“I can’t imagine Stamfordham without Craig. The whole local football community will miss him enormously.”
Ponteland United secretary Alan Birkinshaw, a long-term friend of Craig, said: “We’re all absolutely devastated to lose Craig and just can’t believe this has happened.
“He had hoped to go away on a football trip to Liverpool last weekend with the Ponteland first team lads, to mark the end of the season.
“But he didn’t go because it coincided with him completing his house move, and sadly Craig was taken from us that same weekend.”
Alan said Craig’s commitment to Stamordham’s football team stemmed from his grandfather Jack, and father Angus, who both played for and managed the side.
He explained: “It must have been in the blood for Craig, and he first played for Stamfordham as a towering defender in his late teens, before going on to run the team.
“Despite his attachment to Stamfordham, he was also looking forward to becoming matchday secretary for the Ponteland first team next season.”
Craig attended Ponteland’s Richard Coates Middle School and Ponteland High.
He went on to become a dye maker in the printing trade, working for Graphic Packaging International at Gateshead.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here