{{Short description|Scottish footballer (born 1988)}} {{Use British English|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Craig Sutherland | image = | fullname = Craig Stephen Sutherland<ref>{{cite web |title=Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13 |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0,,10794~179534,00.pdf |publisher=The Football League |accessdate=10 September 2013 |page=77 |date=18 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0%2C%2C10794~179534%2C00.pdf |archivedate=2 August 2014}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|12|17|df=y}} | birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland | height = | position = Forward | currentclub = | youthyears1 = 2006–2007 | youthclubs1 = Spartans | youthyears2 = 2007–2009 | youthclubs2 = Midwestern State University | youthyears3 = 2010 | youthclubs3 = North Carolina State University | years1 = 2011–2013 | clubs1 = Blackpool | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2011–2012 | clubs2 = → Plymouth Argyle (loan) | caps2 = 9 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2013 | clubs3 = Woking | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2014 | clubs4 = Queen's Park | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2014–2015 | clubs5 = Cowdenbeath | caps5 = 12 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2015 | clubs6 = Stenhousemuir | caps6 = 7 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2015 | clubs7 = East Fife | caps7 = 5 | goals7 = 1 | totalcaps = 44 | totalgoals = 4 }}
'''Craig Stephen Sutherland''' (born 17 December 1988) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a forward. He began his career in the United States playing college soccer for Midwestern State University and North Carolina State University. Sutherland played 16 times in the Football League for Blackpool and Plymouth Argyle between 2011 and 2012. He has also played for Woking, Queen's Park, Cowdenbeath, Stenhousemuir and East Fife.
==Career== Sutherland played for Spartans at youth level between 2006 and 2007 before moving to the United States to begin a soccer scholarship in Texas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Scottish Youth Cup draw and first Spartans Youth Player to sign for an English Championship team|url=http://www.spartansfc.com/2011/07/26/scottish-youth-cup-draw-and-first-spartans-youth-player-to-sign-for-an-english-championship-team/|publisher=Spartans F.C|accessdate=11 December 2011|date=26 July 2011}}</ref>
Sutherland joined Blackpool on 26 July 2011 from North Carolina State University.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blackpool sign Angel Martinez & Craig Sutherland|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/9548528.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 August 2011|date=26 July 2011}}</ref> He made his debut on 5 August as a substitute in Blackpool's single-goal Championship victory at Hull City in the opening game of the 2011–12 Football League season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hull 0–1 Blackpool|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14337494|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 August 2011|date=5 August 2011}}</ref> His first start came six days later, in the first round of the League Cup against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Blackpool (4–2 penalties)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14398745|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 August 2011|date=11 August 2011}}</ref>
On 16 November he joined League Two side Plymouth Argyle on loan for two months, joining teammate Paul Bignot, who had also signed on loan two weeks earlier.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blackpool striker Craig Sutherland joins Argyle on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15754766|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=16 November 2011|date=16 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sutherland makes Pilgrims move|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11750/7311594/Sutherland-makes-Pilgrims-move|publisher=Sky Sports|accessdate=16 November 2011|date=16 November 2011}}</ref> His made his debut three days later in a 3–1 defeat away to Torquay United.
He went close to scoring his first senior goal in his third appearance for ''the Pilgrims'', in a 1–1 draw with Bradford City at Valley Parade on 10 December.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bradford 1–1 Plymouth|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/16015692.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 December 2011|date=10 December 2011}}</ref> A shot from Simon Walton took a deflection in the crowded penalty area and Sutherland was credited with the goal by the Press Association, however the deflection actually came off a Bradford defender. "Craig said he didn't touch it. It might have been one of the defenders, but, as far as I understand it, it's only an own goal if it is not on target, and it was going in," said Walton. "Craig said, while we were celebrating, 'It's your goal' so I'll take it."<ref name="Walton goal">{{cite web|title=Simon Scores|url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~2544073,00.html|publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C|accessdate=11 December 2011|date=10 December 2011}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The goal remained credited to Sutherland at the end of the season.
Sutherland returned to Blackpool at the end of January 2012,<ref>{{cite web|title=Biggy Deal|url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~2589516,00.html|publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C|accessdate=28 January 2012|date=26 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120805152010/http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~2589516,00.html|archivedate=5 August 2012}}</ref> having made nine appearances for Argyle.<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Sutherland|url=http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=1033&scp=1,2,3,4,5,6,7|work=GoS–DB|publisher=Greens on Screen|accessdate=28 January 2012}}</ref> He was released at the end of the 2012–13 season without making another first team appearance.
Sutherland then spent time on trial at Rangers<ref name="trials">{{cite web|title=Paul Hartley eyes up former Blackpool frontman|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/dundee-fc/paul-hartley-eyes-up-former-blackpool-frontman-1.253458|publisher=The Courier|last=Robertson|first=Neil|date=5 March 2014|accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref> before signing for Woking.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cards head out of the FA Cup|url=http://www.wokingfc.co.uk/first-team/match/225/|publisher=wokingfc.co.uk|last=Turner|first=Andy|date=27 October 2013|accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref> In March 2014, Sutherland went on trial at Dundee.<ref name="trials"/> After registration issues stopped him joining Dundee, he signed for Scottish League Two club Queen's Park until the end of the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sutherland joins Queen's Park|url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/dundee-target-sutherland-joins-queens-park/|publisher=SPFL|date=2 April 2014|accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref>
On 25 July 2014, Sutherland signed for Scottish Championship club Cowdenbeath.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beath Sign Former Blackpool Striker|url=http://www.cowdenbeathfc.com/index.php?act=viewNews&id=1585|publisher=Cowdenbeath F.C.|date=25 July 2014|accessdate=26 July 2014}}</ref>
On 23 January 2015, Sutherland joined Stenhousemuir, signing a contract until the end of the 2014–15 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Player News|url=http://www.stenhousemuirfc.com/news/2015/01/23/1157/|publisher=Stenhousemuir F.C.|last=Bulloch|first=Terry|date=23 January 2015|accessdate=24 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128132652/http://www.stenhousemuirfc.com/news/2015/01/23/1157/|archive-date=28 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was released by the club at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Faulds, Grehan and Watt out at Ochilview|url=http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/local-sport/football/faulds-grehan-and-watt-out-at-ochilview-1-3781405|publisher=Falkirk Herald|last=Oliver|first=David|date=23 May 2015|accessdate=25 July 2015}}</ref>
Sutherland then signed for East Fife on 23 July 2015,<ref>{{cite web|title=EAST FIFE WELCOME CRAIG SUTHERLAND AND JASON KERR|url=http://www.eastfifefc.info/latestnews/1606-east-fife-welcome-craig-sutherland-and-jason-kerr|publisher=East Fife F.C.|date=23 July 2015|accessdate=24 July 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725064241/http://www.eastfifefc.info/latestnews/1606-east-fife-welcome-craig-sutherland-and-jason-kerr|archivedate=25 July 2015}}</ref> making eight appearances before leaving the club in October 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/sutherland-leaves-east-fife/ |title=Sutherland leaves East Fife |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |date=21 October 2013 |accessdate=23 May 2017}}</ref>
==Personal life== Sutherland was born in Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Argyle signing Sutherland seeks productive debut|url=http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/New-Argyle-signing-Sutherland-seeks-productive/story-13885579-detail/story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505072140/http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/New-Argyle-signing-Sutherland-seeks-productive/story-13885579-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|accessdate=10 December 2011|newspaper=Western Morning News|date=18 November 2011}}</ref> After attending George Watson's College in Edinburgh, he moved to the United States in 2007 to begin a soccer scholarship at Midwestern State University.<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Sutherland signs 2-year deal with Blackpool FC|url=http://www.firstpointusa.com/news/craig-sutherland-signs-2-year-deal-with-blackpool-fc/|publisher=First Point USA|accessdate=10 December 2011|date=26 July 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903201427/http://www.firstpointusa.com/news/craig-sutherland-signs-2-year-deal-with-blackpool-fc/|archive-date=3 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> He played for Great Britain in the 2009 Summer Universiade football tournament, held in Serbia.<ref name=gopack>{{cite web|title=Player Profile: Craig Sutherland |url=http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/sutherland_craig00.html |publisher=NC State Wolfpack |accessdate=20 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219185804/http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/sutherland_craig00.html |archivedate=19 December 2013}}</ref> In the opening group game he scored a late equaliser in a 2–2 draw with Mexico at the Omladinski Stadium, Belgrade. After two years at Midwestern he then moved to North Carolina State University, where he played for a further two years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Newport|first=Andy|title=Saints eye up trialist|url=http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-sport/2011/07/07/saints-eye-up-trialist-87085-29007748/|accessdate=10 December 2011|newspaper=Paisley Daily Express|date=7 July 2011}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !App !Goals !Apps !Goals |- |Blackpool |2011–12<ref name=sb1112>{{soccerbase season|60629|2011|accessdate=5 October 2020}}</ref> |Championship |7||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||8||0 |- |Plymouth Argyle (loan) |2011–12<ref name=sb1112/> |League Two |9||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||9||1 |- |Queen's Park |2013–14<ref name=sb1314>{{soccerbase season|60629|2013|accessdate=5 October 2020}}</ref> |Scottish League Two |4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0 |- |Cowdenbeath |2014–15<ref name=sb1415>{{soccerbase season|60629|2014|accessdate=5 October 2020}}</ref> |Scottish Championship |12||1||1||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=SCC|Appearances in the Scottish League Challenge Cup}}||0||14||1 |- |Stenhousemuir |2014–15<ref name=sb1415/> |Scottish League One |7||1||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=SPO|Appearance in the Scottish League One play-offs}}||1||8||2 |- |East Fife |2015–16<ref name=sb1516>{{soccerbase season|60629|2015|accessdate=5 October 2020}}</ref> |Scottish League Two |5||1||0||0||2||0||1{{efn|name=SCC}}||0||8||1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !44!!4!!1!!0!!3!!0!!3!!1!!51!!5 |}
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==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase|id=60629}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20131219185804/http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/sutherland_craig00.html Craig Sutherland profile] at North Carolina State Wolfpack's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutherland, Craig}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Edinburgh Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Midwestern State Mustangs men's soccer players Category:NC State Wolfpack men's soccer players Category:Blackpool F.C. players Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. players Category:Woking F.C. players Category:Queen's Park F.C. players Category:Cowdenbeath F.C. players Category:Stenhousemuir F.C. players Category:East Fife F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:Midwestern State University alumni Category:North Carolina State University alumni Category:People educated at George Watson's College Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen