Craig Ramage (born 30 March 1970) is a former

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...

who played in

midfield Midfield is the part of a sports field that lies approximately in the center. In American football, association football (soccer) and field hockey, it is the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region. In ...

for six clubs.

Playing career

Born in

Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gain ...

, Ramage started his career in his hometown as a trainee with

Derby County Derby County Football Club () is a professional association football club based in Derby, Derbyshire, England. In 2022, it was announced that DCFC was acquired by Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, a Derbyshire-based property group. Founded in 1884 ...

. He played 42 games scoring four goals at Derby, during which time he also spent a short period on loan at

Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic Football Club () is an English professional association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 193 ...

. In 1994, he made a £90,000 move to

Watford Watford () is a town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Hertfordshire, England, 15 miles northwest of Central London, on the River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Colne. Initially a small market town, the Grand Junction Canal en ...

. Ramage was a big hit at

Vicarage Road Vicarage Road is a stadium in Watford, England, and is the home stadium of championship club Watford. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 22,200. History It has been the home of Watford since 1922, when the club moved from Cass ...

and he finished just one game short of 100 starts. He was also a prolific scorer, and he netted 27 times in his 104 appearances. He spent a month on loan at

Peterborough United Peterborough United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. The team compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. Peterborough have a long-standin ...

in 1997 before he moved at the end of the season to

Bradford City Bradford City Association Football Club is an English professional football club in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The team competes in League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system and are currently managed by Mark Hughes. ...

. Ramage's time at City was a tough one. He was suspended for the start of the season and it was not until the seventh game against

Middlesbrough Middlesbrough ( ) is a town on the southern bank of the River Tees in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the North York Moors national park. It is the namesake and main town of its local borough council area. Until the early 1800s, the a ...

he made his full debut. He made a total of 32 appearances but scored just once in the final game of the season as City lost 3–1 to

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city status in the United Kingdom, city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is admi ...

. Ramage was limited to just three substitute appearances in 1998-99 as Bradford earned promotion to the

Premier League The Premier League (legal name: The Football Association Premier League Limited) is the highest level of the men's English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Foo ...

. It was little surprise that Ramage left during the summer to join

Notts County Notts County Football Club is a professional association football club based in Nottingham, England. The team participate in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system. Founded on the 25 November 1862, it is the ...

where he started 50 games in three seasons.

Radio career

He worked as a commentator for

BBC Radio Derby BBC Radio Derby is the BBC's local radio station serving the county of Derbyshire. It broadcasts on FM, AM, DAB, digital TV and via BBC Sounds from studios on St Helens Street in Derby. According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audienc ...

on Derby County matches, but was dropped by the BBC after he said in February 2020 that the "young black lads" in the Derby team ( Max Lowe and Jayden Bogle) should "go back to basics, working hard".

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ramage, Craig 1970 births Living people Derby County F.C. players Wigan Athletic F.C. players Watford F.C. players Peterborough United F.C. players Bradford City A.F.C. players Notts County F.C. players English footballers Footballers from Derby English Football League players England under-21 international footballers People from Alvaston Association football midfielders English association football commentators