Nathan Craig

Promising midfielder Nathan Craig joined the Everton Academy at the age of 12. Having progressed through the ranks he was offered a place as a first-year scholar in the summer of 2008 and started getting games for the Under-18 side the following season, initially as a sub coming off the bench..

A deadball specialist, the youngster became a regular in the Under-18s during the 2008-09 season and started to get some games for the Reserves.  He was not a prolific goalscorer but was able to provide scoring opportunities for others.  He also played in two unsuccesful FA Youth Cup campaigns.

His versatility down the left flank and excellent set-piece delivery saw him progress to the reserves and also earned him a Wales Under-21s call-up.

Nathan was handed a first team debut off the bench in the Europa League dead rubber against BATE Borisov in December 2009, when he came on in the last 10 mins wearing the Number 44 shirt, as a substitute for Leon Osman.

He went on to play Under-18 and Reserve football for Everton over the next couple of seasons, but never came close to stepping up into the first team squad, with no further occasions on the bench as an unused sub in any other games. 

We assume he was still registered to play as a Homegrown under-21 player in his final season with Everton, when the official website listed him erroneously under Squad Number 33 (the same as Adam Forshaw). He was released in May 2011 after the club decided he would not make the grade as a Premier League player.

By Michael Kenrick
Last updated May 2011