Craig Stone

Craig Stone
Personal information
Full nameCraig Brian Raymond Stone[1]
Date of birth29 December 1988
Place of birthGravesend, England
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Dover Athletic
Number2
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2005–2008Gillingham15(0)
2008Brentford (loan)6(0)
2008–2009Ebbsfleet United23(0)
2010Maidstone United4(0)
2010–2013Ebbsfleet United38(1)
2013–Dover Athletic41(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:10, 19 May 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Craig Brian Raymond Stone (born 29 December 1988) is an English semi-professional footballer who plays for Dover Athletic. He came through the Gillingham youth ranks, making his league debut as a 16 year old in the 2005–06 season away to Hartlepool United, and plays in central midfield.

Career

Stone joined Gillingham at the age of 10 and impressed sufficiently to be added to the first team squad for the 2006–07 season. He made his first start for the club in a 1–1 draw away to Bournemouth on 28 April 2007. He signed his first professional contract in May 2007, a one-year deal with an option of another year.

On 17 January 2008 Stone joined Brentford on a month's loan, which was later extended for a second month.[2] On his return to Priestfield Stadium he still could not command a regular place in the team and he was released at the end of his contract, and joined non-League club Ebbsfleet United in time for the 2008–09 season.[3] On 21 February 2009, he broke his leg in a match against Wrexham and was expected to miss the remainder of the season.[4][5] The leg break came in a challenge with former Gillingham team-mate Andrew Crofts, whose cousin is Stone's partner. After breaking his leg a group of Ebbsfleet supporters got together to help Stone pass the time whilst out injured by purchasing a PlayStation 3.[6]

In February 2010, Stone joined Isthmian League club Maidstone United in a bid to regain fitness before returning to the professional game. He joined up with The Stones' caretaker management team of Pete Nott and Tony Cornwell, who coached him as a youngster. In August of the same year, he re-joined Ebbsfleet United.[7]

References

External links