Craig Martin Davies (born 9 January 1986) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker. Born in England, he was capped seven times for Wales in an eight-year international career.
He started his career at Manchester City, though became a first team regular at Oxford United between 2004 and 2006. He spent a brief time in Italy with Hellas Verona, but swiftly returned to England on loan with Wolverhampton Wanderers, before signing with Oldham Athletic in 2007. Spending time on loan with Stockport County in 2008, he left Oldham the following year and signed to Brighton & Hove Albion. Enjoying loan spells with Yeovil Town and Port Vale, he transferred permanently to Chesterfield in 2010, who he helped to win the League Two title in his first season. He signed with Barnsley in July 2011, before being sold to Bolton Wanderers for £300,000 in January 2013. He joined Preston North End on loan 12 months later after losing his place in the Bolton team. He signed with Wigan Athletic in July 2015, and helped the club to win promotion as champions of League One. He joined Scunthorpe United in January 2017, and then rejoined Oldham Athletic five months later. He was sold on to Mansfield Town in June 2018 and stayed with the club for two years.
Club career
Manchester City to Oxford
Davies was a member of the youth team at Shrewsbury Town, and then Manchester City, before moving on to Oxford United in August 2004. He made his league debut on 30 August 2004 in a 1–0 win at Notts County. He signed a contract extension in February 2005. He went on to score 8 goals in 29 appearances for the first team during the season and came close to signing for Premier League side Charlton Athletic in June 2005.
Hellas Verona
Davies moved to Hellas Verona of Serie B in January 2006 for a fee of £85,000. He hoped the move would improve his international prospects. He signed a five-year contract, but managed only one appearance for the Italian club.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
In July 2006, Davies had a trial at Northampton Town. The next month he moved on loan to Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, claiming he wanted out of Italy as he was too young to adapt to the change in culture. He was a regular choice throughout the first half of the 2006–07 season, but found himself largely unused after the January transfer window saw Wolves sign striker Andy Keogh. He never managed a league goal for the club in 23 games, but did score twice in the FA Cup, ironically against the club he would join permanently, Oldham Athletic, once in the original tie and again in the replay.
Oldham Athletic
After Wolves opted not to make his loan a permanent move, Davies signed for League One side Oldham Athletic in June 2007 for an undisclosed fee. He marked his debut against Swansea City by scoring a last minute winner, and immediately became a first choice player. In August 2008 he signed a contract extension to keep him at Oldham until summer 2010. Three months later, Davies was loaned to Oldham's League One rivals Stockport County to regain form after a poor start to the season, failing to score in ten appearances. He made 13 appearances for Stockport, scoring six goals, including a hat-trick over Bristol Rovers. County showed interest in signing him permanently.
Brighton & Hove Albion
In January 2009, Davies agreed a transfer to League One side Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee believed to be £150,000; the transfer was completed on 2 February. On 10 February, Davies made his debut and scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 loss to Peterborough United, scoring in the 27th-minute for the first goal of the game. New manager Russell Slade steered the club away from relegation despite injuries to the front two of Nicky Forster and Glenn Murray; Davies failed to add to his goal tally in ten starts and six substitute appearances, though late loan arrival Lloyd Owusu managed to find the form to help fire Brighton to safety.
On 25 September 2009, Davies joined League One rivals Yeovil Town on loan, initially for one-month. He made his debut for Yeovil on 26 September in a 2–0 win over Brentford at Huish Park.