Martin Cranie
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Martin James Cranie (born 26 September 1986) is an English professional
footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...
who is currently a free agent. He most recently played as a centre back and right back for Championship club Luton Town. He is a former
England U21 The England national under-21 football team, also known as England under-21s or England U21(s), is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team. This team is for England players aged under 21 at the start of the calen ...
international. He began his career with the Southampton youth academy before moving to local rivals Portsmouth and later to
Coventry City Coventry City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. The team currently compete in the EFL Championship, Championship, the second tier of the English footbal ...
after several loan spells, then followed by three years at
Barnsley Barnsley () is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. As the main settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire. In Barnsley, the population was 96,888 while the wider Borough has ...
.


Early life

Born at Yeovil, Somerset, Cranie attended the local Buckler's Mead Community School between 1998 and 2003 after completing his primary school education at Birchfield Community School.


Club career


Southampton

Following an injury crisis at the club, manager Paul Sturrock was forced to use Cranie in the first-team against Chelsea in May 2004. However, his debut was marred when he inadvertently scored an own-goal, in a 4–0 defeat. After the match, Cranie's teammate Danny Higginbotham said: "He's a very good player with a bright future who certainly didn't look out of place at all." Cranie, one of the youngest post-war players to make their debut for the club, described it as a "good experience". "I was asked to play left wing-back, which I had never played before, but being out on the pitch with some of those players was unbelievable." In October 2004, Cranie spent time on loan to
AFC Bournemouth AFC Bournemouth () is a professional association football club based in Kings Park, Boscombe, a suburb of Bournemouth, Dorset, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest division of English club football. Formed in 1899 as B ...
. He made three appearances for the club, and although they were keen to extend his loan spell, their request was rejected. After his loan spell with Bournemouth ended, Cranie made his first appearance of the season, in a 0–0 draw against Charlton Athletic on 26 December 2004. He later made two more appearances in the 2004–05 season, as Southampton were relegated from the Premier League. He was a member of Southampton's youth team that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in 2005, losing on aggregate to
Ipswich Town Ipswich Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. They play in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. The club was founded in 1878 but did not turn profession ...
. The 2005–06 season saw Cranie make eleven appearances and then, on 7 November 2006, he joined League One side Yeovil Town on loan until January. After spending two months back with Southampton, on 2 March 2007, he returned to Yeovil on loan until Easter. Cranie stayed with the club for several weeks before returning to his parent club on 30 March 2007. He made his first and only 2006–07 appearance for the Saints in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Derby County where he acquitted himself well although his side was defeated on penalties. With lack of first team opportunities, Cranie hinted at leaving the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2006–07 season, though he said that he was "keeping his options open". "I would like to break into the first team but if not I will have to look elsewhere to get my football." At the end of the 2006–07 season, Cranie was offered a one-year contract to stay at the club, but rejected the offer. Then manager George Burley, begrudgingly accepted, and understood, Cranie's decision to leave the club.


Portsmouth

Cranie signed with Portsmouth on 26 June 2007, rejoining his former manager
Harry Redknapp Henry James Redknapp (born 2 March 1947) is an English former football manager and player. He has previously managed AFC Bournemouth, West Ham United, Portsmouth, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City. In his ...
. He made his Portsmouth debut in the first home game of the 2007–08 season against
Manchester United Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of City of Salford, Salford to ...
on 15 August 2007, with a solid performance at right back. On 6 October, after three appearances for Portsmouth, Cranie agreed to join Queens Park Rangers on a three-month loan. QPR, bottom of the Championship, were interested in Cranie when he was with the Saints. He made his Queens Park Rangers debut on 8 October 2007, in a 1–0 win over Norwich City. However, his loan ended when he suffered a broken leg after just six appearances for the London side. In September 2008, Cranie joined Championship side Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of the year. He made his Charlton Athletic debut on 13 September 2008, in a 3–1 loss against Wolves. After making nineteen appearances, Cranie returned to Portsmouth in January 2009 and appeared in two FA Cup matches. On 12 August 2009, Portsmouth agreed to sell Cranie to
Coventry City Coventry City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. The team currently compete in the EFL Championship, Championship, the second tier of the English footbal ...
for £500,000.


Coventry City

On 13 August 2009, Cranie transferred to
Coventry City Coventry City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. The team currently compete in the EFL Championship, Championship, the second tier of the English footbal ...
, signing a three-year contract with the Championship club. It was disclosed that the transfer fee was £500,000. Two days after signing with the club, Cranie made his Coventry City debut, coming off in the 72nd minute, in a 2–0 win over Barnsley. Thirty days later, Cranie scored his first career goal in Coventry's 3–2 home win against Sheffield United on 15 September 2009. The goal was a flicked header at the near post from a corner and turned out to be the match winner as it gave Coventry a 3–1 lead. In mid-November Cranie found himself in an unfamiliar role as a right-back and on the bench, slipping down to the pecking order following the arrival of
Leon Barnett Leon Peter Barnett (born 30 November 1985) is an English former professional footballer. A defender, he primarily played as a centre-back, but also played as a full-back, central midfielder and striker. He began his career with Luton Town w ...
and Richard Wood. Cranie then provided an assist for
Jon Stead Jonathan Graeme Stead (born 7 April 1983) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He currently is an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in USL Championship, the American second division. Stead played for H ...
, which turned out to be the only goal in a 1–0 win over Peterborough United on 6 March 2010. Ahead of a match against Middlesbrough on 24 April 2010, Cranie suffered a knee injury in training, but eventually recovered and was in the squad, which played to a 1–1 draw. Cranie later regained his first team place making forty league appearances for the club in his first season. Before the start of the 2010–11 Norwich City was said to want to sign Cranie. This was denied by Manager Aidy Boothroyd. Despite this, Cranie continued to be in the first team at the club and stayed at the club when the summer transfer closed. After being sidelined for one game with an ankle injury, Cranie returned to the first team until he was placed on the substitution bench for the rest of 2010. Cranie regained his first team place throughout the rest of the season until he was sent-off after a second bookable offence in a 1–1 draw against Leicester City on 26 February 2011. He sustained a hamstring strain during a match against Hull City. In his second season Cranie made thirty-six appearances for the club. Prior to the 2011–12 season, Cranie was among four candidates for captain of Coventry City, a job eventually given to Richard Woods. As the 2011–12 season started, Cranie continued to be on the first team until he sustained a rib injury, and had to be substituted in the 49th minute, in a 2–0 defeat to Barnsley on 1 October 2011. Coventry sent Cranie for a second scan to determine the seriousness of his injury and following it the team announced that he would be out for a month with cracked ribs. Cranie returned to the first team on 19 November 2011, and played 90 minutes in a 2–1 loss to West Ham United. After being sidelined for two weeks, Cranie made his first team return on 30 December 2011, in a 2–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Later in the 2011–12 season, Cranie went on to make thirty-eight appearances for the club, as they were relegated to League One for the next season. With one-year left on his contract, Cranie stated that he was happy to wait until the end of the season to renegotiate it. Manager Andy Thorn called for the club to offer Cranie a new contract. Although initial contract talks were positive according to the club's development director Steve Waggott, Cranie turned down a new deal with Coventry City following the club's relegation, making him a free agent. On 12 July 2012, Cranie joined Leeds United on a trial basis and started training with the team during the pre- season. On 20 July, Cranie played for Leeds United for the first half in a 5–2 win at Farsley in a pre-season friendly. Cranie also went on Leeds United's three game West Country Tour, playing in all three wins over
Tavistock A.F.C. Tavistock Association Football Club is a football club based in Tavistock, Devon, England. They play in the . History The club was formed on 8 September 1888, when sportsman and businessman Herbert Spencer summoned "interested persons to assemb ...
, Bodmin Town and
Torquay United Torquay United Football Club is a professional football club based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team currently compete in the , the fifth tier of English football. They have played their home matches at Plainmoor since 1921 and are nicknamed ...
. Following the tour Leeds manager
Neil Warnock Neil Warnock (born 1 December 1948) is an English former football manager and player. He is also a television and radio pundit. In a managerial career spanning five decades, Warnock has managed sixteen different clubs from the Premier League to ...
expressed an interest in offering Cranie a contract at
Elland Road Elland Road is a football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Premier League club Leeds United since the club's formation in 1919. The stadium is the 14th largest football stadium in England. The g ...
.


Barnsley

On 14 August 2012,
Barnsley Barnsley () is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. As the main settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire. In Barnsley, the population was 96,888 while the wider Borough has ...
offered Cranie a contract and on 20 August 2012, the move was confirmed, with Cranie signing a one-year contract. Seven days later, Cranie made his debut appearance with the Tykes as a substitute for
Bobby Hassell Robert John Francis Hassell (born 4 June 1980) is an English former footballer who played for Mansfield Town, Barnsley and Bharat FC in I-League as a defender. He is currently an Academy Manager at Barnsley. Career Mansfield Born in Derby, D ...
in the 3–1 defeat at Wolves. Eleven days later on 1 September 2012, Cranie provided an assist for
Jacob Mellis Jacob Alexander Mellis (born 8 January 1991) is an English professional footballer, currently a free agent. He transferred from Sheffield United to Chelsea at the age of 16 for a £1 million fee, but made only one substitute appearance before ...
, who scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over
Bristol City Bristol City Football Club is a professional football club based in Bristol, England, which compete in the , the second tier of English football. They have played their home games at Ashton Gate since moving from St John's Lane in 1904. The ...
. Three weeks later on 22 September 2012, Cranie provided another assist for Craig Davies, in a 5–0 win over Birmingham City. However, Cranie suffered injuries during the season, one of which sidelined him throughout October, then was sidelined throughout December and sidelined for a third time due to hamstring strain in early-April. In his first season at Barnsley, Cranie made thirty-six appearances for the club. Cranie was awarded the club's Players' Player of the Year award in April 2013. With his contract expiring at the end of the 2012–13 season, Cranie agreed to sign a new 2-year contract with the club. In the 2013–14 season, Cranie was featured in the first team in the opening game of the season, a 4–0 loss against
Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic Football Club () is an English professional association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1932, ...
. However, Cranie was soon sidelined with a knee injury and was out for some time. After making his recovery, Cranie made his first team return, as a substitute in the 46th minute, in a 3–2 loss against Nottingham Forest on 14 September 2013. With the absence of Stephen Dawson, Cranie took over his captaincy temporarily and captained his first match – a 2–1 loss to Leicester City. Cranie provided an assist for
Jim O'Brien Jim O'Brien may refer to: Sports Basketball *Jim O'Brien (basketball, born 1950), American coach for Emerson College, Ohio State and Boston College *Jim O'Brien (basketball, born 1951), American player for the New York Nets and Memphis Sounds *Jim ...
, which turned out to be the only goal, in a 1–0 win over Millwall on 22 February 2014. Between 28 September 2013, and 11 March 2014, Cranie captained the club for half of the season until he suffered a hamstring tear during a match against Leicester City, requiring several weeks recovery. Cranie returned to the first team on 15 April 2014 in a 2–1 win over Charlton Athletic. After this, Cranie was featured for the last five games, but was unable to help the club survive relegation from the SkyBet Championship. Cranie was awarded the club's Players' Player of the Year for the second time by his teammates. Ahead of the 2014–15 season, it was reported that Barnsley were trying to sell Martin Cranie along with Chris O'Grady and Tom Kennedy, to reduce costs. The club's attempt was unsuccessful and Cranie was featured on the first team throughout the season, and remained the club's captain. He scored his first goal, in a 2–1 win over
Crewe Crewe () is a railway town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East in Cheshire, England. The Crewe built-up area had a total population of 75,556 in 2011, which also covers parts of the adjacent civil parishes of Willaston ...
on 16 August 2014. A week later, in the first game of the season against Yeovil Town, he scored an own-goal to keep the game at a draw. In late-December, Cranie suffered a swollen knee that kept him out for a month. He returned from this injury in a 2–1 win over
Port Vale Port Vale Football Club are a professional football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, which compete in . Vale are the only English Football League club not to be named after a place; their name being a reference to the valley o ...
on 31 January 2015. His return was short-lived when he suffered a hip injury and was replaced at half-time during a match against
Fleetwood Town Fleetwood Town Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Fleetwood, Lancashire. Established in 1997, the current Fleetwood Town F.C. is the fourth incarnation of the club; it was originally formed in ...
on 7 February 2015. Cranie recovered from his injury and went on to make thirty-eight appearances for the club during the 2014–15 season. At the end of the 2014–15 season, Cranie was among three players to be released by the club. Although Manager
Lee Johnson Lee Johnson may refer to: Sportspeople * Lee Johnson (wide receiver) (born 1944), American football wide receiver *Lee Johnson (punter) (born 1961), American football punter *Lee Johnson (basketball) (born 1957), American basketball player * Lee Jo ...
would have preferred to keep him on the team his salary was unaffordable for a League One club.


Huddersfield Town

On 22 July 2015, Cranie signed with Huddersfield Town on a one-year contract, following a successful trial with the club. He made his début for the Terriers in the 2–0 defeat against Hull City at the KC Stadium on 8 August 2015.


Middlesbrough

On 31 January 2018, Cranie signed for Championship side Middlesbrough, for an undisclosed fee. He was brought in as a potential replacement for fellow full-back
Cyrus Christie Cyrus Sylvester Frederick Christie (born 30 September 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Championship club Hull City and the Republic of Ireland national team. Early and personal life Christie was born in Coventry, ...
, who had left the club on the same day to join
Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea. The area faces Wandsworth ...
. Cranie made his first appearance for the Boro on 10 February, coming on as a substitute for Stewart Downing in the final minutes of a 2–1 victory over Reading at the Riverside Stadium. The full-back made back-to-back continuous substitute appearances for the club, which resulted in the team climbing up the league table into the play-off positions. Craine was released by Middlesbrough at the end of the 2017–18 season.


Sheffield United

On 1 September 2018, Cranie signed for Championship side Sheffield United on a short-term deal. He was released by Sheffield United at the end of the 2018–19 season.


Luton Town

Cranie signed for newly promoted Championship club Luton Town on 28 June 2019 on a free transfer. He scored on his competitive debut for Luton Town in a thrilling 3–3 opening day draw against former club Middlesbrough. His contract expired at the end of the 2020–21 season. Luton offered him a contract extension, but he turned it down and left the club.


International career

Because his parents have different nationalities, Cranie played for the Scotland Under-17s and then decided to commit to England when he was chosen for its Under-17 squad. Cranie was called up to the U-20s for the
2003 FIFA World Youth Championship The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between 27 November and 19 December 2003. U20 Brazil claimed their fourth title. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested. The tournament was originally planned to be ...
alongside James Milner,
Andrew Taylor Andrew or Andy Taylor may refer to: Sport * Andrew Taylor (footballer, born 1986), English footballer * Andy Taylor (footballer, born 1986), English footballer * Andy Taylor (footballer, born 1988), English footballer * Andrew Taylor (Australian ...
and Steven Taylor as the youngest players on the squad. He made only one appearance as England crashed out after finishing at the bottom of their group. On 16 August 2007 Cranie was called up for the England Under-21 squad and made his debut against Romania. During the 2009 European Championship qualifying he mostly played at right back as
Nedum Onuoha Chinedum Onuoha (born 12 November 1986) is an English former professional footballer and television pundit for ESPN. He also works for Manchester City as a community ambassador. As a player he was a centre back, but could also play at right ba ...
and captain Steven Taylor were preferred in central defence. He scored his first U-21 international goal in a 3–3 draw against Sweden in the semi-finals of the 2009 Under-21 European Championship, finishing off Milner's inswinging corner barely a minute after kick-off. Cranie hoped his move to Coventry City would see him earn a call-up from the national senior team.


Personal life

In October 2014, Cranie became a father when his partner gave birth to their first child.


Career statistics


Honours

England U21 * UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up:
2009 File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...
Huddersfield Town *
EFL Championship play-offs The English Football League Championship play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the association football teams finishing from third to sixth in the EFL Championship table and are part of the English Football League play-offs. , t ...
:
2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...
Sheffield United *
EFL Championship The English Football League Championship (often referred to as the Championship for short or the Sky Bet Championship for sponsorship purposes) is the highest division of the English Football League (EFL) and second-highest overall in the E ...
runner-up: 2018–19


References


External links


Profile
at the Luton Town F.C. website * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cranie, Martin 1986 births Living people People from Yeovil Footballers from Somerset English footballers England youth international footballers England under-21 international footballers Association football defenders Southampton F.C. players AFC Bournemouth players Yeovil Town F.C. players Portsmouth F.C. players Queens Park Rangers F.C. players Charlton Athletic F.C. players Coventry City F.C. players Barnsley F.C. players Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players Middlesbrough F.C. players Sheffield United F.C. players Luton Town F.C. players Premier League players English Football League players