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Stephen Craigan

see also: Stephen Craigan (opposition manager) →

• Stephen Craigan (GI) Stephen James Craigan was born on Friday, 29th October, 1976, in Newtownards, County Down. The 6' 0 (12st 9lbs) defender signed for John Lambie's Thistle on Wednesday, 12th July, 2000, having most recently been with Motherwell. Aged 23, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 22nd July, 2000, in a 0-0 friendly draw away to Derry City. Stephen scored his only goal for Thistle on Saturday, 5th May, 2001, in a 4-0 win at home to Stenhousemuir in the SFL Second Division. He played his last game for the club on Saturday, 17th May, 2003, in a 1-0 defeat at home to Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League, having clocked up 136 appearances as a Jag. Stephen's club-list included Motherwell and Partick Thistle.

Every Goal

compiled from our All Games criteria.

24y, 6m, 6d		05.05.2001 Stenhousemuir [h] W4-0 (SFL Second Division - game 36)

Thistle Honours

	2001 - LEAGUE (3rd tier) Champion
	2002 - LEAGUE (2nd tier) Champion

the decisive games…

2001 - SFL SECOND DIVISION Sat-14-Apr-2001 [a] D2-2 Forfar Athletic (SFL Second Division - game 33) Championship confirmed. Elliot scored (64 secs) when he ran on to a through ball. However, Forfar scored twice (8 & 36). There were some scary moments before substitute McGrillen poked a through ball into the net with his 1st touch (77). Not entirely convincing, but who cared? The party began. John Lambie

2002 - SFL FIRST DIVISION Sat-13-Apr-2002 [a] W2-0 St Mirren (SFL First Division - game 34) Champions! McCulloch headed the opener from a Burns corner (22). After the break Cameron hit the bar then, set up by McLean, Fleming scored from close in, breaking his leg in the process (51). St Mirren never looked like spoiling the party and Thistle saw the game out to take the title. John Lambie

• Listed per out Honours list criteria.
• Players who have contributed an appearance in any given tournament are included.

Ye'll no' believe who scored it!

Stephen featured at #10 in our Top 12 countdown here on The Thistle Archive →

STEPHEN CRAIGAN

Saturday 5th May 2001
SFL Second Division – game 36
Stenhousemuir [h] W4-0

“If there was a better professional in Scotland, I've still to see him. Fantastic guy.” ~ John Lambie

In the close season Summer of 2000, the 24 year old Stephen Craigan was freed by Alex McLeish – John Lambie knew an opportunity when he seen one. Ho-ho, thank you very much. Motherwell’s loss was very much Thistle’s gain. After two seasons of faffing around in the third tier, Partick Thistle desperately needed to get out of there. Lambie got busy, assembling a crack squad that could not be beaten. Craigan would be the cornerstone. The steely defender made his competitive debut on the 8th August and ended up starting in every single game from there. How fitting that after giving his all for 39 games consecutively (and 90 minutes every time) he would net his first goal on the very last day of the season. It was the title party day at Firhill - and the Jags were in the mood to celebrate! The BBC reported thus:

“Despite being held for the first 45 minutes, Thistle left their fans happy with a storming four-goal second period. With just three minutes gone in the second half, Partick broke the deadlock when a superb run by Peter Lindau carved open the Stenny defence and Paul McGrillen drove the ball into the corner of the net. After 56 minutes Partick added a second when a floated free-kick by David McCallum was headed in by Barry Elliot. And just to prove the gulf between the teams, Partick added two more within 60 seconds. With 69 minutes gone, defender Steve Craigan moved forward to flash a header past goalkeeper Ryan McGurk, and McGrillen finished the rout off with a fourth to set the scene for jubilant celebrations.”

When STEPHEN's goal went in, the warmth around the ground was palpable. As the huge roar subsided, Thistle fans looked at each other knowingly with big grins, nodding heads and clapping hands. The chant soon went up: “One Stephen Craigan, there’s only one Stephen Craigan!” His “taps aff” celebration epitomized the joyous spirit of the much-loved one-goal wonder, and duly serves as the most apt cover-shot for this very feature!

Craigan was pivotal to Jags’ meteoric rise from third to first tier football – and he helped us stay there. He’ll always be well thought of by the Firhill cognoscenti. Partick Thistle and Stephen Craigan had three great seasons together – and thankfully there was a wee goal to show for it!

Video

vs. Stenhousemuir, 5th May 2001

(credit: Partick Thistle Television )

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