Michael McCrudden

Early career

Michael McCrudden signed for Newcastle United in 2007. He played for their academy teams and reserves team in three years.

He has represented Northern Ireland playing for their U-16, U-17 and U-19 teams.

Derry City

When his contract expired in the summer of 2010 he was not given a new contract and instead he returned home to play for Derry City in Northern Ireland.

Institute

He then signed for Institute in January 2012 and made his debut for the club on 25 February 2012 in a 2-0 defeat away to Bangor in the IFA Championship.

He scored his first league goal for the club on the opening day of the 2012/13 IFA Championship in a 2-2 draw away to Carrick Rangers. He scored his second league goal in a derby match (North-West Derby) at home to Limavady United in September 2012.

McCrudden scored a hat-trick in a league match away to Tobermore United in late October 2012. In the first league fixture of February 2013; away to Loughgall, he scored his second league hat-trick for Institute. His third hat-trick in the Championship came in a home win against Larne in January 2014. He scored his 25th league goal for the club on the eventful final day of the 2013/14 league season, the second goal in a 2-0 victory over North-West rivals Limavady United, seeing his side over the line in the NIFL Championship 1 title race.

The 2014/15 season; an injury hit-one seeing him play only one league game before his come-back in late January 2015, saw his first NIFL Premiership goal for Institute, coming on as a substitute to score the winning goal in a 3-2 away win against Ballinamallard United. McCrudden made his return to action from the bench on 23 January 2015 - an away defeat to Glenavon in the league; 2-1 - after almost a season and a half of recovery from injuries.

Ballinamallard United

In May 2015, shortly after Institute were relegated to the NIFL Championship, it was announced that he had signed a deal with Fermanagh-based NIFL Premiership club Ballinamallard United. [1]

He made his debut on the first day of the 2015/16 NIFL Premiership season, assisting the only goal of the game, scored by John Currie, in an away win at Warrenpoint Town.

His first goal for the club came in an away 1-1 league draw with Ballymena United in September 2015.

Institute Return

McCrudden was granted a release from his contract with Ballinamallard, when travel became too difficult, due to a number of changes to his personal life, and he rejoined old club Institute on deadline day of January 2016. McCrudden made his first appearance on his return to the club in a 2-0 home league win against Harland & Wolff Welders on 20 February 2016. He was unable to take part in intermediate cup competitions that season due to having already played senior football with Ballinamallard United, and so missed out on the clubs Irish Intermediate Cup triumph.

Despite not featuring in the final, he won the North West Senior Cup with Institute in the 2016/17 season. His third piece of silverware with the club. On 11 March 2017, McCrudden made his 100th NIFL league appearance for Institute in a 4-0 away NIFL Championship win at Loughgall.

Despite a crucial goal to put his team 1-0 ahead in the home leg NIFL Premiership promotion/relegation play-off final against Carrick Rangers at the Riverside stadium on 9 May 2017, it was not enough as the club lost the tie 5-2 on aggregate meaning another season in the NIFL Championship awaited.

Midway through pre-season on 02 August 2017, he was appointed captain of the club.

Honours

Institute