Gary Croft - Player Profile

Gary arrived at the JJB Stadium on month’s loan from Ipswich Town on 17th January 2002.

He was signed because the Blues were struggling with a defence that was lacking in numbers, following injuries to Matt Jackson and Arjan De Zeeuw, and a call up to the Canadian International team for Jason De Vos as Canada went in defence of the Gold Cup which they won two years previously.

He made his Latics League debut against Brentford at Griffin Park on 19th January 2002 in a game that resulted in a 1-0 win for the Blues

 In total he made 7 League appearances for Latics without scoring and he returned to Ipswich Town on 19th February 2002.

On transfer deadline day 28th March 2002 he joined Second Division rivals Cardiff City on loan until the end of the season.

He retired from the game in May 2008 after a spell at Lincoln City, whose Director of Football at the time, was former Latics manager John Deehan.

In 2005 Croft came out of retirement for a brief spell with non-league side Grimsby Borough.