Craig: The fan on the field

Every football supporter fantasises about playing for the club they support. Few achieve that ambition and pull on the shirt. Fewer still go on to wear the captain’s armband, while barely a handful are rewarded with a testimonial for services to their team.

Tony Craig has done it all. Two decades and 254 appearances on from watching Millwall as a boy in the Cold Blow Lane stand, the defender will lead his side out against Brentford on Saturday at the Den for a game in his honour. It’s an occasion he admits he could not even have dreamed about all those years ago.

“It gives me goosebumps even talking about it,” he said to Sky Sports. “You could say it’s a dream come true, but it’s something you’d never even dare to dream about. I can’t believe my luck.

“I’ve had to move on a couple of times but thankfully the club have always wanted me to come back and it’s a club I absolutely adore and love playing for; I love playing every single minute and every time I put the shirt on. I’m a fan and to do it, I’m living my dream. Every day is a dream come true.”

It hasn’t always been plain sailing for Craig at Millwall. There have been two play-off final defeats, a relegation and, as he says, spells away from the club. But Craig – now in his fourth stint as a Millwall player – is relishing life under manager, and former team-mate, Neil Harris.

“We’ve known each other for many years …

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