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PLAYER PROFILES

JODY CRADDOCK
  • 6
  • JODY CRADDOCK
  • DEFENDER

UPDATED 02:24 24th June 2012

Jody Craddock moved from Sunderland to Molineux in the pre-season of 2003/04 for a fee of £1.2m.

 

He had spent six years with the Black Cats after moving to the north-east from Cambridge United in July 1997. Craddock went straight into the Wolves team and partnered Paul Butler in central defence for most of Wolves' season back in the top flight.

 

He signed a new two and a half year contract, with a year's option, in October 2005, and was named as the new club captain shortly after Mick McCarthy's arrival at Molineux.

 

Soon after the start of the 2007/08 campaign he went out on loan to Stoke City. But injuries in the squad forced a recall, and he held down a place until getting injured himself in November. He recovered to play a part in the run in to the end of the season.

 

With Wolves having taken up the option in his contract Craddock started the 2008/09 season as captain only to suffer a broken metatarsal in the opening home league game of the season with Sheffield Wednesday.

 

Despite having to wait for his chance after restoring full fitness, Craddock came back into the side at a crucial stage of the season, and finished up captaining the side over the finishing stages as he made 16 appearances in total.

 

He was rewarded with a new one-year contract for the 2009/10 campaign.

 

And once again he continued to impress, not only holding down a regular spot in the team but also chipping in with some crucial goals, notching four in five appearances between October and December.

 

In total he finished as second top scorer for the campaign with five goals, making 36 appearances in total and being voted Fans Player of the Year.

 

He also made his 500th league appearance during the season, and at the campaign's end put pen to paper on another new one-year contract.

 

Starting the following 2010/11 campaign as first choice, he then suffered a frustrating hip injury in October and, when fit again, was initially unable to find a way back in. However, when the chips were down he was recalled for the closing games of the season to help Wolves to survival, after which he landed another one-year deal to take his Wolves stay into a ninth season.