Craig Rocastle

Footballer (born 1981)

Craig Rocastle
Personal information
Full name Craig Aaron Rocastle[1]
Date of birth (1981-08-17) 17 August 1981 (age 42)
Place of birth Lewisham, London, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Samuel Montagu
????–2001 Gravesend and Northfleet
2001 → Queens Park Rangers (trial)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001 Gravesend and Northfleet
2001 → Ashford Town (Kent) (loan) 4 (0)
2001–2003 Kingstonian 23 (0)
2003 Slough Town 13 (0)
2003–2005 Chelsea 0 (0)
2004 → Barnsley (loan) 5 (0)
2004 → Lincoln City (loan) 2 (0)
2004–2005 → Hibernian (loan) 13 (0)
2005–2006 Sheffield Wednesday 28 (1)
2006 → Yeovil Town (loan) 8 (0)
2006–2007 Oldham Athletic 35 (2)
2007–2008 Port Vale 23 (1)
2008 → Gillingham (loan) 2 (0)
2008–2009 Thrasyvoulos 14 (0)
2009 Welling United 2 (0)
2009 Dover Athletic 2 (0)
2009–2010 Forest Green Rovers 15 (0)
2010–2011 Sporting Kansas City[note 1] 29 (0)
2012 Thrasyvoulos 15 (0)
2012 Missouri Comets (indoor) 7 (0)
Total 240 (4)
International career
2010–2012 Grenada 12 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Craig Aaron Rocastle (born 17 August 1981) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

A former youth team player at Queens Park Rangers, in 2001 he joined Kingstonian from Gravesend and Northfleet after a loan spell with Ashford Town (Kent). He signed with Chelsea via Slough Town in 2003, and was loaned out to Barnsley, Lincoln City, and Hibernian. He joined Sheffield Wednesday in February 2005, helping the "Owls" to promotion out of League One via the play-offs in 2005. Loaned out to Yeovil Town, he switched to Oldham Athletic in 2006, before moving on to Port Vale in June 2007. He was loaned out to Gillingham, before joining Greek side Thrasyvoulos in 2008. He returned to England the following year with Welling United, later playing for Dover Athletic and Forest Green Rovers. He joined American club Sporting Kansas City in March 2010, and briefly played for the Missouri Comets in January 2012, before he returned to Thrasyvoulos. Born in England, he represented Grenada at international level.

Club career

Rocastle was with Isthmian League Premier Division club Gravesend and Northfleet when in September 2001 he went on trial to Queens Park Rangers,[3] who during his stay with them went into administration. After a loan spell in November 2001 with Southern League Eastern Division club Ashford Town (Kent),[4] it was announced in early December 2001 that he had left Gravesend and Northfleet.[5] Later that month (initially on a one month trial)[6] Rocastle signed with Isthmian League Premier Division side Kingstonian[7] for whom he made 23 goal-less league appearances.[8] In February 2003 he signed with Slough Town, making 13 Isthmian League Division One North appearances without scoring.[9] He then signed with Premier League club Chelsea in 2003, although he did not make a first-team appearance, appearing once as a non-playing substitute.

Rocastle made his debut in the English Football League on 14 February 2004, at the age of 22, playing for Barnsley in a 1–0 defeat at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground. He had joined the Yorkshiremen on loan and made another four Second Division appearances before leaving Oakwell the next month. In late-March he joined Third Division side Lincoln City on loan,[10][11] but only made two substitute appearances before returning to Stamford Bridge before the end of the season.[12]

He spent the first half of the 2004–05 season at Tony Mowbray's Hibernian,[13] playing thirteen league games in a very successful season for the SPL club.[14] The club had kept faith with the midfielder as he damaged a thigh muscle in September[15] and was feared to have damaged knee ligaments in December,[16] and were hopeful of acquiring him on a permanent basis. With no future with Chelsea,[17] he instead joined Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer in February 2005, signing a 2+1⁄2-year deal.[18] His first senior goal came in a 3–2 win over Blackpool at Hillsborough on 12 March.[19] He played for the "Owls" in the League One play-off final, which finished as a 4–2 victory over Hartlepool United at the Millennium Stadium in front of close to 60,000 spectators.

Rocastle played seventeen games of the club's 2005–06 Championship season, before going out on loan to League One side Yeovil Town in late-March. At the end of the season Rocastle's contract at Wednesday was terminated by mutual consent, and he quickly signed for Oldham Athletic.[20] He played 35 league games in 2006–07, helping Oldham to a play-off place, though most of these appearances were as a substitute. In the play-offs they were defeated by eventual promotion winners Blackpool in the semi-finals.

In June 2007, he signed a two-year deal to join Port Vale.[21] He was not a first-team favourite in 2007–08, but did manage 21 starts and a goal against Cheltenham Town at Vale Park.[22] He spent two weeks in January on loan with League One rivals Gillingham,[23] playing two games for the "Gills". After talks with manager Lee Sinnott, his contract was terminated by mutual consent in April 2008.[24]

Rocastle had a trial with Hibernian in May 2008, having impressed on loan there previously,[25] but manager Mixu Paatelainen did not offer him a contract.[26] Rocastle instead joined Thrasyvoulos Filis in the Superleague Greece.[27] He made thirteen appearances for the club in 2008–09, though they finished bottom with a mere 14 points from 30 games and were relegated to the Football League.

Rocastle then joined Crewe Alexandra for a trial,[28] but he failed to win a contract after playing 45 minutes in a pre-season friendly with Nantwich Town.[29] He played for Aberdeen as a trialist in the Dean Windass testimonial match against Hull City,[30] however, he was not offered a contract by the club. In August 2009, he signed for Welling United,[31] but left almost immediately after two Conference South appearances and joined Dover Athletic on a non-contract basis.[32] He made his debut for Dover as a substitute in an 8–0 win over East Preston in the FA Cup. However, his stay at the Kent club was short, and in October 2009 he joined Forest Green Rovers on a non-contract basis. Rocastle impressed on his Forest Green debut, winning the man of the match award in Rovers 1–1 draw with Eastbourne Borough. He went on to make 15 appearances in the Conference National for Forest Green, before interest was shown in him by Swedish and American clubs.

Following a short trial in March 2010, Rocastle departed Forest Green to sign for Kansas City Wizards in Major League Soccer.[33] He played 12 matches in 2010, however, he was waived by Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes following the 2011 season on 23 November 2011.[34] Six weeks later, on 4 January 2012, Rocastle signed with the Missouri Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League.[35] Ten days later he returned to Thrasyvoulos.[36]

International career

Rocastle was eligible to play for both Grenada or Jamaica as his father was from Grenada and his mother was from Jamaica. He made his Grenada international debut on 26 November 2010, in a 2010 Caribbean Cup match against Martinique at the Stade d'Honneur de Dillon in Fort-de-France.[37] He was named by coach Mike Adams in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup at the United States, and played the first half of the 4–0 defeat to Jamaica at The Home Depot Center, before being taken off for Lancaster Joseph.[38] Grenada exited the competition after finishing bottom of their group. On 15 November 2012, Rocastle scored from an indirect free kick from 22 yards (20 m) out in a 1–1 draw with French Guiana.

Personal life

He is a cousin of the late England and Arsenal midfielder David Rocastle.[39]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[40][4][8][9][41][42][43][44]
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ashford Town (Kent) 2001 Southern Football League Eastern Division 4 0 0 0 1 1 5 1
Kingstonian 2001–02 Isthmian League Premier Division 14 0 0 0 2 0 16 0
2002–03 Isthmian League Premier Division 9 0 0 0 6 1 15 1
Total 23 0 0 0 8 1 31 1
Slough Town 2003–04 Isthmian League Division One North 13 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Chelsea 2003–04 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004–05 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Barnsley (loan) 2003–04 Second Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Lincoln City (loan) 2003–04 Third Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Hibernian (loan) 2003–04 Scottish Premier League 13 0 0 0 1 0 14 0
Sheffield Wednesday 2004–05 League One 11 1 0 0 3 0 14 1
2005–06 Championship 17 0 0 0 2 0 19 0
Total 28 1 0 0 5 0 33 1
Yeovil Town (loan) 2005–06 League One 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Oldham Athletic 2006–07 League One 35 2 2 0 2 1 39 3
Port Vale 2007–08 League One 23 1 2 0 2 0 27 1
Gillingham (loan) 2007–08 League One 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Thrasyvoulos 2008–09 Superleague Greece 14 0 14 0
Welling United 2009–10 Conference South 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Dover Athletic 2009–10 Conference South 2 0 0 0 3 0 5 0
Forest Green Rovers 2009–10 Conference Premier 15 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
Sporting Kansas City 2010 Major League Soccer 23 0 0 0 0 0 23 0
2011 Major League Soccer 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Total 29 0 0 0 0 0 29 0
Thrasyvoulos 2011–12 Superleague Greece 15 0 0 0 1 0 16 0
Missouri Comets (indoor) 2012–13 Major Indoor Soccer League 7 0 7 0
Career total 240 4 4 0 21 3 35 7

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[41]
National team Year Apps Goals
Grenada 2010 5 0
2011 4 0
2012 3 1
Total 12 1

Honours

Sheffield Wednesday

Notes

  1. ^ Sporting Kansas City was known as Kansas City Wizards during the 2010 season.

References

  1. ^ "Craig Rocastle". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2007/08". footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Fleet's Rocastle has trials with QPR". kentonline.co.uk, KM Group. 4 September 2001. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Craig Rocastle Player Profile". The Nuts and Bolts Archive. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Fringe players' chance to catch Ford's eye". kentonline.co.uk, KM Group. 7 December 2001. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  6. ^ "No Dons bid for ground". newsshopper.co.uk, Newsquest Media Group. 4 January 2002. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Rocastle relishes captain's role". newsshopper.co.uk, Newsquest Media Group. 8 February 2002. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Craig Rocastle". kingstonian.net, K's Web. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Slough Town FC". sloughtownfc.net. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Glovers seal Rocastle loan deal". BBC Sport. 23 March 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  11. ^ "Lincoln sign loan duo". BBC Sport. 25 March 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  12. ^ "Rocastle leaves Lincoln". BBC Sport. 28 April 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  13. ^ "Rocastle joins Hibs on loan". BBC Sport. 31 August 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Chelsea's Rocastle ends Hibs stay". BBC Sport. 4 January 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  15. ^ "Rocastle blow for Hibs". BBC Sport. 15 September 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  16. ^ "Injury worries ease for Rocastle". BBC Sport. 7 December 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  17. ^ "Chelsea tell Rocastle he can go". BBC Sport. 14 January 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  18. ^ "Owls snap up midfielder Rocastle". BBC Sport. 3 February 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  19. ^ "Sheff Wed 3-2 Blackpool". BBC. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  20. ^ "Ex-Red Linked with Oldham". Barnsley F.C. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  21. ^ "Port Vale pull off triple swoop". BBC Sport. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  22. ^ "Port Vale 3-0 Cheltenham". BBC. 2 October 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  23. ^ "Gillingham sign Vale's Rocastle". BBC Sport. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  24. ^ "First summer signings for Sinnott". BBC Sport. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  25. ^ "Rocastle gets second Hibs chance". BBC Sport. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  26. ^ "Paatelainen wants to trim squad". BBC Sport. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  27. ^ "Thrasivoulos Filis Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  28. ^ "Thordarson to assess trialist". BBC Sport. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  29. ^ "Spurs keeper Button joins Crewe". BBC Sport. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  30. ^ Trialists set to face Hull Archived 9 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Aberdeen FC official website
  31. ^ "Wings pounce for Rocastle". Non League Daily. 27 August 2009. Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  32. ^ Howard, Tom (23 September 2009). "Dover set to complete Rocastle swoop". Kent News. Archived from the original on 25 September 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  33. ^ "From Nailsworth to Kansas". Sport Glos. 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  34. ^ Whisenhunt, Josh. "Sporting Kansas City waives four players". sportingkc.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  35. ^ "Comets Sign Rocastle". Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Missouri Comets. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  36. ^ "Craig Rocastle Signs With Greek Side Thrasyvoulos". thedailywiz.com. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  37. ^ "Digicel Cup Opening day proves to be a football fest". digicelfootball.com. 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  38. ^ "Gold Cup 2011". globalsportsmedia.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  39. ^ Miller, Alex (26 February 2019). "Craig Rocastle on his cousin David, a tricky relationship with Paul Sturrock and leaving Jose Mourinho to join Sheffield Wednesday". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  40. ^ Craig Rocastle at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  41. ^ a b Craig Rocastle at Soccerway
  42. ^ "Craig Rocastle". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  43. ^ Craig Rocastle at Soccerbase
  44. ^ "Craig Rocastle Profile | Aylesbury United FC". www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
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Grenada squad – 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Grenada