Matt Crooks

Matt Crooks
Personal information
Full name Matthew Davidson Rider Crooks[1]
Date of birth (1994-01-20) 20 January 1994
Place of birth Leeds, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing position Defender / Midfielder / Attacker
Club information
Current team
 Rangers
Number 21
Youth career
2001–2008 Manchester United
2008–2012 Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2015 Huddersfield Town 1 (0)
2012 → FC Halifax Town (loan) 10 (1)
2012–2013 → Radcliffe Borough (loan)
2014 → Hartlepool United (loan) 3 (0)
2014–2015 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 6 (0)
2015–2016 Accrington Stanley 48 (6)
2016– Rangers 0 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:37, 18 March 2016 (UTC).


Matt Davidson Rider Crooks (born 20 January 1994) is an English footballer who plays as a defender, midfielder and attacker for Rangers.

Career

Huddersfield Town

He first joined Huddersfield Town's academy in the mid-2000s, after a spell at the Manchester United Academy and signed his first professional contract at the club.[2]

In October 2010, he travelled with the Town squad for their League One match against Plymouth Argyle, and a few days later, he was named on the bench in their FA Cup match against Cambridge United.[3] Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Crooks was among other youth players to be expected to be loaned out to gain first team experience.[4] Nevertheless in November, Crooks signed his first professional contract with the club, until 2014.[5] It was announced on 9 February 2012 that Crooks was nominated for League One Apprentice of the Year.[6] However, Crooks lost it out to Charlton's Jordan Cousins.[7]

Halifax Town (loan)

In March 2012, it announced that Crooks would be joining F.C. Halifax Town on a one-month loan.[8] While at Halifax Town, Crooks scored his first professional goal in a 4–0 win over Histon. That soon earned him a loan extension until the end of the season.[9] Crooks was even allowed to play for the club's promotion push.[10]

Then in the 2012–13 season, Crooks was given number 36 shirt.[11]

Radcliffe Borough (loan)

On 7 December 2012, Crooks, along with James Burke, joined Radcliffe Borough on loan until mid-January.[12] Crooks made an impressive display at the club, including when he scored a brace against Clitheroe.[13] Two days later, Crooks made his return to Huddersfield Town.[14]

Return to Huddersfield Town

After returning to Huddersfield Town, Crooks remained playing in the club's reserve. However, Crooks sustained an ankle injury during a development match in early October. Following a surgery, it was announced that Crooks would be on the sideline for two months.[15] Following his return in mid-February, Crooks was praised for his return from injury and playing as a central defence.[16] At the end of the 2013–14 season, Crooks was offered a new contract by the club.[17]

Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Crooks switched number shirt from thirty-six to twenty-two after Ed Wilczynski took over Crook's first number[18] and made an impressive display as a centre back in the pre-season friendly that convinced Mark Robins to use him.[19] After years playing at the reserve and be loaned out twice at the time, Crooks finally made his first team début at centre back for the Terriers in the 4–0 defeat by A.F.C. Bournemouth on 9 August 2014 in the opening game of the season. The loss, however, was to be Robins last game as a manager of Huddersfield Town, as he was sacked the next day[20] Newspaper Huddersfield Daily Examiner urged the club's supporters to give Crooks time to make up his mistake after receiving criticism during the match, including the first goal.[21]

Hartlepool United (loan)

He then joined Hartlepool United on a month's emergency loan on 21 October 2014 as defensive cover.[22] After making three appearance for the club, it announced that Crooks would make a return to the club following an expiry of a month loan with Hartlepool United.[23]

Accrington Stanley (loan)

Three days after returning from his loan spell, he was sent on loan to fellow League Two side Accrington Stanley.[24]

Accrington Stanley

On 2 February 2015, Crooks left the club after having his contract terminated by mutual consent.[25]

After returning to Accrington Stanley on a permanent contract, in January 2016 his club announced that Scottish club Rangers had approached Crooks and team-mate Josh Windass.[26] The duo agreed pre-contracts with Rangers later that month, ahead of the 2016–17 season.[27]

Rangers

Crooks joined Rangers on 1 July 2016, signing a four-year contract alongside fellow Accrington player Josh Windass. Both players had already been training with the club prior to completing their transfers after Rangers agreed a compensation fee with Accrington, reported to be around £60,000 per player.[28] He missed the start of 2016/17 season due to an ankle ligament injury.

Career statistics

As of match played 1 July 2016
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Huddersfield Town 2010–11[29] League One 0000000000
2011–12[29] League One0000000000
2012–13[29] Championship 000000—00
2013–14[29] 000000—00
2014–15[30] 10—00—10
Total 1000000010
FC Halifax Town (loan) 2011–12[29] Conference North 101——00101
Hartlepool United (loan) 2014–15[30] League Two 3000——30
Accrington Stanley (loan) 2014–15[30] League Two6020——80
Accrington Stanley 2014–15[30] League Two100———100
2015–16[31] League Two326211100358
Total 486411100538
Rangers 2016–17 Scottish Premiership 000000—00
Career total 627411100679

    References

    1. ↑ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014.
    2. ↑ "Famous fathers of new Huddersfield Town academy players". Huddersfield Examiner. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    3. ↑ "Cambridge Utd 0-0 Huddersfield". BBC. BBC Sport. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
    4. ↑ "Huddersfield Town ready to loan out more young players". Huddersfield Examiner. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    5. ↑ "Hudderseld Town midfielder Matt Crooks signs professional deal". Huddersfield Examiner. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    6. ↑ "Huddersfield Town nominated for four Football League Awards". Huddersfield Examiner. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    7. ↑ "Rickie Lambert named Football League Player of the Year". BBC. BBC Sport. 11 March 2012.
    8. ↑ "Big chance for Huddersfield Town's Matt Crooks in Halifax loan switch". Huddersfield Examiner. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    9. ↑ "Huddersfield Town's Matt Crooks extends FC Halifax Town loan". Huddersfield Examiner. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    10. ↑ "Huddersfield Town midfielder Matt Crooks available for FC Halifax play-off push". Huddersfield Examiner. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    11. ↑ "2012/13 SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED2012/13 SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED". Huddersfield Town F.C. 14 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    12. ↑ "DEVELOPMENT DUO SET FOR RADCLIFFE". Huddersfield Town F.C. 7 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    13. ↑ "LOAN WATCH – CROOKS NETS BRACE". Huddersfield Town F.C. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    14. ↑ "LIAM EXTENDS MILLERS STAY". Huddersfield Town F.C. 14 January 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    15. ↑ "CROOKS UNDERGOES ANKLE SURGERY". Huddersfield Town F.C. 8 October 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    16. ↑ "EYRE PRAISES CROOKS". Huddersfield Town F.C. 17 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    17. ↑ "Huddersfield Town offer new contracts to Harry Bunn and Matt Crooks". Huddersfield Examiner. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    18. ↑ "2014/15 SQUAD NUMBERS REVEALED". Huddersfield Town F.C. 3 July 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    19. ↑ "Matt Crooks has the versatility and power to make an impact at Huddersfield Town this season". Huddersfield Examiner. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    20. ↑ "Huddersfield Town 0 – 4 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    21. ↑ "Five things we learned from Huddersfield Town 0–4 Bournemouth". Huddersfield Examiner. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    22. ↑ "MATT CROOKS LOANED TO HARTLEPOOL". Huddersfield Town F.C. 21 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    23. ↑ "CARR & CROOKS RETURN FROM LOAN". Huddersfield Town F.C. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
    24. ↑ "Matt Crooks: Accrington Stanley sign Huddersfield midfielder". BBC Sport. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
    25. ↑ Tom Horner. "TWO DEVELOPMENT SQUAD PLAYERS RELEASED". htafc.com.
    26. ↑ "Rangers talk to Accrington's Matt Crooks and Josh Windass". BBC Sport. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
    27. ↑ "Rangers: Josh Windass and Matt Crooks sign pre-contract deals". BBC Sport. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
    28. ↑ "Rangers and Accrington agree cash deal for Josh Windass and Matt Crooks". Daily Record. Daily Record (Glasgow). 20 June 2016.
    29. 1 2 3 4 5 "Games played by Matt Crooks - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
    30. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
    31. ↑ "Games played by Matt Crooks in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
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