Craig McAllister

Craig McAllister (born 28 June 1980) is a Scottish former professional footballer.

McAllister started his career with Eastleigh as a youth player.

He moved to Basingstoke Town towards the end of 2001–02, making his debut in March 2002.

Born in Glasgow, McAllister began his career in non-League football with Eastleigh in 2001.

McAllister finished 2001–02 with three goals from 10 appearances.

He signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Basingstoke Town in March 2002 following a successful trial and scored on his debut in a 1–1 draw at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough.

He scored on his first appearance of 2002–03 against Aylesbury United on the opening day of the season, which finished as a 2–2 draw.

McAllister scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 win at home to Bishop's Stortford on 9 November 2002, and this was followed up with a hat-trick in the following match, a 3–0 win away to Braintree Town.

He finished 2002–03 with 35 goals from 48 appearances.

McAllister's success continued into 2003–04, during which he scored another 28 goals in 55 appearances.

This success earned him a trial with Queens Park Rangers in the First Division, just one level below the Premier League, and later went on trial with Second Division club Luton Town.

McAllister spent three seasons there, making 113 appearances, scoring 66 goals before moving up the national league system to Conference National club Stevenage Borough where he made 10 appearances, having loan spells at Gravesend & Northfleet and Eastleigh in 2004–05.

After scoring 66 times in 113 appearances for Basingstoke Town, McAllister moved to the Conference National outfit Stevenage Borough on a bosman transfer in May 2004.

He debuted after being introduced as a 33rd-minute substitute in a 1–0 victory at home to Crawley Town on 16 October 2004.

McAllister struggled to force his way into the first-team, and was loaned to fellow Conference National club Gravesend & Northfleet on 14 December, debuting four days later in a 1–0 defeat away to Hereford United.

He went on to score his first goal for Gravesend & Northfleet after just two minutes in a 1–1 draw away to Crawley Town on 26 December, and this was followed up with a goal in the following match, a 2–2 draw at home to Accrington Stanley.

McAllister completed the loan spell with two goals from five appearances, before rejoining his former club Eastleigh on loan until the end of 2004–05.

He joined Woking in 2005, spending two full seasons there, and making over 100 appearances.

Before the start of 2005–06, McAllister signed for Conference National club Woking on a permanent deal.

He debuted on the opening day of the season, starting in a 2–1 defeat away to Kidderminster Harriers.

McAllister finished his debut season with 13 goals, eight of which came in the league.

He scored his first brace for Woking on 1 September 2006 in a 3–2 win away to Forest Green Rovers.

He had a short spell with Grays Athletic, being sent out on loan to Rushden & Diamonds and then another short spell at Oxford United, all during 2007–08.

McAllister signed a two-year contract with Grays Athletic in May 2007.

After making his debut on the opening day of 2007–08 in a 0–0 draw away to Torquay United, McAllister made a further eight appearances and scored one goal in a 2–1 win away to Droylsden on 1 September 2007, before he was loaned to league rivals Rushden & Diamonds on 11 October.

He debuted a day later in a 2–1 defeat at home to Forest Green Rovers before being recalled by Grays on 12 November, having scored once in five appearances.

After leaving Oxford in 2008, he took a step up to the Football League for the first time in his career, signing for Exeter City.

McAllister returned to Rushden on loan on 21 November until January 2008 and made a further nine appearances.

Upon his return to Grays, McAllister signed for fellow Conference Premier club Oxford United on 4 January 2008 on a contract until the end of the 2007–08.

He scored on his debut a day later in a 4–0 win at home to Altrincham, but suffered a hamstring injury after 28 minutes in the following match, a 1–0 defeat at home to Weymouth.

McAllister returned to the team for a 1–0 victory at home to Droylsden on 16 February, and finished the season with 17 appearances and two goals for Oxford.

McAllister made the step up to the Football League by signing for newly promoted League Two club Exeter City in the summer of 2008.

He debuted in the League Cup first round against Southampton on 12 August 2008, which finished as a 3–1 defeat.

His first goal came with the equaliser against Lincoln City on 6 December, which finished as a 2–1 victory, and this was followed up with two goals in a 4–1 win at home to Rochdale on 20 December.

McAllister scored twice against Dagenham & Redbridge on 20 January 2009 to give Exeter a 2–1 victory.

He went on to score seven goals in his first season, but was loaned out to Barnet and Rotherham United in his second and was eventually released by the club in May 2010.

McAllister then dropped back down to non-League football, joining Crawley Town where he played at Old Trafford; his team was defeated 1–0 by Manchester United in their FA Cup fifth round tie.

He rejected a new contract from Crawley at the end of the 2010–11, subsequently joining Newport County.

McAllister won his first major honour in 2011, helping Crawley Town win the Conference Premier for the first time in their history.

He has also won the Conference South title with Eastleigh in 2014 and the National League South title with Sutton United in 2016.