| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Craig Gregory Dobson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 23 January 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Chingford, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Kettering Town | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2003 | Crystal Palace | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003–2004 | Cheltenham Town | 2 | (0) |
| 2004 | Barnet | 3 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Cambridge City | 40 | (9) |
| 2006–2008 | Stevenage Borough | 62 | (14) |
| 2008–2009 | Milton Keynes Dons | 1 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2009 | Brentford | 0 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Mansfield Town | 5 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Kettering Town (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2010 | Farnborough | 4 | (1) |
| 2010 | Sutton United | 5 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Thurrock | 4 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Barnet (dual registration) | 1 | (0) |
| 2011 | Braintree Town | 3 | (0) |
| 2011 | Woking | 18 | (7) |
| 2011– | Kettering Town | 2 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2004 | Jamaica | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 04:52, 30 November 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Craig Gregory Dobson (born 23 January 1984) is a footballer who plays for Kettering Town as a midfielder. He is also a noted football freestyler, having appeared in the DVD Urban Freestyler.
A former Crystal Palace youngster, he moved on to Cheltenham Town in 2003 and Barnet in 2004. He spent 2005–06 with Cambridge City, before spending two seasons with Stevenage Borough. Since then he has had spells with Milton Keynes Dons and Brentford. Dobson joined Conference National club Mansfield Town in October 2009, before signing for Kettering Town on loan in November.
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Dobson started his career with Crystal Palace, but having failed to make a first team appearance for the Eagles, he joined Cheltenham Town in the summer of 2003. He made his debut on 27 September, coming on as an 80th minute substitute for Bertie Cozic in a 2–0 defeat at Bristol Rovers' Memorial Stadium. He left the club after a couple of brief cameos in the league and Football League Trophy.
With Conference club Barnet for the start of the 2004–05 season,[2] making four appearances. He was released in October 2004, after his month long contract expired.[3]
He spent 2005–06 with Conference South side Cambridge City. He scored nine goals in some forty appearances. At the end of the season he had a trial with Gillingham.[4]
Dobson signed with Conference outfit Stevenage Borough for a four-figure fee before the start of the 2006–07 season,[5] he quickly established himself at Broadhall Way, making 38 appearances in his maiden season. He scored a brace against Stafford Rangers on 9 September, George Boyd also netting a hat-trick in a 6–0 win.[6] Dobson scored a further three goals that season, including a 74th minute goal in the 2007 FA Trophy final with Kidderminster Harriers at Wembley.[7] Borough won the game 3–2 to lift the trophy.
Dobson was more clinical in front of goal during the 2007–08 campaign, netting ten times in 30 games. He was transfer listed in January after refusing to sign a new deal.[8] This brought him the attention of League Two side Milton Keynes Dons, Paul Ince quickly brought him to stadium:mk for an undisclosed fee.[9] He made his Dons debut in a 1–1 home draw with Morecambe on 3 May, though was taken off in favour of Lloyd Dyer at half time.
He made just the one appearance in 2008–09, playing the 2–1 defeat at Ninian Park to Cardiff City, in the League Cup Second Round. He spent December on loan at Wycombe Wanderers, but did not feature. Dobson had his contract terminated with MK Dons at the start of January 2009 by mutual consent, after suffering with groin and shin injuries during his year long stay.[10] He signed for Brentford in March 2009 on a two-month contract,[11] but was released at the end of the season without playing a game, as Brentford were promoted to League One.[12]
He went on trial with Shrewsbury Town for the 2009–10 pre-season and played in their friendly matches against Bridgnorth Town and West Bromwich Albion.[13] In late September 2009, he was taken on trial at Port Vale by Micky Adams.[14] He signed a three month contract with Mansfield Town in October 2009, following a successful trial.[15] In November 2009, Dobson joined Kettering Town on loan until 4 January 2010, when his contract with Mansfield expires.[16]
In January 2010, Dobson joined Farnborough. After a handful of appearances he was released on 26 March 2010, and joined Sutton United. In July 2010, Dobson went on trial with League One side Leyton Orient, playing the first-half in a 2–0 win against Cray Wanderers.[17] Dobson signed for Conference South club Thurrock in October 2010,[18] making his debut in the 1–0 away defeat to Braintree Town.[19] In November 2010, he joined League Two club Barnet on dual registration.[20] He was released by Barnet and Thurrock in February 2011, shortly before joining Braintree Town, before transferring to Woking later in that same month.
In July he rejoined Kettering Town for the 2011–12 season.
Dobson is reported to have made a late appearance as a substitute for Jamaica in a friendly with the Republic of Ireland in 2004.[11] However The Guardian reported that he was an unused substitute.[21]
| Caps | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition | Scored | Location | Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 (00) | 2004-06-02 | The Valley, London | Republic of Ireland | 0–1 | Friendly | 0 |
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