Craig Mackail-Smith

Craig Mackail-Smith

Born in Watford, Hertfordshire, Craig began his career in the St. Albans City youth system in 1999.  He made his first team debut in 2001 but failed to secure a regular place and was loaned out to Arlesey Town. The move was made permanent in 2003 and he became a regular in the side playing 54 times scoring 17 goals in the Isthmian League Division One. Amongst the goals were two in an F.A. Cup victory over Conference side Dagenham and Redbridge. The Daggers were swayed and signed Craig in May 2004.

38 goals in 107 games over two and a half seasons earned Craig a move to League Two (4th tier) Peterborough United in January 2007. 99 goals came in 212 games for the Posh. Craig was described by Steve Claridge as "a rampaging Nordic Viking with his long blonde hair" and was impressed by the way he would pick up the ball and run at defenders, attacking at every opportunity.  

Championship side Brighton saw enough to pay an initial £2.5 million in the summer of 2011. Craig made a good start with 5 goals in the first 8 games but then a had drought and ended with just ten for the season. The following season saw Craig score 11 but again a dry spell saw him fall out of favour. November 2014 saw him return to Peterborough on loan for a spell and he was released by Brighton at the end of the season. 

Former Daggers manager, John Still, brought Craig to Kenilworth Road in the summer of 2015 on a two year deal. Still said “it’s great to be working with Craig again. Everyone knows his record and what he’s is capable of doing.” Craig was grateful for John Still’s guidance - “He converted me from a winger into a striker and since then Ive just scored goals so I have that to thank him for too.”  

Craig made his debut in the first game of the season away to Accrington Stanley which ended 1 1. His first goal came in his fourth game, an away defeat at Yeovil on 22 August. He struggled for goals however, and after 34 games and just 4 goals, Craig broke his leg in March which ended his season. A further set back followed that summer as a pin needed to be inserted so he had another operation. He struggled to get back into the first team and after just 6 appearances and 1 goal he was loaned out to Peterborough United for the remainder of the 2016/17 season.   

After his contract at Luton expired Craig signed a one year deal with Wycombe Wanderers. The first season proved a success as Craig played 43 times scoring 10 goals. A two year deal was his reward but he struggled to get into the first team. Loans out to Notts County and Stevenage followed. Following his release from the Chairboys, Craig joined Bedford Town before retiring from the game in 2023.  In late 2024 he joined Conference side Woking as Head of Performance.

Craig played for England C 7 times scoring 4 goals. He also qualified for Scotland for whom he played 7 times scoring one goal against Liechtenstein.