Where Are They Now?: Colin Cramb’s time at Crewe was surrounded by controversy but there was no mistaking that he was a Gresty Road favourite, but where has Cramb been since leaving?
Before:
Cramb started his career in Scotland with Hamilton Academical where he made his debut in 1991 as a 17 year old and went onto make over 50 appearances for the then Scottish Division One side, scoring 10 goals. He moved to Southampton in 1993 for a fee of £60,000 but the move south took it’s toll and after a single appearance he left the south coast for a £5,000 return to Scotland after just a year, joining Falkirk.
He skipped from Falkirk to Hearts and from Hearts to Doncaster for £25,000 in 1995, where he was to make a name for himself in the English lower leagues. He scored twenty goals in his first full season at Division Three Doncaster, despite Rovers’ lowly position.
In 1997 he made a £125,000 move to Bristol City, where he spent two years, scoring 11 goals in over 50 appearances. However, he struggled to keep his spot in the Division One side, with a young Ade Akinbiyi also making a name for himself. He was in and out of the side for much of the 1998/1999 season, and also spent time on loan in the next division with Walsall.
He made his last appearance for Bristol City in March, coincidentally against Crewe Alexandra – his next club.
During:
Crewe paid £200,000 for Cramb in the summer of 1999 and was a instant fans favourite. He scored on his debut, with the equalising goal against Hartlepool in the first leg of the League Cup first round.
He went on to make 43 appearances that season, scoring seven goals. However, some of those goals will stick in some fans’ memories for a while yet.
A stunning 25 yarder at Port Vale helped secure three vital points, and help Vale to relegation, that season whilst, probably best of all, his goal at Ewood Park won the Alex the unlikeliest of wins against a Blackburn Rovers side who had barely let Crewe touch the ball for 90 minutes.
The good times weren’t to last though. Off the pitch Cramb’s attitude was questionable and rumours of a bust up with midfielder Lee Bell soon surfaced. For most of the 2000/2001 season Cramb was loaned out to the third division, but not without a couple of goodbye goals – most notable his double away to Wolves in a 0-2 win.
He spent August at Notts County before joining Bury on loan in February 2001. At Bury he scored five goals, was sent off for intentionally kicking another player and threw his shirt into the crowd after his last game for them. He was adored at Gigg Lane the Bury faithful tried to urge their club to buy Cramb, but finances denied them the chance.
After:
Cramb did depart Gresty Road in summer 2001 though. Dario made clear he could leave on a free if he found himself a new club, and so Cramb made the surprise move to Fortuna Sittard, who were at the time in the top Dutch league.
He fell off the radar a bit after his move to Holland, but did occasionally pop up in the headlines. Perhaps best of all when he was caught sticking his finger up at the Sittard fans when being substituted, after a less than great welcome to the club.
He was also in the middle of a bizarre situation during one match when referee Eric Braamhaar suddenly left the pitch without warning due to fan abuse – apparently his name translates to ‘raspberry hair’.
In January 2003 Cramb returned to Britain, and left his fitness behind. More importantly he returned to Bury. However, it wasn’t quite the earth shattering return anyone would have hoped for. Three goals in 18 appearances at League Two level left fans a bit underwhelmed, so he left Bury for a second time.
He joined his 11th club in the summer of 2003, with Shrewsbury Town signing him. He spent 12 months at Shrewsbury, helping them to promotion from the Conference with thirteen goals that season.
After a short trial period Cramb returned to league football with Grimsby Town but fitness by now was far from his strong point and he made just 13 appearances in his six months at Grimsby before a five month stint back at his first club Hamilton. Again, not very successful.
In recent years he’s had a a bit more success. His 05/06 season saw him one of Scotland’s top scorers with 18 goals in just under 30 appearances for Stenhousemuir,
In summer 2006 he signed for his 13th and latest club, Stirling. At 33 years old, he’s still a regular for the Scottish Division One side and has four goals this season, despite a two month lay-off due to injury.