Craig Mackail-Smith
![]() Mackail-Smith playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2011 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Craig Anthony Robert Mackail-Smith[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 25 February 1984||
Place of birth | Watford, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2000 | St Albans City | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2000–2003 | St Albans City | 31 | (1) |
2003–2004 | Arlesey Town | ||
2004–2007 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 107 | (38) |
2007–2011 | Peterborough United | 185 | (80) |
2011–2015 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 103 | (21) |
2014 | → Peterborough United (loan) | 3 | (0) |
2015 | Luton Town | ||
International career‡ | |||
2005–2006 | England C | 7 | (4) |
2011– | Scotland | 7 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:16, 15 March 2015 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:11, 1 January 2015 (UTC) |
Craig Anthony Robert Mackail-Smith (born 25 February 1984) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker. He is currently a free agent after being released by Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. [4] He has also played for England C and at full international level for Scotland. He was the winner of League One Player of the Year for the 2010–11 season.
Club career
Early career
Born in Watford, Hertfordshire,[2] Mackail-Smith started his career with the youth system at St Albans City in 1999.[5] He was released at the end of the 2003 season and joined Arlesey Town where he played for only one season, a highlight of which was knocking Dagenham & Redbridge out of the FA Trophy.[6]
Dagenham & Redbridge
He later joined Dagenham & Redbridge in 2004 when the club was in the Conference National,[7] When he was at the club he scored 14 times in the league he picked up five yellow cards and he was also substituted three times.[8] then on 29 January 2007 he was signed by Peterborough United with Dagenham retaining 15% of any future transfer fee.
Peterborough United
Mackail-Smith had a slow start to life as a Peterborough United striker, playing only rarely in his first season in League Two. But when the side had reached league 1 he took up a regular forward position in the first team and he[9] linked up well with the then Peterborough United striker Aaron McLean, Mclean would later move to Hull City in 2010.
Steve Claridge posted a scouting report on 23 September 2008 on Mackail-Smith he described him as "a rampaging Nordic Viking with his long blond hair",[9] and he was impressed by the way he would pick up the ball and run at defenders, attacking at every opportunity in what Claridge described as a positive way. Mackail Smith managed to rack up 35 goals for the club during the 2010–11 season. The 35 goals that he scored during that season made him the most prolific scorer in England for the season and also bagged him the coveted prize of Football League One Player of the Year Award.[10][11]
His then manager Darren Ferguson described him as a hard working front man who has an excellent goal to game ratio. When Mackail Smith was interviewed by BBC Sport in June 2011 he was quoted in saying that[12]“ I want to play at the highest level I can attain and I want to play in the Premier League” and he continued to say that “Though obviously it all depends on what kind of club comes in for me”. On 29 May 2011 Mackail-Smith scored the second goal in the 3–0 win against Huddersfield Town at Old Trafford to clinch promotion for Peterborough United to the Championship.[13] Prior to Mackail-Smith leaving for Brighton, Mackail Smith was the subject of bids from Premier League clubs including Queens Park Rangers.[14]
In total Mackail-Smith scored 99 goals over 211 games in all competitions for Peterborough United.[citation needed]
Brighton & Hove Albion
On 4th July 2011 Mackail-Smith joined Brighton & Hove Albion for an initial £2.5million, possibly rising to £3.25million, signing a four-year deal.[15] Mackail-Smith's first goal for Brighton was a winner against Portsmouth. Mackail-Smith then scored four goals in his next seven matches, including a double in a 3–3 home draw against Leeds United.[16]
However, Mackail-Smith then hit a goal drought and struggled to score, hitting just one goal between October 2011 and February 2012, on 29 November against Derby County,[17] although he was still a key player of Brighton's campaign, and was credited with more assists than any other player in the squad during that time.
In one match, a 2–0 win over Bristol City in January, he was elbowed in the face in the penalty area and had to come off with a black eye. He played Brighton's next match despite still having a heavily swollen eye. Mackail-Smith ended his goal drought by coming off the bench against the team he scored two against earlier in the season, Leeds United, to score at close range from a corner. Mackail-Smith's goal put Brighton 1–0 up and they eventually won the match 2–1.[18]
On his 28th birthday he scored at the Amex Stadium for the first time in five months in a 3–0 win against Ipswich Town, and scored again the next weekend in a 1–1 draw with Doncaster Rovers. In total, Mackail-Smith scored 10 goals for Brighton, and he revealed his disappointment at his goal haul, which he largely put down to adapting to Brighton's passing style of football.[19]
Mackail-Smith enjoyed a better start to the 2012–13 season, scoring four goals in two games, firstly against Barnsley and then scoring two spectacular goals against Burnley which saw him score a fantastic overhead kick during a 3–1 victory for the Seagulls.
On the 24th April 2015, Brighton confirmed that Mackail-Smith's contract would not be renewed and that he would leave the club during the summer.[4]
Luton Town
On 24th July, 23:43PM the user "Homer" from the world famous "Luton Outlaws" confirmed the free transfer of Mackail-Smith to Luton Town following a successful trial. Coolio/Platform2 were not available to comment.
International career
England C
While with Dagenham & Redbridge, Mackail-Smith received his first international recognition being called up to play for the England C team, winning seven caps and scoring four goals. He helped England C win the 2005–06 European Challenge Trophy, scoring two goals.
Scotland
Mackail-Smith qualified to play for Scotland through his Edinburgh-born grandmother Margaret and confirmed his interest in playing for Scotland if called up in May 2009.[20] On 24 March 2011, he received his first senior international call-up from Scotland boss Craig Levein for a friendly with Brazil on 27 March.[21] He made his international debut when he came on as a substitute for Kenny Miller in the 87th minute.[22][23] He scored his first international goal against Liechtenstein on 8 October 2011 in a crucial Euro 2012 qualifier,[24] and played in the match against Spain in Alicante on 12 October 2011, winning a penalty from which David Goodwillie scored, in a match that Spain won 3–1.
International goals
Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 8 October 2011 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
Career statistics
![]() | This section needs to be updated.(January 2015) |
Club
- As of match played 3 May 2014.
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
St Albans City | 2000–01[25] | Isthmian Premier Division | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
2001–02[26] | Isthmian Premier Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5[b] | 1 | 13 | 1 | ||
2002–03[27] | Isthmian Premier Division | 14 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 5[c] | 0 | 22 | 1 | ||
Total | 31 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 11 | 1 | 45 | 2 | |||
Dagenham & Redbridge | 2004–05[28] | Conference National | 40 | 12 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | 43 | 12 | |
2005–06[29] | Conference National | 39 | 11 | 1 | 0 | — | 5[d] | 3 | 45 | 14 | ||
2006–07[30] | Conference National | 28 | 15 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 1 | 31 | 16 | ||
Total | 107 | 38 | 4 | 0 | — | 8 | 4 | 119 | 42 | |||
Peterborough United | 2006–07[31] | League Two | 15 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 8 |
2007–08[32] | League Two | 36 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 41 | 19 | |
2008–09[33] | League One | 46 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 53 | 26 | |
2009–10[34] | Championship | 43 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 47 | 11 | ||
2010–11[35] | League One | 45 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4[f] | 3 | 56 | 35 | |
Total | 185 | 80 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 212 | 99 | ||
Brighton & Hove Albion | 2011–12[36] | Championship | 45 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 50 | 10 | |
2012–13[37] | Championship | 29 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 11 | |
2013–14[38] | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
2014–15[39] | Championship | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 2 | ||
Total | 84 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 23 | ||
Career total | 406 | 140 | 26 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 25 | 8 | 472 | 166 |
- ^ Appearance(s) in Full Members Cup
- ^ One appearance in Isthmian League Cup, two appearances and one goal in Herts Senior Cup, one appearance in Herts Charity Cup, one appearance in Billy Minter Trophy
- ^ Three appearances in Isthmian League Cup, two appearances in Herts Senior Cup
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
- ^ a b Appearance in Football League Trophy
- ^ One appearance in Football League Trophy, three appearances and three goals in League One play-offs
International
- As of match played 26 May 2012.[40]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Scotland | 2011 | 5 | 1 |
2012 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 7 | 1 |
Honours
Dagenham & Redbridge
Peterborough United
- Football League Two runners-up: 2007–08
- Football League One runners-up: 2008–09
- Football League One play-offs: 2010–11
Individual
- 2007-08 FA Cup Topscorer: 7 goals
- 2010-11 League One Topscorer: 27 goals
- League One Player of the Year: 2010–11[41]
- PFA Team of the Year: 2010–11 League One[42]
References
- ^ "Biography". UpThePosh!. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 268. ISBN 9-781845-966010.
- ^ "Player Profiles". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Brighton: Casper Ankergren and Inigo Calderon offered new deals". BBC Sport. 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Career History". UpThePosh!. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "NonLeagueDaily.com". NonLeagueDaily.com. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- ^ Dagenham and Redbridge mad. "Craig Mackail Smith Dagenham and Redbridge player stats". Dagenham and Redbridge Mad. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ Dagenham and Redbridge mad. "Craig Mackail Smith Dagenham and Redbridge player stats". http://www.dagenhamandredbridge-mad.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)|publisher=
- ^ a b Steve Claridge (23 September 2008). "Craig Mackail Smith Dagenham and Redbridge player stats". guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ The football league (20 March 2011). "Craig Mackail-Smith named Npower Football league One Player of the Year". The football league. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ Wikipedia. "Darren Ferguson". Wikipedia. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ BBC Sport. "Peterborough United accept Craig Mackail-Smith offer". BBC. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ^ Begley, Emlyn (29 May 2011). "BBC Sport – Huddersfield 0–3 Peterborough". BBC News. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- ^ Swan, Alan (13 June 2011). "Posh accept three bids for Mackail-Smith". Peterborough Today. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "Craig Mackail-Smith heads to Brighton in four-year deal". BBC Sport. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ "Brighton 3 – Leeds 3". LUFC. 23 September 2011.
- ^ "Derby 0 Brighton 1: Mackail-Smith keeps Seagulls soaring back up". Daily Mail. 29 November 2011.
- ^ "Leeds 1 Brighton 2". The Sun. 12 February 2012.
- ^ "Brighton's Craig Mackail-Smith admits goal frustration". BBC Sport. 19 April 2012.
- ^ "Mackail Smith keen to follow Boyd to Scotland". Peterborough Today. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ "Scots call for Peterborough striker Craig Mackail-Smith". BBC Sport. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ^ "Scotland 0–2 Brazil". BBC Sport. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
- ^ "New Scots star to give debut shirt to his grandma after the game in which he scored three times". MirrorFootball. Trinity Mirror. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
- ^ "Mackail-Smith goal keeps Scots' Euro 2012 hopes alive". BBC Sport. 8 October. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Craig Mackail-Smith season details 2000/2001". St Albans City. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Craig Mackail-Smith season details 2001/2002". St Albans City. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Craig Mackail-Smith season details 2002/2003". St Albans City. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Craig Mackail-Smith season details 2004/2005". Brighton & Hove Albion Mad. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Craig Mackail-Smith season details 2005/2006". Brighton & Hove Albion Mad. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2007). Non-League Club Directory 2008. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 182–183. ISBN 9-781869-833572.
"Dag & Red 4–2 St Albans". BBC Sport. 10 October 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2013. - ^ "Games played by Craig Mackail-Smith in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Craig Mackail-Smith in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Craig Mackail-Smith in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Craig Mackail-Smith in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Craig Mackail-Smith in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Craig Mackail-Smith in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Craig Mackail-Smith in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Craig Mackail-Smith in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Craig Mackail-Smith in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ^ Mackail-Smith.html "Craig Mackail-Smith". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - ^ "QPR's Adel Taarabt wins Football League player of year". BBC Sport. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ "PFA Divisional Awards: Npower League One". Professional Footballers Association. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Craig Mackail-Smith at Soccerbase
- Use dmy dates from May 2011
- 1984 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Watford
- English footballers
- England semi-pro international footballers
- Scottish footballers
- Scotland international footballers
- English people of Scottish descent
- Association football forwards
- St Albans City F.C. players
- Arlesey Town F.C. players
- Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. players
- Peterborough United F.C. players
- Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
- The Football League players
- National League (English football) players