Sean Crighton

{{short description|Scottish footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sean Crighton

| fullname =

| height =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|3|26|df=y}}{{cite web |url=http://www.brechincity.com/bcfc/servlet/BCFCFrontControllerServlet?action=Player&page_id=238&category=4 |title=Sean Crighton |publisher=Brechin City FC |accessdate=3 October 2017}}

| birth_place = Greenock, Scotland

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Central defender

| years1 = 2008–2009

| clubs1 = St Mirren

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2008–2009

| clubs2 = → Montrose (loan)

| caps2 = 18

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2009–2012

| clubs3 = Montrose

| caps3 = 88

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2012–2014

| clubs4 = Elgin City

| caps4 = 68

| goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2014–2015

| clubs5 = Greenock Morton

| caps5 = 30

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2015–2016

| clubs6 = Airdrieonians

| caps6 = 36

| goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2016–2017

| clubs7 = Livingston

| caps7 = 32

| goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2017–2018

| clubs8 = Brechin City

| caps8 = 34

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2018–2021

| clubs9 = Airdrieonians

| caps9 = 79

| goals9 = 1

| years10 = 2021-2023

| clubs10 = Stenhousemuir

| caps10 = 63

| goals10 = 9

| years11 = 2023–2024

| clubs11 = Dumbarton

| caps11 = 33

| goals11 = 2

| manageryears1 = 2022–2023

| managerclubs1 = Stenhousemuir (caretaker manager)

}}

Sean Crighton (born 26 March 1990) is a Scottish former footballer and coach who is B team manager at Queen's Park. Crighton began his career with St Mirren, and has also played for Montrose, Elgin City, Greenock Morton, Airdrieonians, Livingston, Brechin City,Stenhousemuir and Dumbarton. During his playing time at Stenhousemuir, Crighton performed the role of caretaker manager.

Playing career

Crighton began his career as a youth player with Scottish Premier League club St Mirren, spending a season on loan with Montrose before moving permanently to the club in June 2009.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/montrose/8127710.stm |title=Montrose sign defender Crighton |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=30 June 2009 |accessdate=3 October 2017}}

After three years and almost 100 appearances, Crighton left Montrose to sign a two-year contract with Elgin City in 2012,{{cite web |url=http://www.elgincity.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=528:two-new-faces-for-city&catid=38:match-reports-2011-12 |title=Two new faces for City |publisher=Elgin City FC |date=2 June 2012 |accessdate=3 October 2017}} spending two seasons with the side before being released at the end of the 2013–14 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.northern-scot.co.uk/Sport/Football/South-stars-quit-Elgin-City-26042014.htm |title=Four set to leave Elgin City |first=Craig |last=Christie |work=The Northern Scot |publisher=Scottish Provincial Press Ltd |date=26 April 2014 |accessdate=3 October 2017}}

Crighton subsequently signed for hometown club Greenock Morton in June 2014,{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/kilday-and-crighton-join-morton/ |title=Kilday and Crighton join Morton |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |date=16 June 2014 |accessdate=3 October 2017}} helping the club win Scottish League One.{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/morton-are-league-1-champions/ |title=Morton are League 1 champions |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |date=2 May 2015 |accessdate=3 October 2017}} Crighton was released by Morton shortly after the league win,{{cite web |url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/13308281.Ton_agree_three_deals_and_release_six_in_Cappielow_reshuffle/ |title=Ton agree three deals and release six in Cappielow reshuffle |first=Christopher |last=Jack |work=Evening Times |publisher=Newsquest |date=16 May 2015 |accessdate=3 October 2017}} moving east to sign with Airdrieonians after just a month without a club.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/airdrieonians-rebuild-defence-snap-up-5897298 |title=Airdrieonians rebuild defence and snap up winger Caolan McAleer |first=Colin |last=Paterson |work=Daily Record |publisher=Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd |date=17 June 2015 |accessdate=3 October 2017}}

After his spell with the Diamonds, he signed for a season with Livingston where he captained the club to the League One title,{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/gallery-livingston-fc-lift-league-10333508 |title=Gallery: Livingston FC lift League One trophy |first=Callum |last=Carson |work=Daily Record |publisher=Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd |date=1 May 2017 |accessdate=3 October 2017}} before joining newly promoted Scottish Championship side Brechin City in July 2017.{{cite web |url=http://livingstonfc.co.uk/sean-crighton-departs/ |title=Sean Crighton departs |publisher=Livingston FC |date=14 July 2017 |accessdate=3 October 2017}} Crighton left Brechin at the end of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.brechincity.com/bcfc/servlet/BCFCFrontControllerServlet?action=News&page_id=2009&category=2 |title=Brechin City squad news |first=Grant |last=Hood |publisher=Brechin City FC |date=9 May 2018 |accessdate=10 May 2018}}

On 3 May 2018, Crighton agreed a deal to return for a second spell at Airdrieonians,{{cite web|title=DEFENSIVE DUO RETURN TO THE DIAMONDS|url=https://www.airdriefc.com/1718-news/030518/Defensive-duo-return-to-the-Diamonds|publisher=Airdrieonians F.C.|date=3 May 2018|accessdate=27 July 2019}} remaining with the club until May 2021. He then signed for Stenhousemuir.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stenhousemuirfc.com/player/crighton-sean/|title = Sean Crighton}} After two seasons with the Warriors, Crighton joined Dumbarton in May 2023.{{Cite web |last=Crawford |first=Jack |date=2023-06-07 |title=SEAN CRIGHTON SIGNS UP |url=https://dumbartonfootballclub.com/sean-crighton-signs-up/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Dumbarton Football Club |language=en-US}} He signed an extended deal and helped the club to promotion via the play-offs in his first season as a Sons player, before leaving to become a manager of the B team at Queen's Park in June 2024.{{Cite web |title=CRIGHTON DEPARTS |url=https://dumbartonfootballclub.com/crighton-departs/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=dumbartonfootballclub.com |language=en-US}}

Coaching career

In April 2018, Crighton was promoted to head of the academy pathway at Greenock Morton.{{cite news|url=https://gmfc.net/2018/04/03/crighton-appointed-head-of-academy-pathway/|title=Crighton appointed head of academy pathway|publisher=Greenock Morton F.C.|date=3 March 2018|accessdate=5 April 2018|first=Jonathan|last=Mitchell}} He left his role in August 2019, to take up coaching positions with the Airdrieonians first team and the Hamilton Academical youth academy.{{cite web|title=Crighton leaves Morton with a heavy heart|url=https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/sport/17864804.crighton-leaves-morton-heavy-heart/|publisher=Greenock Telegraph|date=29 August 2019|accessdate=30 August 2019}}

After the departure of manager Stephen Swift, Crighton was named as caretaker manager of Stenhousemuir on 7 December 2022.{{Cite web |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Ian |date=2022-12-08 |title=CLUB STATEMENT {{!}}{{!}} STEPHEN SWIFT |url=https://www.stenhousemuirfc.com/2022/12/08/club-statement-stephen-swift/ |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=Stenhousemuir FC |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=7 December 2022 |title=@StenhousemuirFC on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/stenhousemuirfc/status/1600543290931220480 |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=Twitter |language=en}} He performed the role until the appointment of Gary Naysmith as manager on 3 January 2023.{{Cite web |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Ian |date=2023-01-03 |title=Welcome {{!}}{{!}} Gary Naysmith |url=https://www.stenhousemuirfc.com/2023/01/03/welcome-gary-naysmith/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Stenhousemuir FC |language=en-GB}}

Career total

{{updated|08:24, 18 May 2024 (UTC)}}

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"|Scottish Cup

!colspan="2"|League Cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoals

!Apps

Goals

!Apps

Goals

!Apps

Goals

!Apps

Goals
Montrose (loan)

|2008–09{{soccerbase season|49166|2008|accessdate=19 October 2017}}

|Scottish Third Division

|18

0000000180
rowspan="4"|Montrose

|2009–10{{soccerbase season|49166|2009|accessdate=19 October 2017}}{{soccerway|sean-crighton/46964|accessdate=27 July 2019}}{{cite web|title=Banks O'Dee 0 Monttrose 3|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/banks-odee-vs-montrose/110892|publisher=Sky Sports|date=24 October 2009|accessdate=27 July 2019}}

|rowspan="3"|Scottish Third Division

|29

040101Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup0350
2010–11{{soccerbase season|49166|2010|accessdate=19 October 2017}}{{cite web|title=Montrose 1 Arbroath 1|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/montrose-vs-arbroath/228414|publisher=Sky Sports|date=23 October 2010|accessdate=27 July 2019}}{{cite web|title=Arbroath 2 Montrose 3|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/arbroath-vs-montrose/teams/228870|publisher=Sky Sports|date=30 October 2010|accessdate=27 July 2019}}

|33

1501010401
2011–12{{soccerbase season|49166|2011|accessdate=19 October 2017}}

|26

1301010311
colspan="2"|Total

!88

212030301062
rowspan="3"|Elgin city

|2012–13{{soccerbase season|49166|2012|accessdate=19 October 2017}}

|Scottish Third Division

|35

0301010400
2013–14{{soccerbase season|49166|2013|accessdate=19 October 2017}}

|Scottish League Two

|33

2101121374
colspan="2"|Total

!68

2402131774
Greenock Morton

|2014–15{{soccerbase season|49166|2014|accessdate=19 October 2017}}

|Scottish League One

|30

0302020370
Airdrieonians

|2015–16{{soccerbase season|49166|2015|accessdate=19 October 2017}}

|Scottish League One

|36

4202011415
Livingston

|2016–17{{soccerbase season|49166|2016|accessdate=19 October 2017}}

|Scottish League One

|32

1204041422
Brechin City

|2017–18{{soccerbase season|49166|2017|accessdate=19 October 2017}}

|Scottish Championship

|34

1204000401
rowspan="4" |Airdrieonians

|2018–19{{soccerbase season|49166|2018|accessdate=27 July 2019}}

| rowspan="3" |Scottish League One

|36

1204220443
2019–20{{soccerbase season|49166|2019|accessdate=27 July 2019}}

|26

0224020342
2020–21

|17

|0

|1

|0

|4

|0

|0

|0

|25

|0

colspan="2" |Total

!79

152122401035
rowspan="3" |Stenhousemuir

|2021–22

| rowspan="2" |Scottish League Two

|33

|3

|2

|0

|4

|0

|0

|0

|39

|3

2022–23

|30

|6

|2

|0

|4

|0

|1

|0

|37

|6

colspan="2" |Total

!63

!9

!4

!0

!8

!0

!1

!0

!76

!9

Dumbarton

|2023–24

|Scottish League Two

|33

|2

|3

|0

|4

|0

|6

|0

|46

|2

colspan="3" |Career total

!480

2237241324356830

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

Honours

=Morton=

=Livingston=

References

{{reflist}}