James Craigen (born 28 March 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spartans in Scottish League Two. He started his career at Preston North End, where he spent 10 years as a youth player. He was also part of the Edinburgh University team; the university which he was a student at. He then made the leap from non-league football to Scotland's second tier, joining Scottish First Division club Partick Thistle where, against Greenock Morton, he scored the decisive goal that sealed Thistle's promotion to the Scottish Premiership. He has also spent time on loan at Forfar Athletic, and after leaving Partick Thistle, played with Raith Rovers, Falkirk, Dunfermline Athletic, Arbroath and Edinburgh City.
Career Youth Craigen played for the Edinburgh University football side, while concentrating on his academic studies. He also turned out for the Scottish University side when they won the BUCS Home Nations Tournament. Craigen was selected for the Great Britain University side at the 2011 Student Games in Japan, where the team finished runners-up.
Partick Thistle Craigen signed for Partick Thistle at the start of the 2012–13 Season, whilst also completing his final year at university. He joined Forfar Athletic on loan in October 2012, and returned to Thistle in early 2013. He scored twice during his loan period.
On his return to Partick Thistle, Craigen established himself in the starting eleven during the title run-in. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory at home to Morton in April 2013, a victory that essentially secured the league title for Partick Thistle.
In May 2015, Craigen was named as one of the players that would be released by Partick Thistle at the end of the 2014–15 season.
Raith Rovers Craigen signed for Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers on 26 June 2015.
Falkirk On 10 March 2016, Craigen signed a pre contract deal with fellow Scottish Championship side Falkirk. In his first season with the club, Craigen helped Falkirk to a second-place finish in the league, playing 27 matches and scoring 3 goals. He scored a further two goals in each of the Scottish Premiership semi-final play-offs against Dundee United, although the Bairns fell short of reaching the final after losing 3–4 on aggregate.
Craigen was a bit-part player in his second season at the club, and was subsequently released in January 2018, after a year and a half with the club.
Dunfermline Athletic Craigen subsequently signed for Scottish Championship and Falkirk-rivals Dunfermline Athletic on 19 January 2018, on a deal that would keep him at the club until summer 2018. Craigen's contract was renewed until May 2019, after which point it was announced that he would be leaving the club in order to seek a fresh challenge.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League Cup League Cup Other TotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPartick Thistle2012–13Scottish First Division19200202Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup02322013–14Scottish Premiership3101020—3402014–152622030—312Total764307020884Forfar Athletic (loan)2012–13Scottish Second Division102100000112Raith Rovers2015–16Scottish Championship34920303One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Scottish Premiership play-offs0429Falkirk2016–17Scottish Championship27310402Appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs23452017–18100004131172Total373108153517Dunfermline Athletic2017–18Scottish Championship15110002Appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs01812018–19331105020411Total482205040592Career total205209023114325124
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