Craig Pead
Personal information
Full name Craig George Pead[1]
Date of birth (1981-09-15) 15 September 1981
Place of birth Bromsgrove, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Full back, central midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Solihull Moors (assistant manager)
Youth career
1997–1998 Coventry City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2005 Coventry City 42 (3)
2004 → Notts County (loan) 5 (0)
2005 → Walsall (loan) 8 (0)
2005–2007 Walsall 80 (0)
2007–2009 Brentford 38 (0)
2010 Coventry Sphinx 1 (0)
2010–2011 Redditch United 9 (0)
Total 183 (3)
International career
1999 England U18 3 (0)
2002 England U20 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Craig George Pead (born 15 September 1981) is an English former professional footballer who played as a full back in the Football League for Walsall, Coventry City, Brentford and Notts County. He was capped by England at youth level and later became a coach.

Club career

Coventry City

A midfielder, Pead began his career in the youth system at Premier League club Coventry City in 1997 and signed his first professional contract in September 1998.[2][3] While a teenager, Pead had an operation on his right knee, which removed 90% of the cartilage and the subsequent problems with the knee were so severe that he contemplated quitting football.[4][5][6] After returning to fitness and being moved from left back to his preferred central midfield position,[6] Pead finally made his senior debut when he played the opening 82 minutes of a 1–0 defeat to Burnley on 21 April 2002.[5][7]

Pead broke into the squad during the 2002–03 season and was a regular inclusion from December 2002 through to the end of the campaign.[8] He made 26 appearances and scored the first senior goal of his career, which came in a 2–2 draw with Preston North End on 5 April 2003.[9] Pead's progress was rewarded with a new two-year contract in March 2003 and he was voted the club's 2002–03 Young Player of the Year.[10][11]

Behind three loan midfielders in the pecking order and suffering with injuries,[12] Pead had "a wasted" 2003–04 season, in which he made only 18 appearances, scoring one goal.[12][13] A calf injury saw him sit out the opening month of the 2004–05 season and he subsequently spent much of the campaign away on loan.[14][15][16][17][18] Pead was released in May 2005 and made 45 appearances and scored two goals during seven years as a professional at Highfield Road.[19][20]

Walsall

On 23 March 2005, Pead joined League One strugglers Walsall on loan until the end of the 2004–05 season.[18] He was an ever-present starter in the final eight league matches of the season and helped the Saddlers finish comfortably in mid-table.[21][22] On 27 May 2005, Pead joined Walsall on a permanent basis and signed a two-year contract.[23][24] He captained the team on occasion during a disastrous 2005–06 season, which ended with relegation to League Two.[25][26]

Pead had an excellent 2006–07 season, making 45 appearances and winning the first silverware of his career when Walsall secured an immediate return to League One by winning the League Two championship.[26][27] He was voted into the League Two PFA Team of the Year,[28] but despite the accolade, Pead was not offered a new contract by manager Richard Money and was released in June 2007.[29]

Brentford

On the recommendation of his former Walsall captain Michael Dobson, Pead joined newly relegated League Two club Brentford on a two-year contract on 2 July 2007.[30] Less than three weeks later, he suffered an ankle ligament injury during a pre-season friendly and had to wait until 1 September to make his competitive debut for the Bees,[31] which came in a 2–1 victory over Bury.[32] He was utilised as a central midfielder by manager Terry Butcher, but after Butcher was replaced by Andy Scott in December 2007,[33] Pead was moved to right back, which had come to be his preferred position.[34] Despite making 35 appearances during the 2007–08 season and being voted into the League Two PFA Team of the Year for the second year in succession,[28][32]

Pead was made available for transfer by manager Andy Scott in May 2008.[35] He failed a medical at Port Vale in May and trialled with Cheltenham Town in July 2008 and remained with Brentford for the 2008–09 season.[36][37][38][39] He began the season as a regular starter,[40] but dropped to the bench in September 2008 and underwent exploratory surgery on his long-standing knee problem late in the year.[39] Pead failed to return to fitness before the end of the season, but despite making just six league appearances,[41] he was awarded a League Two championship medal.[42] Pead was released in May 2009 and elected to retire,[43] due to his long-standing knee problem.[37] During his two seasons with Brentford, he made 44 appearances.[20]

Coventry Sphinx

Pead came out of retirement to join Midland Alliance club Coventry Sphinx in August 2010.[44] He made just one appearance for the club, in a 4–3 defeat to Friar Lane & Epworth on 10 August.[45]

Redditch United

Pead joined Conference North club Redditch United in August 2010 and made 12 appearances during the 2010–11 season.[46][47]

International career

Pead was capped by England at U18 and U20 level.[2] He was a part of the U20 squad which finished fourth at the 2002 Toulon Tournament.[48]

Coaching career

On 14 August 2021, Pead joined Southern League Premier Division Central club Banbury United as first team coach.[49] He later followed Banbury United manager Andy Whing to National League club Solihull Moors.[50][51]

Personal life

Pead's father worked as a kit man at Coventry City.[3] Whilst a player at Brentford, Pead shared a flat in Feltham with Lee Thorpe.[52] After his retirement from football in 2009, Pead returned to the West Midlands and opened Soccer Rockz, a youth football coaching school.[4][53] He later worked as Business Development Manager for BPMpro,[3] as a personal trainer and as an FA-registered intermediary.[54][55][56]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Coventry City 1999–00[57] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2001–02[7] First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2002–03[9] First Division 24 1 2 0 0 0 — 26 1
2003–04[13] First Division 17 1 0 0 1 0 — 18 1
2004–05[21] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 42 2 2 0 1 0 — 45 2
Notts County (loan) 2004–05[21] League Two 5 0 — 0 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 6 0
Walsall (loan) 2004–05[21] League One 8 0 — — — 8 0
Walsall 2005–06[27] League One 39 0 4 0 1 0 3[lower-alpha 1] 0 47 0
2006–07[58] League Two 41 0 1 0 2 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 45 0
Total 88 0 5 0 3 0 4 0 100 0
Brentford 2007–08[32] League Two 32 0 2 0 0 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 35 0
2008–09[41] League Two 6 0 1 0 1 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 9 0
Total 38 0 3 0 1 0 2 0 44 0
Coventry Sphinx 2010–11[45] Midland Alliance 1 0 — — — 1 0
Redditch United 2010–11[47] Conference North 9 0 2 0 — 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 12 0
Career total 183 2 12 0 5 0 7 0 204 2

Honours

Walsall

Brentford

Individual

Notes

  1. ↑ "Craig Pead". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Craig Pead". 11v11.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "Craig Offers Peady Training". Coventry City Former Players Association. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Craig Pead: I can't play football anymore but I can't quit". Coventry Telegraph. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  5. 1 2 Turner, Andy (24 December 2002). "Pead's so pleased". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  6. 1 2 "The comeback kids". Coventry Telegraph. 26 July 2001. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Games played by Craig Pead in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "Craig Pead Player Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Games played by Craig Pead in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  10. ↑ Turner, Andy (18 March 2003). "Play me pleads Pead". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  11. 1 2 Turner, Andy (8 April 2003). "Pead's goals target". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  12. 1 2 "It's time to invest in the team". Coventry Telegraph. 21 April 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Games played by Craig Pead in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  14. ↑ Telegraph, Coventry (5 August 2004). "Hard graft the secret". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  15. ↑ "Craig Pead Player Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  16. ↑ "Magpies to snap up Pead". 9 September 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  17. ↑ "Pead extends loan at Meadow Lane". 12 October 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  18. 1 2 "Walsall secure loan deal for Pead". 23 March 2005. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  19. ↑ "Coventry opt to release quintet". 11 May 2005. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  20. 1 2 Craig Pead at Soccerbase
  21. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Craig Pead in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  22. ↑ "Walsall results for the 2004–2005 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  23. ↑ "Defender Pead seals Walsall move". 27 May 2005. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  24. ↑ "Valiants chasing Pead". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  25. ↑ Halford, Brian (23 October 2005). "Captain Craig rises to the occasion". birminghammail. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Walsall Complete History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  27. 1 2 "Games played by Craig Pead in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  28. 1 2 3 "Pead Named In PFA League Two Side". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  29. ↑ "Money starts clear out at Walsall". BBC Sport. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2007.
  30. ↑ "Bees Sign Pead". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. 2 July 2007. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
  31. ↑ "Craig Pead's Injury Update". brentfordfc.co.uk. 18 July 2007. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  32. 1 2 3 "Games played by Craig Pead in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  33. ↑ "Terry Butcher Departs". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  34. ↑ "Pead's shock". getwestlondon. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  35. ↑ "Andy On Players". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  36. ↑ "Pead calls off move to Port Vale". 22 May 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  37. 1 2 Murtagh, Jacob (20 May 2009). "Pead announces retirement plans after injury". getwestlondon. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  38. ↑ "Pead could earn Cheltenham deal". 14 July 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  39. 1 2 "Scott plays transfer window waiting game". Wimbledon Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  40. ↑ "Craig Pead Player Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  41. 1 2 "Games played by Craig Pead in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  42. 1 2 "Brentford FC | 2 May 2009 – Luton Town – Home". officialbfcpics.co.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  43. ↑ "Scott praises departing players". 9 May 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  44. ↑ "Craig Pead Signs For Sphinx". Coventry Mad. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  45. 1 2 "Report". www.coventrysphinx.co.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  46. ↑ "Craig Pead ends retirement for struggling Redditch United". Coventry Telegraph. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  47. 1 2 Craig Pead at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  48. ↑ "England Matches – Under-20's". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  49. ↑ "Whingy adds a first team coach". www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  50. ↑ "Andy Whing links up with former Oxford United chairman at National League side". Oxford Mail. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  51. ↑ "Son of Blues legend bags win on professional debut". Echo. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  52. ↑ "It's curtains for Bees flatmates". Wimbledon Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  53. ↑ "SoccerRockz – Childrens Football Coaching". Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  54. ↑ "About Our Osteopaths". Aceso Clinic. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  55. ↑ "News: Join Joe Cole & Craig Pead for an online workout today in aid of the NHS". www.ccfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  56. ↑ "FA Registered Intermediaries (as of 01/06/21)". The Football Association. p. 11. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Craig Pead in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  58. 1 2 "Games played by Craig Pead in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  59. ↑ "Academy Hall of Fame". Coventry City F.C. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
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