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James Craigen |
James Craigen was born on Thursday, 28th March, 1991, in Preston, Lancashire. The 6' 0 (11st 5lbs) midfielder signed for Jackie McNamara's Thistle on Tuesday, 17th July, 2012, having most recently been with Edinburgh University. Aged 21, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 21st July, 2012, in a 2-0 win at home to Celtic XI in the ARR Craib Cup. James scored his first goal for Thistle on Saturday, 23rd March, 2013, in a 6-1 win at home to Livingston in the SFL First Division. He scored the last of his 5 goals on Saturday, 20th December, 2014, in a 1-1 draw at home to Dundee in the SPFL Premiership. He played his last game for the club on Saturday, 23rd May, 2015, in a 0-0 draw away to Motherwell in the SPFL Premiership, having clocked up 102 appearances as a Jag. At June, 2023, James's club-list included Edinburgh University, Partick Thistle, Forfar Athletic, Raith Rovers, Falkirk, Dunfermline Athletic, Fylde, Arbroath, Edinburgh and The Spartans. |
Craigen started his career at Preston North End, where he spent 10 years as a youth player. Played for the Edinburgh University football side, whilst studying for his Sports Business Recreation Management degree. He also turned out for the Scottish University side when they won the BUCS Home Nations Tournament. Craigen was selected for the Great Britain University side at the 2011 Student Games in Japan, where the team finished runners-up. Craigen signed for Partick Thistle at the start of the 2012–13 Season, whilst also completing his final year at university. Early in his Partick career, Arbroath Manager Dick Campbell took James to Station Park for a 10 match loan spell where he scored twice. On his return to Partick Thistle in eatly 2013, Craigen established himself in the starting eleven during the title run-in. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory at home to Morton in April 2013, a victory that essentially secured the league title for the club. In May 2015, Craigen was named as one of the players that would be released by Partick Thistle at the end of the 2014–15 season. He subsequently signed for Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers on 26 June 2015. On 10 March 2016, Craigen signed a pre contract deal with fellow Scottish Championship side Falkirk. In his first season with the club, Craigen helped Falkirk to a second-place finish in the league, playing 27 matches and scoring 3 goals. He scored a further two goals in each of the Scottish Premiership semi-final play-offs against Dundee United, although the Bairns fell short of reaching the final after losing 3–4 on aggregate. Craigen was a bit-part player in his second season at the club, and was subsequently released in January 2018, after a year and a half with the club. Craigen subsequently signed for Scottish Championship and Falkirk-rivals Dunfermline Athletic on 19 January 2018, on a deal that would keep him at the club until summer 2018. Craigen's contract was renewed until May 2019, after which point it was announced that he would be leaving the club in order to seek a fresh challenge. In the summer of 2019 James sealed his move to AFC Fylde where he has made 15 league appearances so far this season with another 2 appearances in the FA Cup, having recently came on as a substitute against Sheffield United in their 3rd round match where they narrowly lost 2-1. From there, he rejoined Dick Campbell, signing a loan arrangement with Arbroath in January 2020. Made his debut against Dundee United at Tannadice in a famous win. Made his first full appearance in a man of the match performance against Greenock Morton on the 7th March 2020, the final match before the season was cut short due to Covid. Craigen then signed a 3-year deal with Arbroath that summer ahead of their second 27-game season in the Championship. In season 2020/21 James made 17 league starts, with another 4 from the bench. Craigen scored twice in 3 minutes to help the Lichties to a 2-1 win over Ayr United in the Championship. The next season was a classic for the Angus club as they finished runners-up in the second tier. In the League, Craigen made 18 starts, and 17 from the bench scoring against Queen of the South, Greenock Morton and a celebrated goal at Kilmarnock in a 3-game scoring streak. His 2 and a half seasons at Gayfield came to an end on transfer deadline day in early September 2022, and he moved on to FC Edinburgh. |
(WIK/ARBFC) |