2010.

Later that month he received the first red card fo his career for headbutting an opposing player in an League Cup game.

He said "the sending-off has taught me a lesson" as he reflected on his career during his suspension.

Three months later, Davies was loaned to Oldham's League One rivals Stockport County to regain form after a poor start to the season, failing to score in ten appearances.

He settled in well at Edgeley Park and manager Jim Gannon was keen to sign him permanently.

He made 13 appearances for Stockport, scoring six goals, including a hat-trick over Bristol Rovers.

County showed interest in signing him permanently.

Enjoying loan spells with Yeovil Town and Port Vale, he transferred permanently to Chesterfield in 2010, who he helped to win the League Two title in his first season.

He signed with Barnsley in July 2011, before being sold to Bolton Wanderers for £300,000 in January 2013.

He joined Preston North End on loan 12 months later after losing his place in the Bolton team.

He signed with Wigan Athletic in July 2015 and helped the club to win promotion as champions of League One.

He joined Scunthorpe United in January 2017 and then rejoined Oldham Athletic five months later.

He was sold on to Mansfield Town in June 2018 and stayed with the club for two years.