Craig Reid (footballer, born 1985)

Career

Reid started his career with hometown club Coventry City in their youth academy, but moved to Ipswich Town in 2002. After two years at Ipswich, he rejoined Coventry. He was the club's Young Player of the Year for the 2004–05 season, and was given another year's contract. In March 2006, Reid signed for Conference National side Tamworth on a month's loan deal. He made his first-team debut the next day, starting in the club's 2–0 loss to Ebbsfleet United at Stonebridge Road, and played one further game for the club, playing 45 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Southport. On his return to Coventry, at the end of the 2005–06 season, Reid was released – having failed to make one first-team appearance In May 2006, Reid had an unsuccessful trial at Stockport County. Ahead of the 2006–07 season, he went on trial at Falkirk, and scored twice in their 2–1 friendly victory against Airdrie United in July 2006. Despite this, he failed to earn a contract with the club, and also had another unsuccessful trial with Dundee in September 2006.

In January 2007, Reid signed for Cheltenham Town on a free transfer, signing a rolling monthly contract. He made his Cheltenham debut on 13 January, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute in the club's 2–0 away loss at Huddersfield Town. He made a further five appearances for the club towards the latter stages of the 2006–07 campaign. In July 2007, Reid signed for Cheltenham on a permanent basis. He made a late substitute appearance in Cheltenham's first game of the 2007–08 season, playing three minutes in a 1–0 home win over Gillingham. Reid scored his first professional goal in Cheltenham's 3–1 away win against Swindon Town in the Football League Trophy. He made a total of 12 appearances for Cheltenham during the 2007–08 season, scoring one goal. In May 2008, Reid was released by Cheltenham, having made a total of 18 appearances for the club. Reid signed for Conference National side Grays Athletic on a one-year deal in August 2008, making his debut in a 1–0 home loss to Eastbourne Borough. He made two further appearances for Grays, before joining Conference South side Newport County on loan in September 2008.

Newport County

Reid scored four times in ten league appearances during his loan spell at Newport, before signing for the club permanently in December 2008. Reid scored his first senior hat-trick in Newport's 3–1 win against Chelmsford City in January 2009. He ended the season having scored 21 goals in 31 games in all competitions, 16 of which came in the Conference South. He remained at Newport for the 2009–10 season, and scored his first goal of the campaign in a 4–0 win against Chelmsford City. He netted again a week later, again as a substitute, in Newport's 3–1 away win at Maidenhead United. In September 2009, Reid was selected as Conference South 'Player of the Month' after a run of seven goals in five matches. Reid finished the 2009–10 season as Conference South top scorer with 24 goals for Newport who were crowned champions with a record 103 points. In April 2010, Reid signed a new two-year contract with Newport County. He was also named the Conference South Player of the Year.

Reid started in Newport's first game of the 2010–11 season, the club's first game back in the top tier of the non-league pyramid; they lost 1–0 to Darlington at the Darlington Arena. Three days later, he scored his first goal of the season, a 71st-minute penalty that earned Newport a point in a 1–1 draw against Tamworth. At the end of August 2010, Reid scored four goals in two games, scoring successive braces in games against Kidderminster Harriers and AFC Wimbledon respectively. He also scored the only goal of the game as Newport won 1–0 at Nene Park against Rushden & Diamonds in September, Newport's first away win of the season. He also scored ten days later as Newport beat Hayes & Yeading 2–1. Reid continued his fine goalscoring form by scoring braces in victories against Forest Green Rovers and York City respectively, as well as scoring Newport's second goal in a 3–2 win at Crawley Town. During the January 2011 transfer window, it was reported that Reid had attracted interest from Premier League side Stoke City, as well as from his former employers, Coventry. Reid's last two goals for Newport came in the club's 3–2 defeat to Tamworth at The Lamb Ground, Dean Holdsworth's final game in charge of the club. Reid himself made his last Conference appearance for the club in late January, in a goalless draw away at Histon in which he missed an 83rd-minute penalty. He scored 18 goals in 29 league appearances during the first half of the 2010–11 season. During his two-and-a-half-year stay at Newport, Reid scored 66 goals in 112 games in all competitions.

Stevenage

Reid signed for Stevenage for an initial undisclosed fee on 31 January 2011; the fee was a record for both clubs, and Stevenage later stated that they paid £90,000 for the player. As part of the deal, Stevenage strikers Charlie Griffin and Yemi Odubade joined Newport on loan. On securing the signing of Reid, Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace said "Graham, along with many managers, has long been an admirer of Craig Reid but he's been one those 'unavailable' players that you like and know will improve your side, but that you're just unable to sign. We've had several brief conversations with Newport during January, but sometimes on deadline day you can do what you think is the right deal for everyone. It wasn't easy as there was a lot of competition and I've spent nearly the whole day in talks making it happen, but we're delighted to have made this important signing." Reid made his Stevenage debut on 5 February in the 2–2 home draw with Accrington Stanley. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 away win against Oxford United on 15 March, running onto Rob Sinclair's through pass before neatly finishing to give Stevenage the three points. On the final day of the regular season, Reid scored Stevenage's second goal from the penalty spot in a 3–3 draw with Bury; the draw meant that Stevenage reached the play-offs thanks to a sixth-place finish. Reid started in all three of Stevenage's play-off games, including in the Final at Old Trafford against Torquay United, which Stevenage won 1–0 to gain promotion to League One. Reid made 23 appearances for Stevenage during the second half of the 2010–11 season, scoring twice.

After scoring in Stevenage's pre-season victory at Carshalton Athletic, Reid started the first competitive game of the 2011–12 campaign, on 6 August, playing 70 minutes in a 0–0 draw at home to Exeter City, before being substituted for Byron Harrison. On his next appearance, ten days later, he scored the first goal in a 3–1 away victory against AFC Bournemouth. Reid scored twice for Stevenage in a 4–2 home win against Rochdale on 3 September. His first goal, from Lawrie Wilson's knockdown, opened the scoring, and his second – Stevenage's fourth – was widely reported as a Neal Trotman own goal, although it was attributed by Stevenage's website to Reid, who "managed to nip between the two defenders and just poke the ball into the net". His fourth goal in five games was Stevenage's first in a 5–1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on 13 September; he reacted quickest to a parried Michael Bostwick shot and scored from six yards out. He suffered a groin injury in November 2011 which required surgery, and he had a successful operation in January 2012. Reid returned to first-team action on 28 February, after three-and-a-half months out; he played the first 74 minutes of a 2–2 draw with Huddersfield Town. He scored his fifth goal of the season in Stevenage's 2–2 home draw with Chesterfield on 10 March, finishing neatly from Scott Laird's cross to restore parity after the hosts had trailed by two goals. Reid went on to score important goals in home victories against Brentford and Bury, with the latter strike coming in a 3–0 win that ultimately secured Stevenage's place in the play-offs. He made 34 appearances during the season, scoring seven times, as Stevenage narrowly lost in the play-off semi-finals. During his one-and-a-half-year spell at Stevenage, Reid made 57 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight times.

Aldershot Town

In July 2012, Reid signed for League Two club Aldershot Town for an undisclosed five-figure fee, later reported as a club record £75,000; the move reunited him with Aldershot manager Dean Holdsworth, who had previously managed Reid during his time at Newport County. He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2012–13 season, playing the whole match as Aldershot lost 7–6 on penalties to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup. Reid scored his first goal in his third appearance, when he "bundle[d] home" the loose ball after Anthony Tonkin's free-kick was not cleared, in a 2–1 home defeat to Exeter City on 21 August. He scored two goals the following month, which included a "deft lob" in an away draw with Bristol Rovers. Reid scored his first Football League hat-trick on 2 October, although his goals could not prevent Aldershot from losing 4–3 to Torquay United at Plainmoor. He added a further three goals to his tally before the end of 2012, and opened the new year by scoring the winner from the penalty spot in a 1–0 victory away at Barnet, his tenth of the season. He ended the season with 12 goals from 45 appearances as Aldershot were relegated to the Conference.

Southend United

Although Aldershot did not initially release Reid, his contact was cancelled by mutual consent, and on 1 August 2013, he returned to League two and signed a one-year deal with Southend United.

Return to Stevenage

In February 2014, his contract with Southend was terminated by mutual consent, and he returned to Stevenage. He made one start and three substitute appearances without scoring, and was released at the end of the season.

Kidderminster Harriers and after

Reid signed a two-year deal with Conference Premier club Kidderminster Harriers in May 2014 following his release from Stevenage. After scoring five times in 34 appearances in 2014–15, and not at all in the first month of the 2015–16 season, Reid's contract was mutually terminated at the end of the transfer window. In October, Reid linked up again with Dean Holdsworth, this time at Isthmian League Premier Division club Brentwood Town, where he spent a short spell before joining for Lincoln City of the National League on non-contract terms. He was released after two appearances and moved on to Gainsborough Trinity of the National League North in January 2016. Reid finished the season with Gainsborough, scoring three goals from twelve league matches, and was one of six players released. In June, he signed for another National North club, Gloucester City, managed by Tim Harris who was director of football at Newport when Reid was playing there.

Return to Newport County

On 6 January 2017, having trained with the side for several months, Reid returned to his former club Newport County on a short-term deal. He made his second debut for Newport as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Stevenage in League Two on 7 January 2017. He was released by Newport at the end of the 2016-17 season.

Coventry United

In May 2017, Reid joined Coventry United.

Personal life

Reid was born in Coventry. He supports his hometown club, Coventry City.

Honours

Career statistics