Date of Birth: 05-05-1992
Position: Midfielder
Joined: 20-09-2024
Appearances:
Substitute Appearances:
Goals:
Nationality: English
Previous Clubs: Chesterfield, York City, Halifax Town, Worksop Town, Grimsby Town, Leyton Orient, Motherwell and Sutton United
Subsequent Clubs:

In September 2024, Dunfermline Athletic were pleased to announce the signing of midfielder Craig Clay. His vast experience was a major attraction for manager James McPake.

Craig had played most of his career in the English leagues having turned out for Chesterfield, York City, Halifax Town, Worksop Town, Grimsby Town, Leyton Orient and Sutton United interrupted by one season in the Scottish Premier League with Motherwell. In 2016 he was capped once by England C.

Craig Clay was born in Nottingham and started his career in the Chesterfield Town with youth system in 2008 and was part of the team that won the Youth League. He signed a two-year professional contract with Chesterfield in June 2010.

Craig twice went out on loan to Conference Premier clubs, Barrow and Alfreton Town. After making 23 appearances and scoring one goal for Chesterfield he signed for York City in 2013 where he made 10 appearances before leaving the club by mutual consent in January 2014. Short spells with Halifax Town, Workshop Town and Grimsby Town followed before Mark McGhee signed him for Motherwell.

The Englishman would make 39 appearances for the Steelmen in 2016-2017 season before joining newly relegated Leyton Orient. He went on to win both the National League and EFL League Two titles at Orient over the 6 years he was with them. At the end of his contract Craig moved to EFL League Two Sutton United for the 2023-2024 season where he made 34 appearances.

Craig arrived at Dunfermline having made no fewer than 436 senior appearances over 13 seasons at eight different clubs.