Craig Dawson
Date of birth: 6th May 1990
Time at Rochdale: appearances 89, goals scored 19
We first came across Craig Dawson at Rochdale AFC Community Trust activities including coaching sessions at Meanwood Primary School and half term soccer schools and always kept an eye on his development as he progressed up the football ladder to the Premier League, England Under 21’s and Great Britain at the Olympics.
He started his career at Heywood St James before joining Rochdale St Clements at the age of sixteen then Radcliffe Borough, making his debut for the Club in a game against Salford City in the middle of the 2007/8 season. Following a loan spell at Flixton, he became a first team regular at Radcliffe making 95 appearances and scoring 15 goals. In the season he left, he was voted the Player of the Season followed in 2017 by being included in the Northern Premier League’s Greatest 100 Players for the 50th Anniversary of the League, ranking in 14th position.
In February 2009 Craig signed for his local club, Rochdale on a two year contract for a fee of £12,000, despite a bid of £30,000 coming from Crewe Alexandra. Although a Rochdale player, he stayed at Radcliffe on loan until the end of the season before making his debut for Rochdale reserves, scoring a header from a corner against Manchester City. Craig was set to make his debut in the second half of the 2008/9 season however, was set back by injury before finally making his first team debut on 8th August 2009 in the League Two clash with Port Vale at Vale Park, the match ending in a 1–1 draw. Craig’s second game was at Hillsborough Stadium in the League Cup against Sheffield Wednesday and despite conceding three goals, Dale fans gave Craig rave reviews and named him the man of the match.
He scored 10 goals in all competitions during the 2009/10 season and won a place in the League Two PFA Team of the Year.
On his departure from the Dale, Keith Hill was quoted “”I’ll miss Craig as a friend and someone to cite as an example to others, but I’ll also miss him as a player because it’s going to be some task to replace him. He will go down as one of the best young players in Rochdale’s history. He’s a shining example I will use throughout my career to any young player trying to make an impact on the professional game”
As well as a fabulous central defender at Rochdale and other Clubs, Craig represented England Under 21’s on fifteen occasions scoring six goals including two against Azerbaijan on 1st September 2011 when he made his debut.
Another fantastic highlight of Craig’s career was being part of the 2012 London Olympics after selection by Stuart Pearce for the Great Britain team.
He featured in the 1–0 victory over Uruguay as a last minute substitution for goal scorer Danie Sturridge, also featured in the Olympic quarter final against South Korea, coming on as a substitute for an injured Micah Richards and scoring in the penalty shoot out.
Career Stats
2007–2009 Radcliffe Borough: 95 (9)
2007–2008 Flixton (loan)
2009–2010 Rochdale: 46 (10)
2009 Radcliffe Borough (loan)
2010–2019 West Bromwich Albion: 194 (14)
2010–2011 Rochdale (loan) 41 (9)
2013 Bolton Wanderers (loan) 16 (4)
2019–2021 Watford: 29 (2)
2020–2021 West Ham United (loan) 22 (3)
2021–2023 West Ham United: 42 (2)
2023–2025 Wolverhampton Wanderers: 57 (2)
International Stats
2011-13 England Under 21’s: 15 (6)
2012 Great Britain Olympic: 3 (1)