Can non league save ex-Premiership stars’ football career?

Talented footballers released by Premiership clubs are finding life increasingly difficult – but it could be an unexpected bonus for non league clubs. Stephen Hurrell speaks to ex-Everton midfielder Nathan Craig.

After joining Everton as a 12 year old, Nathan Craig was tipped for stardom by many in his homeland of Wales.

As he progressed through the much-vaunted youth system at Everton, he was a regular in Welsh youth teams and was even called up for the Wales U21 squad.

Blessed with a talented left foot, the Caernarfon-born midfielder was famed for his set pieces and strong work ethic at Everton and it came as no surprise to those close to him when he was given a first team debut in the UEFA Cup against BATE Borisov – a game in which Everton fielded several youngsters from the youth and reserve team.

That was in 2009, but Craig never made it onto the pitch as a first team player for Everton again. At the end of last season he was released by the club.

However, Craig is not bitter about his departure from Everton and was full of praise for the club he spent nine years at.

“I thought the coaches were excellent to me. Not only the coaches but all the staff around the training ground from the kitchen staff to the people that were watching after me in the Lodge. I thought I was giving a fair chance to get to where I wanted,” he explained, but he admitted it was ‘tough’ to be told he was no longer needed at the club.

“I would have liked to get out on loan to gain some experience,” he said, but he is philosophical about his time at Everton, praising the facilities at the club (‘Top draw!’) and describing both Everton and Liverpool as two of the best in the Premiership for bringing young players through.

However, once released by Everton, Craig, whose talent and experience should have been sufficient to get snapped up by a Football League team, found his options limited.

He explained: “I personally think it is very hard, getting released by a premiership club, because you expect to at least get a League One or Two club. But it’s just not that easy any more. It’s all to do with money these days.”

More specifically, it is about the inability of lower league clubs to boast the large squads they once did. Only this summer the rules were changed in League One and Two to revert to just five substitutes per game instead of the seven used in the Premiership.

This follows high profile examples such as at Bournemouth where clubs were simply unable to include the full quota of seven players on the bench.

Financial restraints mean a full time player who is not playing is a luxury most clubs cannot afford and the host of Premiership youngsters released each year are finding it increasingly difficult to find clubs.

For Craig, there was only one option. Desperate to play football, he returned to his home town club, Caernarfon, and signed on while he continued his search.

“I’m currently playing for my hometown Caernarfon Town back in Wales just to get my match fitness up, “ he said.

This is an increasingly common occurrence in recent months and while not an ideal situation for the players, a Welsh under 21 International at a local Welsh club has a huge impact.

Players such as Craig will draw in fans and create a buzz around the club, but it also has the added bonus of acting as a shop window for the player and to keep fitness levels up.

Craig speaks frankly about his ambitions: “Don’t get me wrong it is an honour to play for your hometown and the team I supported as I was growing up.  (But) I’ve got someone working on trying to get me a new club as we speak, hoping to get back in to full time football.”

He readily admits to wants to get back into full time football as quickly as possible and he only has to look at a recent teammate to see it is increasingly possible with enough patience.

John-Paul Kissock was hailed as a prodigious talent on Merseyside. Small and quick-footed, he was a midfielder with a bag of tricks in the Everton youth team.

 He also appeared briefly for the first team before being released. Spells in Scotland  and at Accrington Stanley did not work out and Kissock, instead of giving up,      opted to join non league tier ten side Formby.

It was clear he was too good for that level and Southport soon came calling. After a  string of superb displays, including a stunning free-kick against former side  Everton in the Liverpool Senior Cup final this summer, he was then snapped up  by Luton Town.

The move took Kissock one step closer to league football and earned Southport a  sizeable sum on a player who cost them nothing. The deal also benefitted Formby  for a short period as Kissock’s displays saved helped them avoid relegation.

“JP was an excellent player,” said Craig, “You couldn’t get the ball off him in  training and i was very surprised to seeing him being released by Everton. But it’s  all to do with what the manager’s got and what he wants at the end of the day.”

He has no qualms about plying his trade at lower levels as he waits for his huge  potential to be spotted by a full time club.

“I am hoping to do similar to what JP has done and try work my way back up to the top,” he explained, agreeing that in tough economic times, young players can benefit in the long run from playing at lower levels.

Is it an ideal solution? No. A young player brought up in the top level surroundings of a Premiership club would generally expect a career in the lower leagues.

When this does not happen, many will drift away from the sport. What is left are the players with a burning desire to make it. By joining an amateur or semi-professional club, players signal their commitment and stubbornness to not give up.

For lower league clubs, the players may not hang around for long, but they can have a big impact on attendances, feel-good-factor around the club and, most importantly, results.

For Caernarfon, delighted at welcoming back one of the town’s biggest talents, they should enjoy Craig while they can, because like Kissock, he is destined for bigger things.

Category: Big interview, Everton FC, Formby FC, Southport FC