Jon McCracken
{{Short description|Scottish football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jon McCracken
| image = Jon McCracken.png
| image_size =
| caption = Jon McCracken during a Dundee warm-up in 2024
| fullname = Jon Douglas McCracken{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/2470630|title=Updated squad lists for 2021/22 Premier League|publisher=Premier League |date=3 February 2022|access-date=11 March 2023}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|5|24|df=y}}{{cite news|title = Soccerway – Jon McCracken|url = https://uk.soccerway.com/players/jon-mccracken/451113/|publisher = Soccerway|accessdate = 11 March 2023}}
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| height = 190cm
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Dundee
| clubnumber = 1
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2016
| youthclubs1 = Hamilton Academical
| youthyears2 = 2016–2021
| youthclubs2 = Norwich City
| years1 = 2021–2024
| clubs1 = Norwich City
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2022
| clubs2 = → Bohemian (loan)
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2023
| clubs3 = → Stevenage (loan)
| caps3 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2023
| clubs4 = → Dundee (loan)
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2023
| clubs5 = → Accrington Stanley (loan)
| caps5 = 11
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2024
| clubs6 = → Dundee (loan)
| caps6 = 11
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2024–
| clubs7 = Dundee
| caps7 = 16
| goals7 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2017
| nationalteam1 = Scotland U17
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 22:00, 26 February 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 19:34, 2 September 2024 (UTC)
}}
Jon Douglas McCracken (born 24 May 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for {{Scottish football updater|Dundee}} club Dundee. He came through the Hamilton Academical and Norwich City academies without playing a competitive first team game for either club. He has since made over 50 competitive first team appearances from loan stints at Bohemian, Stevenage, Dundee (twice) and Accrington Stanley, and as a non-loan Dundee player.
McCracken represented Scotland 6 times at under-17 level. He received a call up to the senior squad in 2024.
Club career
=Norwich City=
McCracken began his career at Hamilton Academical, before signing for Norwich City's academy in 2016.{{cite news
| title = Norwich City – Biography – Jon McCracken
| url = https://www.canaries.co.uk/player/jon-mccracken
| publisher = Norwich City F.C.
| access-date = 11 March 2023}} After spending the 2018–19 season playing for Norwich's under-23 team, McCracken went on a one-week trial with Premier League club Burnley in July 2019.{{cite news
| title = Report: Norwich City's Jon McCracken joins Burnley on trial
| url = https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/07/05/do-report-norwich-citys-jon-mccracken-joins-burnley-on-trial/
| website = HITC
| date = 5 July 2019
| access-date = 12 March 2023
| first = Dan
| last = Owen}} No transfer materialised and he remained at Norwich for the 2019–20 season, missing the second half of that season after suffering a stress fracture in his back.{{cite news
| title = Jon McCracken on looking forward with the Under-23s
| url = https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/jon-mccracken-on-looking-forward-with-the-under-23s
| publisher = Norwich City F.C.
| access-date = 12 March 2023}} He trained with the Norwich first team at the start of the 2020–21 season and was an unused substitute in an EFL Cup match against Luton Town on 5 September 2020. He played in all three of the club's EFL Trophy matches during the season.{{soccerbase season|93385|2020|accessdate=12 March 2023}} McCracken agreed a contract extension to remain at Norwich on 22 December 2020, with the new agreement running until July 2022.{{cite news
| title = Jon McCracken signs new contract with the Canaries
| url = https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/jon-mccracken-signs-new-contract-with-the-canaries
| publisher = Norwich City F.C.
| date = 22 December 2020
| access-date = 12 March 2023}} He signed a further two-year contract extension on 4 March 2022, highlighting a possible loan move in order to gain match-playing experience.{{cite news
| title = Jon McCracken signs new contract at Norwich City
| url = https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/jon-mccracken-signs-new-contract-at-norwich-city
| publisher = Norwich City F.C.
| date = 4 March 2022
| access-date = 12 March 2023}}
==Loan to Bohemian==
Ahead of the 2022–23 season, McCracken trained with National League club Southend United ahead of a proposed season-long loan move.{{cite news
| title = Norwich City keeper returns because of injury
| url = https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/22316766.norwich-city-keeper-returns-injury/
| newspaper = Norwich Evening News
| date = 13 July 2022
| access-date = 11 March 2023
| first = Chris
| last = Lakey}} He suffered an injury during the trial and returned to Norwich to receive treatment. McCracken subsequently joined League of Ireland Premier Division club Bohemian on loan on 21 July 2022, on an agreement until 31 December 2022.{{cite news
| title = Jon McCracken joins Bohemian on loan
| url = https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/jon-mccracken-joins-bohemian-on-loan
| publisher = Norwich City F.C.
| date = 21 July 2022
| access-date = 11 March 2023}} McCracken kept a clean sheet on his senior debut in a 2–0 away victory against Lucan United in the FAI Cup on 22 August 2022.{{cite news
| title = Loan round-up: McCracken keeps home debut clean sheet
| url = https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/loan-round-up-mccracken-keeps-home-debut-clean-sheet
| publisher = Norwich City F.C.
| date = 26 August 2022
| access-date = 11 March 2023}} He provided cover for first choice goalkeeper James Talbot during his time there, making seven appearances in all competitions.
==Loan to Stevenage==
McCracken signed for League Two club Stevenage on an emergency loan deal on 10 March 2023.{{cite news
| title = Jon McCracken joins Stevenage on emergency loan
| url = https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2023/march/jon-mccracken-loan-norwich-city-stevenage-fc-football-club-sky-bet-league-two-efl-english-football-league/
| publisher = Stevenage F.C.
| date = 10 March 2023
| access-date = 11 March 2023}} He made his English Football League debut a day later in Stevenage's 3–1 victory against Walsall.{{cite news
| title = Stevenage 3–1 Walsall
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64845441
| website = BBC Sport
| date = 11 March 2023
| access-date = 11 March 2023}} McCracken's loan spell was ended after he sustained an ankle injury in a 1–1 away draw with Northampton Town on 1 April 2023.{{cite news
| title = Thimothée Lo-Tutala joins Stevenage on emergency loan
| url = https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2023/april/thimothee-lo-tutala-goalkeeper-loan-stevenage-fc-football-club-sky-bet-league-two-efl-english-football-league/
| publisher = Stevenage F.C.
| date = 6 April 2023
| access-date = 22 April 2023}} He made five appearances during his time at Stevenage.{{soccerbase season|93385|2022|accessdate=11 March 2023}}
== Loan to Dundee ==
On 3 July 2023, McCracken joined Scottish Premiership club Dundee on a season-long loan.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-03 |title=McCracken joins the Dee |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/mccracken-joins-the-dee/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=Dundee Football Club - Official Website |language=en-US}} He would make his competitive debut in an away Scottish League Cup group stage win against Bonnyrigg Rose.{{Cite news |title=Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundee |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66191435 |access-date=2023-07-18}} On 15 August, McCracken had his loan mutually cancelled and returned to his parent club after Norwich sold second-choice goalkeeper Tim Krul.{{Cite web |last=petermceleny |date=2023-08-15 |title=McCracken returns to Norwich |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/mccracken-norwich/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=Dundee Football Club - Official Website |language=en-US}}
== Loan to Accrington Stanley ==
McCracken signed for League Two club Accrington Stanley on a week-long emergency loan deal on 29 September 2023.{{cite news
| title = SIGNING: Jon joins on loan
| url = https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2023/september/signing-jon-joins-on-loan/
| publisher = Accrington Stanley F.C.
| date = 29 September 2023
| access-date = 29 September 2023}} McCracken would remain with Accrington after having his emergency loan extended.{{Cite web |title=McCracken extends loan at Accrington Stanley |url=https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/mccracken-extends-loan-at-accrington-stanley |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Norwich City |language=en}} In a league win against Wrexham on 21 November 2023, McCracken was targeted by missiles thrown by the away supporters which delayed the game.{{Cite news |title=Wrexham make appeal over objects thrown at keeper |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67465406 |access-date=2024-01-30 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} On 24 November, McCracken would again have his emergency loan extended by Accrington, but would leave the club at the end of this extension the following week after breaking his arm.{{Cite web |title=SIGNING: Jon extends loan |url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2023/november/signing-jon-extends-loan-4/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=www.accringtonstanley.co.uk |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |last=Cran |first=George |date=2024-02-02 |title=Why Dundee signed a fourth goalkeeper in Jon McCracken |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-fc/4884518/why-dundee-signed-fourth-goalkeeper-in-jon-mccracken/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}
==Second loan to Dundee==
On 1 February 2024, McCracken returned to Scottish Premiership club Dundee on loan until the end of the season while nearing recovery from his broken arm.{{cite web|url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/mccracken-returns/|title=McCracken returns to The Dee|website=dundeefc.co.uk|date=1 February 2024|accessdate=1 February 2024}} McCracken made his second debut for Dundee on 2 March, in a home league game against Kilmarnock.{{Cite news |title=Kilmarnock drop to fifth despite late Dundee draw |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68389555 |access-date=2024-03-02 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} He kept his first clean sheet for the Dark Blues on 13 March in a league win at home to Aberdeen.{{Cite news |title=Aberdeen 'in trouble' after defeat by Dundee |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67735403 |access-date=2024-03-17 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} McCracken left Dundee at the end of his loan, and his parent club Norwich City announced in their released list that he would leave the club upon the expiry of his contract.{{Cite web |date=20 May 2024 |title=Squad Update 2024 - Dundee Football Club - Official Website |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/squad-update-2024/ |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=dundeefc.co.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Club confirm released and retained list |url=https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/club-confirm-released-and-retained-list |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Norwich City |language=en}}
= Dundee =
On 21 June 2024, McCracken returned to Dundee, this time on a non-loan two-year contract.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-21 |title=McCracken back at The Dee |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/mccracken-back/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Dundee Football Club - Official Website |language=en-US}} He made 20 Dundee first team appearances from the start of the season until late February, rotated with Trevor Carson. It was in this time McCracken was called up to the senior Scotland squad for the first time. However, from March onwards that season, boss Tony Docherty stuck with Carson as goalkeeper for the remainder of the season. McCracken had 63 career first team appearances to this credit at the end of the season. He was mentioned as a possible Scotland squad call up with 5 Scottish goalkeepers injured for the end of season fiendly in Liechenstein.[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/steve-clarkes-scotland-goalkeeper-options-35353215 "Steve Clarke's Scotland goalkeeper options laid bare as 3 potential solutions for Liechtenstein emerge" dailyrecord.co.uk Scott Burns, 07 Jun 2025]
International career
McCracken made his debut for the Scotland under-17 team in 2017, making six appearances throughout the 2017 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification stage.
McCracken was called up by the Scotland national football team in September 2024 for the UEFA Nations League matches against Poland and Portugal after squad member Robby McCrorie pulled out with a hip injury.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-02 |title=Dundee's Jon McCracken replaces Robby McCrorie in Scotland squad |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cp8np2deredo |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 26 February 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup and FAI Cup}} !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="1"|Norwich City U23
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|name=EFL|Appearances in the EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="5"|Norwich City
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24
|Championship |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bohemian (loan)
|2022 |5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Stevenage (loan)
|5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Dundee (loan)
|2023–24{{Soccerbase season|id=93385|season=2023|accessdate=18 July 2023}} |12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Accrington Stanley (loan)
|League Two |11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Dundee
|2024–25{{Soccerbase season|id=93385|season=2024|accessdate=13 July 2024}} |Scottish Premiership |16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!49||0||5||0||6||0||3||0||63||0 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerbase|id=93385|name=Jon McCracken}}
{{Dundee F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCracken, Jon}}
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Norwich City F.C. players
Category:Bohemian F.C. players
Category:Stevenage F.C. players
Category:Hamilton Academical F.C. players
Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:League of Ireland players