Former Millwall defender Tony Craig makes 700th career appearance

Former Millwall defender Tony Craig made his 700th career appearance in Crawley Town’s 0-0 draw with Gillingham on Tuesday night.

The South Londoner also clocked up another mini-milestone as the League Two fixture made it a century of matches for the West Sussex club.

Greenwich-born Craig started his career in the Lions youth ranks and made his debut in a 3-3 draw with Nottingham Forest in 2003.

He joined Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee in 2007 but struggled to break into their first-team set-up and returned permanently to Millwall in 2008 after an initial loan spell back in SE16.

Craig was on the move once again to another London club, this time Brentford, in July 2012.

But once again the lure of Millwall proved irresistable in July 2015, signing as a free agent after his Bees deal had expired. But he won Brentford’s Players’ Player of the Year in the 2013-14 season which also saw the club finish second in League One.

Craig twice won promotion with the Lions in the League One play-offs – 2010 and 2017 – before a free transfer move to Bristol Rovers in February 2018.

He made his 700th appearance against a Gills side managed by Neil Harris, who Craig worked under during his time at The Den.

“It’s a special moment for me,” said Craig. “I’ve got my family here, who will be with me from the beginning until the end – good times and bad times. I’m a family man and when you do accolades like this, I bring them involved.

“I’ve got to remember when my old man was driving me around when I was a kid, getting in from work and driving up to Surrey to train. People don’t see that side of it, there is a lot of sacrifice. My wife has had to make them as well, through football. I’m so grateful they were there tonight. Every special occasion, they are with me.”