Tony Craig’s 600th career appearance proved his last for Bristol Rovers in a hugely popular two-and-a-half-year spell at the Mem, and the veteran centre-back has recorded another career milestone this week earning his 700th.
Craig played 90 minutes for Crawley Town in their 0-0 draw with Gillingham in League Two, bringing up triple figures for the Red Devils, having moved to Sussex after leaving Rovers in the summer of 2020, and reaching an even grander total in what has been an illustrious career for the Londoner.
Craig played 120 games for the Gas after being brought to the club by Darrell Clarke in 2007 and was a regular under the legendary Rovers boss, as well as Graham Coughlan and Ben Garner but the latter’s need to reduce the wage bill saw the defender released at the end of his contract.
It proved a poor decision, as the Rovers defence then struggled in the following season and lacking leadership as his effective replacement, Max Ehmer, proved inadequate as the goals flew in.
Craig has since established himself as a dependable and reliable presence in the heart of the Crawley defence and played against the Gas twice during last season.
As was the case when he hit 600 games at Rovers, where Craig walked out onto the pitch against Sunderland with his two children, he shared his moment with his family at the Broadfield Stadium.
It also came against a Gillingham team managed by Neil Harris, both a former teammate and manager at Millwall where his professional career began.
“It’s a special moment for me,” said Craig. “I’ve got my family here, who will be with me from the beginning until the end – good times and bad times. I’m a family man and when you do accolades like this, I bring them involved.
“I’ve got to remember when my old man was driving me around when I was a kid, getting in from work and driving up to Surrey to train. People don’t see that side of it, there is a lot of sacrifice. My wife has had to make them as well, through football. I’m so grateful they were there tonight. Every special occasion, they are with me.”
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