West Ham United
Charles Craig
 | Born: Dundee (1863) Signed: 1899 Position: Left Back Appearances: 77 Left: 1902 (Nottingham Forest) Died: 1933 |
Charles Craig worked as a mechanic in Scotland. He moved to London and worked for the Tate Sugar Refinery at Silvertown before moving to the Thames Iron Works. He placed his first game on 28th October, 1899, when the club beat Dartford 7-0. Craig, who stood over 6 foot and weighed 13 stone, developed into a very good left-back. In 1900 Arnold Hills decided to expand his business interests by acquiring another engineering firm. In order to raise new capital to finance the takeover, he decided to make Thames Iron Works a public company. As a result of this move, the football club was also reorganized. Thames Iron Works FC became West Ham United FC. Craig played in 25 out of 28 league games that season. Craig was an early supporter of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) and was later to become a member of its Management Committee. In 1902 Craig moved to Nottingham Forest. Other clubs Craig played for included Bradford Park Avenue and Norwich City. Charles Craig died on the same day in 1933 as his West Ham's full-back partner, Syd King. |
