Craig Thomas Lynch (born 25 March 1992) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is currently manager of Morpeth Town.

Craig Lynch
Lynch playing for Sunderland
Personal information
Full name Craig Thomas Lynch[1]
Date of birth (1992-03-25) 25 March 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Chester-le-Street, England[2]
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[3]
Position(s) Striker / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Morpeth Town (manager)
Youth career
1997–1999 Riverside R.A.R.
1999–2010 Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2014 Sunderland 2 (0)
2012Hartlepool United (loan) 6 (1)
2014 Rochdale 1 (0)
2014–2015 Spennymoor Town 4 (0)
2015 Blyth Spartans
2015–2018 Seaham Red Star
Managerial career
2018 Seaham Red Star
2021– Morpeth Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:26, 8 May 2014 (UTC)

Playing career

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Sunderland

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Born in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, Lynch turned professional in 2010 after two seasons in Sunderland's academy.[4] In 2008, Lynch signed his first professional contract with the club.[5]

He was called up into the first team in April 2011, and made his professional debut on 30 April, coming on as a substitute in their 3–0 home loss to Fulham in the Premier League.[6] Two months later in July, Lynch signed a two-year contract with the club.[7]

Under the management of Martin O'Neill, it announced that Lynch go out on loan to gain first team experience.[8] On 8 September 2012, he joined Football League One side Hartlepool United on a one-month loan deal.[9] Lynch scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–1 loss against Colchester United on 27 September 2012.[10] Despite losing 3–1, Manager Neale Cooper praised Lynch performance, as well as, his goal.[11] After making six appearances and scoring once, Lynch returned to his parent club after spending one month at Hartlepool United.[12]

Rochdale

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On 18 February 2014, Lynch joined Rochdale following his release from Sunderland.[13]

On 3 May 2014, Lynch made his only appearance for Rochdale, coming on as substitute on the 56th minute of the final game of the season, a 2–1 defeat away at Newport County.[14] Lynch was among released at the end of the season.[15]

Non-League

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After being released by Rochdale, Lynch moved to Spennymoor Town of the Northern Premier League Division One North on 8 August 2014.[16]

On 5 February 2015, Blyth Spartans announced the signing of Lynch.[17] In November 2015 he joined Seaham Red Star.[18]

Managerial career

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In February 2018 Lynch was appointed manager of Seaham Red Star.[19]

In June 2018 Lynch joined Morpeth Town as assistant manager.[20] In September 2021 he was appointed caretaker manager of Morpeth. He was given the job permanently the following month.[21]

During his first season in charge, Lynch guided Morpeth Town to their best ever run in the FA Trophy and equal best run in the FA Cup, on both occasions losing to then National League North York City. He also guided the club to safety after a poor start to the season under Stephen Turnbull, including a run of 1 league defeat in 18 games following his appointment.

Career statistics

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As of 4 June 2014.[22]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sunderland 2010–11 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Sunderland total 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Hartlepool (loan) 2012–13 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Rochdale 2013–14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Spennymoor 2014–15 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Blyth Spartans 2015– 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 1

Managerial statistics

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Team Nation From To Record
G W D L F A GD Win %
Morpeth Town   England 12 September 2021 Present 130 52 30 46 227 207 +20 40
Total 130 52 30 46 227 207 +20 40
As of 11 November 2023

References

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  1. ^ "Craig Lynch". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 537. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ Craig Lynch at Soccerway. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Reserve team squad: Craig Lynch". Sunderland A.F.C. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Sunderland tie up academy deals". BBC Sport. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Sunderland 0 – 3 Fulham". BBC Sport. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  7. ^ "Winger Craig Lynch signs two-year contract with Sunderland". Sunderland Echo. 12 July 2011. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Sunderland to let fringe players leave on loan". Sunderland Echo. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Hartlepool sign Sunderland winger Craig Lynch". BBC Sport. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Colchester United 3–1 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  11. ^ "Hartlepool United suffer another defeat". Sunderland Echo. 1 October 2012. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Lynch Returns To Sunderland After Loan". Hartlepool United F.C. 6 October 2012. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "Craig Lynch Joins Rochdale". Rochdale A.F.C. 18 February 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ "Newport County 2–1 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Retained List". Rochdale A.F.C. 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ "Craig Lynch signs for the Moors". Spennymoor Town F.C. 8 August 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ "Blyth Spartans sign Craig Lynch". Blyth Spartans A.F.C. 4 February 2015. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  18. ^ @SeahamRedStar (13 November 2015). "The Star have completed the signing of former @SunderlandAFC striker Craig Lynch who joins the club from @TheCitizensAFC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "Northern League: Craig Lynch eyes winning start to reign as Seaham Red Star boss". Sunderland Echo. 16 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Town add Lynch and Turnbull to backroom staff". Morpeth Town. 1 June 2018.
  21. ^ "Ex-Sunderland player Craig Lynch reacts to 'fantastic opportunity' after being named Morpeth Town manager". Sunderland Echo. 29 October 2021.
  22. ^ Craig Lynch at Soccerbase
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