Veteran defender Craig retires aged 40

Former Brentford, Millwall, Bristol Rovers and Crawley Town defender Tony Craig has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40.

Craig, who made his professional debut almost 23 years ago, has taken the decision after breaking his leg while playing for National League South side Dorking Wanderers.

He fractured his fibula during the 3-0 loss at Horsham on Good Friday.

It brings to an end a career that has seen Craig play 825 times across all three tiers of the English Football League and both tiers of the National League.

He won two League One play-off finals with Millwall - in 2010 and 2017, when he captained the club to victory over Bradford City at Wembley - and was Brentford's Players' Player of the Year when the Bees won promotion from League One in 2014.

He spent the vast majority of his career playing in London - he also had a season with Crystal Palace and spent time on loan at Leyton Orient - but will be best remembered for his time at Millwall and Brentford.

He made 325 appearances across three spells for Millwall where he made his debut on in April 2003 against Nottingham Forest in what is now the Championship.

He stayed at the club until 2007 before joining Palace, only to return first on loan the following March and then permanently that summer.

Craig left The Den in 2012 for a three-year, 127-game spell at Brentford before returning to the Lions for a third time in 2015.

His Millwall career ended when he left on a free transfer in February 2018 for Bristol Rovers before a three-year spell at Crawley Town and three more at Dorking.

He has also gone into coaching and is currently working with Millwall's academy sides having also trained young players while he was at Bristol Rovers.

"I am so proud of what Tony has achieved in his career, and feel privileged that we are able to recognise what has been an outstanding contribution to the game," Dorking manager Marc White told the club website.

"Tony is old school, a consummate professional, fitter in his 40s than people half his age and has ultimately finished his career playing against players that could only dream of what Tony has achieved.

"A fan's favourite at every club he has played for due to his unwavering will to win, Tony is an example to all young footballers."

Craig told Millwall's website:, external "To the Millwall family, today is one of the hardest days of my life, in which I have decided to hang up my boots.

"I feel incredibly fortunate to have played for the club I love; from sitting in the Cold Blow Lane end to the greatest honour of all, captaining the team to a play-off win at Wembley. When you're a young boy, everyone dreams of playing there and walking up the steps is something that my family and I will cherish forever.

"I have had the privilege of playing with some outstanding players and working with some brilliant managers throughout my time. I can't thank the supporters enough for their unwavering backing over the years and - of course - the Berylson family for everything they have done."