David McCracken

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David McCracken
Personal information
Full nameDavid McCracken
Date of birth (1981-10-16) 16 October 1981
Place of birthGlasgow, Scotland
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing positionCentre Back
Club information
Current clubFalkirk
Number34
Youth career
1998–2000Dundee United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2000–2007Dundee United179(8)
2007–2009Wycombe Wanderers76(2)
2009–2010Milton Keynes Dons41(1)
2010–2011Brentford2(0)
2011→ Bristol Rovers (loan)10(0)
2011–2013St. Johnstone44(1)
2013-presentFalkirk9(0)
National team‡
2001–2003Scotland U215(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 April 2012.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 December 2007

David McCracken (born 16 October 1981 in Glasgow) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central defender for Scottish Championship club Falkirk. He is a former Scotland under-21 internationalist, having made five appearances at that level between 2001 and 2003. McCracken started his career with Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League and was a first team player there for seven years before leaving in May 2007. He subsequently played in England for Football League clubs Wycombe Wanderers, Milton Keynes Dons and Brentford before returning to Scotland with St. Johnstone in 2011. He joined Falkirk in August 2013.

Career

Dundee United

David McCracken made his competitive league debut in the match against Celtic on 2 May 2000. In the 2000–01 season, he made nine appearances mostly at full back, in a gradual programme of exposure to first team action. He also netted his first goal that term, in the opening day defeat to Celtic at Tannadice. After a string of impressive early season performances, McCracken made his debut for Scotland's under-21s in a 1–0 win over Latvia. By the end of another season of excellent progress, he had played 22 times for the first team during 2001–02.

2002–03 was the season McCracken made a real breakthrough into the first team with 30 appearances and in 2003–04 he was part of the first team for all but seven games to bring his total appearances to 99, during which he has scored three times. As part of a solid back three, McCracken was a crucial element of the side that reached fifth in the league to give Dundee United their best finish since 1996–97.

McCracken had missed only two matches during the 2004–05 season, helping the side reach the semi-finals of the CIS League Cup, when injury struck in the Scottish Cup tie against Queen of the South. He only managed another two games before the end of the season, but was rewarded for some steady performances with a new two-year contract in July 2005.[1] McCracken missed just five matches in the whole of the 2005–06 season, taking his total of appearances for United to 165, as United finished in 9th place in the SPL for the second consecutive season.

McCracken was told he was free to leave the club at the end of the 2006–07 season[2] and helped the club to a clean sheet in the final day 0–0 draw at home to Motherwell.

Wycombe Wanderers

On 13 June 2007, David McCracken joined Wycombe Wanderers on a two-year deal, playing his first English club.[3] After the move, McCracken says joining Wycombe was good opportunities to work under manager compatriot Paul Lambert[4]

He was then announced as captain on 9 August 2007,[5] and made his début two days later in the 1–0 loss at home to Accrington Stanley. In November, McCracken soon suffered an injury after tore his calf injury, that will left him on the sidelines for two weeks.[6] He made his return for the club, on 14 December 2007, in a 2–0 win over Morecambe[7] His first goal arrived in the 1–0 home win over Rotherham United on 16 February 2008, which was his only goal in his first season at Adams Park.[8] Having failed to reach the League One following the play-offs, McCracken was soon devastated following Lambert resignation and left the squad let down because of this.[9]

The next season was prove an impressive second season with the club culminated in Wycombe's promotion to Football League One, as well as McCracken being named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year for the 2008–09 season.[10] In January, McCracken improved contract with the club was stalled, leading been the subject of transfer speculation.[11] His second goal for the club came on the final day of the season, as part of a 1–2 home defeat to Notts County. After the season, McCracken was offered a new contract.[12] However, McCracken turned down another deal with the club, which left him a difficult decision to turned down a new deal with Wycombe.[13] Ahead of a match between MK Dons and Wycombe, on 22 September 2009, Manager Peter Taylor warned the club's supporter not to boo McCracken will only make the Scot more determined.[14]

Milton Keynes Dons

On 20 June 2009 it was announced that he had signed for the Chairboys' neighbours Milton Keynes Dons on a two-year deal.[15] On his first training with the club, McCracken says he never meet newly manager Roberto Di Matteo.[16] He made 41 appearances, scoring 1 goal. In his one year at stadium:mk (under Paul Ince), he made little impact and was sold on to Brentford.

Brentford

In July 2010, McCracken signed a two-year contract with another League One side Brentford.[17] Upon the move, McCracken says joining the club left him playing catch-up in terms of pre-season training.[18] Like his time at Brentford, McCracken, once again, made a little impact.

After making only two starts for the club, McCracken moved to Bristol Rovers on 18 January 2011 on an initial one month loan deal.[19] On the last day of the transfer window, McCracken loan spell at Bristol Rovers was extended, until the end of the season.[20] On 25 April 2011, McCracken then received a red card for a professional foul after elbowing Adam Smith in a 2–1 loss against Bournemouth[21] which he missed the entire match for the rest of the season. At the end of the season, McCracken was released by the club after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.[22]

St. Johnstone

On 23 June 2011 McCracken signed a two-year contract with St. Johnstone, a few day after being released by the club[23] Team-mate Peter Enckelman praised manager Derek McInnes for signing McCracken and Frazer Wright after losing Michael Duberry on a free transfer, where he returned to England.[24] Having been an unused substitute in the matches or not in the starting line-up at the start of the season, McCracken soon have his playing time increased throughout the season. On 17 March 2012, McCracken scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–0 win over St. Mirren.

In 2012-13 season, McCracken start his season, appearing in all of their two UEFA Europa League qualifiers against Turkish side Eskişehirspor. Soon after, McCracken soon suffered an illness from a virus.[25] In mid-November, he fractured his cheek bone during a 1–1 draw against Celtic after clashing with Victor Wanyama. Following an further diagnosis of the injury, it announced that he will miss up to six weeks and may require surgery.[26] After a making a return against Heart of Midlothian, He scored his first goal two days later, in the fourth of Scottish Cup, in a 3–0 win over Cowdenbeath.[27] Later in the season, McCracken soon regained his place in the first team. At the end of the 2012-13 season, McCracken left the club after having his contract withdraw, but believes the club would have a change of heart and the main reason of his contract offer withdraw was his recurring of injuries.[28]

Falkirk

Following his departure from St. Johnstone, McCracken joined Falkirk on a one-year contract.[29][30]

Honours

Dundee United

2004–05

References

  1. ↑ "McCracken extends Tannadice stay". BBC Sport. 19 July 2005. 
  2. ↑ "Dundee Utd tell McCracken to go". BBC Sport. 19 January 2007. 
  3. ↑ "Blues sign Dundee United's McCracken". Bucks Free Press. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  4. ↑ "Why I swapped Celtic and Rangers for Wycombe". Bucks Free Press. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  5. ↑ "McCracken ready for armband". Bucks Free Press. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Blues skipper ruled out". Bucks Free Press. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  7. ↑ "Morecambe and Rise". Bucks Free Press. 14 December 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  8. ↑ "Villain to hero for Blues skipper". Bucks Free Press. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  9. ↑ "Skipper fears players may want away from Adams Park". Bucks Free Press. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  10. ↑ "League Two Team of the Year". Sky Sports. 28 April 2009. 
  11. ↑ "Blues skipper delays signing new deal". Bucks Free Press. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  12. ↑ "McCracken keeps Blues waiting". Bucks Free Press. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Skipper quits for Dons and say keeping Taylor is crucial". Bucks Free Press. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  14. ↑ "Booing McCracken could inspire him". Bucks Free Press. 18 September 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  15. ↑ "Wycombe skipper to join MK Dons". BBC. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 
  16. ↑ "I never even met Di Matteo admits McCracken". Milton Keynes Citizen. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  17. ↑ "Brentford sign David McCracken and Michael Spillane". BBC Sport. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010. 
  18. ↑ "Brentford's McCracken plays pre-season catch-up". Bucks Free Press. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  19. ↑ "Bristol Rovers sign Brentford's David McCracken on loan". BBC Sport. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  20. ↑ "McCracken prolongs Pirates stay". Sky Sports. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  21. ↑ "Bournemouth 2–1 Bristol R". BBC Sport. 24 April 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  22. ↑ "Saints snap up McCracken". Sky Sports. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  23. ↑ "DEFENSIVE OPTIONS INCREASED AS MCCRACKEN JOINS SAINTS". Perth St.Johnstone. 23 June 2011. 
  24. ↑ "St Johnstone No1 Peter Enckelman hoping to continue away day shutouts with clean sheet at Motherwell". Daily Record. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  25. ↑ "St Johnstone boss Steve Lomas: Illness among players is leaving me a worried man". Daily Record. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  26. ↑ "St Johnstone defender David McCracken has suffered a fractured a cheek bone". Sky Sports. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  27. ↑ "Cowdenbeath Cup tie with St Johnstone set to be played at fifth time of asking". Daily Record. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  28. ↑ "SPL: David McCracken unsure of St Johnstone future after contract offer withdrawn". Sky Sports. 30 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  29. ↑ "Falkirk add McCracken". Scottish Professional Football League Official Website. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013. 
  30. ↑ "McCracken joins Bairns". Official Website of Falkirk. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013. 

External links

2008–09 Football League Two PFA Team of the Year
Falkirk F.C. – current squad
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