Craig MacGillivray (footballer)

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Craig MacGillivray
Personal information
Full name Craig Brodie MacGillivray [1]
Date of birth (1993-01-12) 12 January 1993 (age 32) [2]
Place of birth Perth, Scotland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Milton Keynes Dons
Number 1
Youth career
2009–2011 Harrogate Railway Athletic
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2012 Stalybridge Celtic 4 (0)
2012–2014 Harrogate Town 99 (0)
2012–2013 → Harrogate Railway Athletic (loan) 5 (0)
2014–2017 Walsall 12 (0)
2017–2018 Shrewsbury Town 8 (0)
2018–2021 Portsmouth 112 (0)
2021–2023 Charlton Athletic 47 (0)
2023 Burton Albion 19 (0)
2023– Milton Keynes Dons 32 (0)
2024 → Stevenage (loan) 11 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 28 June 2025 (UTC)

Craig Brodie MacGillivray (born 12 January 1993) is a Scottish [3] [4] professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons.

Contents

He was runner-up in the Football League Trophy with Walsall [5] and Shrewsbury. [6] He played in 2 Football League Trophy Final penalty shootouts with Portsmouth, winning once [7] and losing once. [8] He was also Portsmouth 2020/21 player of the season. [9] In 2025 he set a new MK Dons consecutive clean sheets record of seven games.

Club career

Non league career

MacGillivray began his career as a reserve team goalkeeper for Harrogate Railway Athletic, [10] eventually earning a move to Stalybridge Celtic in 2011. [10] After making four appearances for Stalybridge in an injury–hit season, [11] MacGillivray joined Harrogate Town in August 2012. [10] He rejoined Harrogate Railway Athletic on loan for a brief spell in 2012. Following his return from loan, MacGillivray emerged as Harrogate Town's first–choice goalkeeper and made 90 appearances for the club over two seasons in the Conference North. [11] He was linked with moves to a number of Football League clubs during this time. [12]

Walsall

Despite agreeing a two–year deal with Harrogate in November 2012, [12] MacGillivray joined League One side Walsall on 13 June 2014 on an initial one-year deal after the two clubs agreed a compensation package. [13] He acted as a deputy to Richard O'Donnell for much of the 2014–15 season but MacGillivray eventually made his debut for the Saddlers on 25 April 2015, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over Oldham Athletic. [14]

On 20 May 2015, MacGillivray signed a new one-year contract with the club. [15] He made eight appearances in total in 2015–16 as Walsall missed out on promotion via the play-offs and was offered a one-year deal at the end of the season. [16] [17]

At the end of the 2016–17 season, Walsall and MacGillivray mutually agreed to end his contract after being unable to guarantee the stopper a regular starting place. [18]

Shrewsbury Town

On 5 July 2017, MacGillivray joined fellow League One side Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer on a one-year deal. [19]

He was offered a new contract by Shrewsbury at the end of the 2017–18 season. [20]

Portsmouth

On 4 June 2018, League One club Portsmouth announced that MacGillivray had signed on a two-year deal. [21] MacGillivray made his Portsmouth debut at Fratton Park in their opening league match on 4 August 2018, earning a clean sheet in a 1–0 win over Luton Town. [22] Later that month he saved 3 penalties in a shoot out versus Stevenage. [23]

On 31 March 2019, MacGillivray started in goal for Portsmouth in the EFL Trophy final against Sunderland. MacGillivray made a save in the penalty shootout, saving a spot kick from Lee Cattermole. [7] Portsmouth went on to win the shootout 5–4 (2–2 after extra-time).

MacGillivray won Pompey Player of the Season for 2020–21 [9] In a move described in the media as "surprising" and "controversial", manager Danny Cowley released MacGillivray at the end of that season. He was also described in the media on his departure as, "Portsmouth's finest goalkeeper for almost a decade." [24] MacGillivray played 135 times in his 3 years at Portsmouth. [25]

Charlton Athletic

On 28 June 2021, MacGillivray joined League One Charlton Athletic on a two-year deal. [26]

Burton Albion

On 13 January 2023, MacGillivray joined Burton Albion. [27]

Milton Keynes Dons

On 20 June 2023, MacGillivray free transferred to newly-relegated EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons. [28] He made his debut for the club in the opening game of the 2023–24 season on 5 August 2023, in a 5–3 away win over Wrexham. [29] On 8 October 2024 in an EFL Trophy win versus Arsenal under-21s, he repeated his previous shoot out performance of August 2020 by saving three penalties. [23]

On 18 January 2024, MacGillivray joined League One club Stevenage on loan until the end of the season. [30]

On 9th August 2025 in 2-0 win at Barrow, he became the first goalkeeper to achieve six consecutive shut-outs for MK Dons since their 2004 formation. [25] He extended that record on 16 August 2025 to seven games, in a 5-0 home win v Cheltenham Town. [31] The clean sheet run ended on 19 August 2025 when Ade Adeyemo scored in first half stoppage time in the 1-1 draw at Crawley Town. Despite conceding the goal, Sofascore rated MacGillivray's performance in the game at 7.8. [32]

International career

While at Portsmouth on 27 August 2019, MacGillivray was called up to the senior Scotland squad for the first time by manager Steve Clarke. [33]

Style of play

As well as MacGillivray's EFL trophy winning penalty shoot out save for Portsmouth, he has saved 3 penalties in EFL Trophy shootouts against both of Arsenal u-21s and Stevenage. [23] . On MacGillivray achieving 6 consecutive clean sheets for MK Dons in August 2025, Dons manager Paul Warne remarked, "Craig has the gloves, he comes for crosses, which I love. He has been outstanding but he has marshalled a back line which goes throughout the team." [25]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 May 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup League Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Walsall 2014–15 [34] League One 2000000020
2015–16 [16] League One5020001 [a] 080
2016–17 [35] League One5000004 [b] 090
Total120200050190
Shrewsbury Town 2017–18 [36] League One8020004 [b] 0140
Portsmouth 2018–19 [37] League One46050005 [c] 0560
2019–20 [38] League One20020302 [b] 0270
2020–21 [38] League One46020202 [b] 0520
Total11209050901490
Charlton Athletic 2021–22 [39] League One43000101 [b] 0450
2022–23 [40] League One4010001 [b] 060
Total470101020510
Burton Albion 2022–23 [40] League One190000000190
Milton Keynes Dons 2023–24 [41] League Two 240001000250
2024–25 [42] League Two8010001 [b] 0100
Total320101010350
Stevenage (loan) 2023–24 [41] League One110000000110
Career total2410150702102840
  1. ↑ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  3. ↑ Three appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in EFL League One play-offs

Honours

Walsall

Shrewsbury Town

Portsmouth

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 31st July 2022" (PDF). The Football League. 31 July 2022. p. 49 and 50. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Craig MacGillivray". 11v11. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Mason, Lewis (15 November 2018). "Portsmouth keeper told to build on impressive start". The News . Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  4. ↑ Moon, Andrew (18 January 2019). "Portsmouth's Craig MacGillivray would be 'absolutely thrilled' by Scotland call-up". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  5. 1 2 Chapman, Caroline (22 March 2015). "Bristol City 2–0 Walsall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  6. 1 2 Scott, Ged (8 April 2018). "Lincoln City 1–0 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 "Checkatrade Trophy final: Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland (aet, 5–4 on pens)". BBC Sport. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  8. 1 2 Williams, Adam (13 March 2021). "Portsmouth 0–0 Salford City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 "MacGillivray Named Player Of The Season". Portsmouth F.C. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 "Craig MacGillivray". Harrogate Town A.F.C. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Craig MacGillivray Playing History". Harrogate Town A.F.C. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  12. 1 2 White, Ed (1 January 2014). "Weaver quashes Craig MacGillivray exit talk". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Walsall: Craig MacGillivray signs from Harrogate Town". BBC Sport. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  14. ↑ "Walsall 2 Oldham 0 – as it happened". Express & Star. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  15. ↑ "Craig MacGillivray: Walsall keeper signs new one-year contract". BBC Sport. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  16. 1 2 "Games played by Craig MacGillivray in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  17. ↑ "Romaine Sawyers: Midfielder among 12 Walsall players offered new deals". BBC Sport. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  18. ↑ "Walsall: Jon Whitney releases seven players from League One club". BBC Sport. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  19. ↑ "Craig MacGillivray: Shrewsbury Town complete move for ex-Walsall goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  20. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town: Joe Riley, Shaun Rowley and AJ Leitch-Smith to be released". BBC Sport. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  21. ↑ Weld, Neil (4 June 2018). "MacGillivray Signs For Pompey". Portsmouth F.C. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  22. ↑ "Lowe gives Pompey lift-off". Portsmouth F.C. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  23. 1 2 3 miltonketnes.co.uk "Penalty hero MacGillivray equals his record with three saves in Dons win" Toby Lock, 8 October 2024
  24. ↑ "Pompey's finest goalkeeper for almost a decade - Craig MacGillivray will forever have a place in Fratton faithful hearts". The News. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  25. 1 2 3 "'Outstanding': Pompey Wembley hero battles back from career low to break club record". The News. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  26. ↑ "DONE DEAL: Goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray joins the Addicks". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  27. ↑ "Craig MacGillivray joins Burton Albion". Charlton Athletic FC. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  28. ↑ "Don Deal: MK Dons make Craig MacGillivray signing". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  29. ↑ "Wrexham 3–5 Milton Keynes Dons: Dragons' EFL return spoiled by Dons". BBC. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  30. ↑ "Craig MacGillivray joins on loan from MK Dons". www.stevenagefc.com. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  31. ↑ "MK Dons 5 - 0 Cheltenham Town" sofacsore.com 16 August 2025
  32. ↑ sofascore.com Crawley Town vs Milton Keynes Dons, 19 August 2025
  33. ↑ "Scotland returns for Snodgrass & Naismith, no Griffiths for Russia and Belgium games". BBC Sport. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  34. ↑ "Games played by Craig MacGillivray in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Craig MacGillivray in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  36. ↑ "Games played by Craig MacGillivray in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  37. ↑ "Games played by Craig MacGillivray in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  38. 1 2 "Games played by Craig MacGillivray in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Craig MacGillivray in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  40. 1 2 "Games played by Craig MacGillivray in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  41. 1 2 "Games played by Craig MacGillivray in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Craig MacGillivray in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
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