Members News: Sky Blue ’90s & ’00s Defender/Midfielder ‘Happy Birthday’ 43rd Craig!!
CCFPA wishes our member Craig Pead our very best birthday wishes for today! Born in Bromsgrove on the 15th September 1981, son of a one time CCFC kitman, Craig is therefore celebrating his 43rd birthday today. Craig began as a Sky Blues schoolboy in 1997 and, having turned professional, was a defeated F.A.Youth Cup finalist for the Club in 1998-99. He made his Division One midfield debut in a 1-0 defeat at Burnley and by the time he left for Walsall in 2005 (after a loan spell there and at Notts. County) he had clocked up 45 first appearances for the Sky Blues (netting three goals).
Craig in Sky Blue action
He also represented England at U18 and U20 levels whilst with City.
After two seasons with the Saddlers Craig moved to Brentford (2007) and turned down a move to Port Vale (2008) and though trialling for both Cheltenham Town and Redditch Town in the 2008-09 season remained with the Bees until a knee injury eventually forced his retirement from top level football in May 2009.
He did, however, get a few outings in non-league football with both Coventry Sphinx and Redditch United between 2010-11.
Craig Pead- GD18 Champ
Craig also has been Business Development Manager at BPMpro Sports sector as well as offering football coaching and personal training. Three years ago last April, during lockdown, he was pleased to help Joe Cole (who was briefly a Sky Blue in 2015-16) in an online Instagram fitness session for fans. The HIIT workout was in aid of Joe’s work to support the NHS during the health emergency.
Craig Pead & SDPGC’s late John Reay at GD19
Peady also opened Soccer Rockz, a youth football coaching school in the Midlands and has been both a personal trainer (CP Transformations) and acted as an FA-registered intermediary in the past. In August 2021 it was announced that Craig had joined former playing colleague (and CCFPA member) Andy Whing (manager at Banbury United) as their first team coach! The Puritans won the Southern Premier Division Central title with four games remaining in 2021-22 so earning promotion to the National League for the first time in their history with this strong Sky Blue connection! More recently since July 2023 Craig has followed Whingy and been part of the coaching set-up at Solihull Moors FC.
Craig Pead celebrating our Wembley Checkatrade win with CCFPA’s Sarah Morris
Craig supports CCFPA functions when he can and has attended the Sky Blues Wembley final appearances in the last few years as well as a number of League games and our Legends Day reunions. He was last with former colleagues at a Legends XI charity fixture at Leamington early the season before last.
A keen golfer, Craig was also presented (above right) with the individual Former Player prize at Golf Day 2018 for the best score of all the participants (sadly he was not so successful at the 2019 competition (won by John Salako) but, like all contestants, gained a CCFPA cap (above left)!
An interesting YouTube podcast from April 2023 with Craig by fellow Sky Blue youth footballing colleague Kirk Miller can be found here. In it:-
“Craig shares his journey of how he started pursuing his dream of becoming a professional footballer, and the hard work and dedication required to succeed in the highly competitive world of football. He also discusses the challenges he faced due to injuries, which resulted in him being in and out of the team. Craig talks about his experience of playing with the best player he has ever played with and living in a professional environment. Craig also opens up about the struggle he faced after retiring from football and provides valuable tips on how to plan your life on your terms.”
Have a wonderful birthday today Craig and see you again at a CCFPA event soon!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
