Craig Liddle

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Personal information
Craig Liddle
Full name	Craig Liddle
Date of birth	October 21, 1971 (1971-10-21) (age 36)
Place of birth	Chester-le-Street, England
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Retired
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1990-1991 1991-1994 1994-1998 1998 1998-2005	Aston Villa Blyth Spartans Middlesbrough → Darlington (loan) Darlington	00? (?) 00? (?) 025 (0) 016 (0) 271 (17)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Craig Liddle is a former English footballer.

[edit] Football career

He was a centre half that played professional football for Darlington, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa.

Liddle started his professional career at Aston Villa back in 1990 where he signed his first professional contract at the club where he had been a trainee. The Chester-le-Street-born star was released after just one season however after failing to impress. He joined local team Blyth Spartans where he spent the next three seasons.

In 1994 he got a dream move to Middlesbrough when Bryan Robson signed him at the start of the Boro revolution, he went on to make 25 first teams appearances in his four years at the Riverside.

He joined Darlington on loan in February 1998. In 16 games he made a big impression playing not only in defence but also as a midfielder. On the 1 July 1998, David Hodgson got 'Lidds' to put pen to paper and he joined Darlo for a nominal fee.

During his time at the Quakers Liddle showed just what a true professional footballer should be like and was a popular club captain. Not the biggest or the quickest Liddle was absolutely committed commanding his defence excellently, reading the game well and tackling excellently. Rated by the fans as one of the best defenders in the Third Division, and attracting interest from other clubs. During some turbulent times in Darlington's history Liddle became a talisman for the club, showing commitment on and off the pitch that made him a fans favourite. Something demonstrated by him being voted Darlington's all-time cult hero by BBC Football Focus viewers with 70% of the vote.

His last seasons at the club were sadly marked by injury, as his committed approach took its toll. His 300th appearance for Darlington on the 1 May 2004 was marked by a commemorative beer brewed by the Darwen Brewery - Liddle's Best, as well as specially printed T-shirts going on sale. On the announcement on his retirement in May 2005 Liddle was granted a testimonial against his former club Middlesborough in July 2005, sadly due to a hoax bomb threat the game had to be abandoned at half time.

Craig Liddle is currently working as a football coach at Darlington College.