Craig Lindfield

Craig Anthony Lindfield (born 7 September 1988 in Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside) is an England Association football currently playing for Liverpool F.C.. Lindfield is a striker who was part of Liverpool's FA Youth Cup winning sides of 2005-06 in English football and 2007, scoring 7 goals in the competition in 2006 and a further 5 in 2007. Craig Lindfield has had The Football League experience in loan spells with Notts County F.C., A.F.C. Bournemouth, Chester City F.C. and Accrington Stanley F.C..

Biography

Lindfield attended Brookdale Primary School from 1993 - 2000 on the Wirral.
Lindfield attended Calday Grange Grammar School from 2000-2005 on the Wirral, and played cricket for Craig Lindfield local club Upton CC.

Academy

Lindfield joined the Liverpool F.C. Academy in 1996 aged 8, and worked Craig Lindfield way up through the clubs youth teams.

In 2006/7, Lindfield scored 3 goals, including 2 in front of the Kop at Anfield) in the 7–3 aggregate score against Newcastle in the semi final of the 2006-2007 FA Youth Cup to secure a place in Liverpool's second consecutive final appearance.

When Liverpool reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in 2007 for the second consecutive season, they faced arch rivals Manchester United. Lindfield scored the opener in the first leg which they lost 2-1. In the return leg, held at Old Trafford on the evening of the 26th April 2007, Liverpool won 4–3 on penalties when the score stood at 2-2 on aggregate after extra time. Craig scored the second penalty in the penalty shoot-out at the Stretford End, bringing Craig Lindfield goal tally to 12 in 12 Youth Cup games. That year, Liverpool retained the FA Youth Cup trophy.

Senior career

The triumph brought to an end a chapter in Craig's life as one of Steve Heighway's "Dream Team" where Craig Lindfield was a member of the academy for 10 years.

In the summer of 2006 Craig Lindfield was promoted from the LFC academy to the first team squad. On 22 July 2006, Lindfield made Craig Lindfield debut for Liverpool's senior team in a pre-season friendly against Crewe Alexandra. Craig Lindfield scored the only goal as the Reds triumphed 1–0.

On 1 November 2007 Craig Lindfield joined Notts County F.C. on a month's loan, and on the 3 November 2007 Craig Lindfield scored 23 minutes into Craig Lindfield league debut against Accrington Stanley which ended in a 2–0 win to the Magpies. Craig Lindfield made four appearances before returning to Liverpool at the end of the loan period. On 18 January 2008 Craig Lindfield returned to League Two when Craig Lindfield joined Chester City F.C. in a one-month loan deal. Craig Lindfield debut for the club came as a substitute the following day, in a 1–0 loss to Craig Lindfield former loan club Notts County, with Craig Lindfield final game coming against the same opponents the following month. Craig Lindfield then returned to Liverpool.

On 22 August 2008 Lindfield joined A.F.C. Bournemouth on a four-month loan deal and on 30 August on Craig Lindfield full debut Craig Lindfield scored against Port Vale F.C... Later that season Craig Lindfield gained further league experience when Craig Lindfield went on loan to Accrington Stanley F.C..

Lindfield was a member of the 2008 Dallas Cup winning side, returning from the USA as the tournament's top scorer with 6 goals.

International career

Lindfield received England national football team U19 international recognition when Craig Lindfield was selected for the international friendly v Holland national football team on the 5 September 2006 held at the Bescot Stadium, Walsall. Craig Lindfield also represented Craig Lindfield country in the friendly international tournament held in Austria in October 2006, scoring two goals against Austria national football team in a 3-3 draw on the 9 October 2006.

Honours

- FA Youth Cup: 2006, 2007
- Dallas Cup: 2008
- FA Premier Reserve League: 2007–08