Mansfield Town
Born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, [1] Disley came through the youth ranks at Mansfield Town, and was promoted to the club's first team in the summer of 1999 under the management of Bill Dearden. [2] He made his debut on 23 September 1999 in a 4–0 victory over Shrewsbury Town, coming on as a 67th-minute substitute for Michael Sissons, also picking up his 1st yellow card within 3 minutes. [3] He went on to make a further five appearances in his first season at Field Mill. [4]
During the 2001–02 season Disley scored his first and second career goals in a 2–3 away win over Cheltenham Town on 25 August 2001, Liam Lawrence providing both corners as Disley opened the scoring for the Stags in the 29th minute with a header, before adding a second in the 47th minute with another header. [5] Disley earned promotion into the Second Division with Mansfield in 2001–02 under the stewardship of Stuart Watkiss. [6] By the end of the 2002–03 season Mansfield had been relegated back down to the fourth tier of English football. [7]
Shrewsbury Town
On 5 May 2009, Disley was told that he was free to talk to other clubs as Bristol Rovers deemed him surplus to requirements. [11] On 4 June he signed for Shrewsbury Town on a two-year contract. [12] On 22 February 2010, Disley broke his ankle, which ruled him out for the rest of the 2009–10 season. [13]
He was released on 23 May 2011, after two years with Shrewsbury. [14]
Grimsby Town
On 23 June 2011, Conference Premier side Grimsby Town announced they had offered Disley a contract. [15] [16] On 24 June, he completed move to Grimsby a two-year contract. [17] On 15 October 2011, Disley scored his first goal for Grimsby in the 2–1 defeat at York City, a cross from Rob Duffy for Disley to loop a firm header over keeper Michael Ingham on four minutes, he also acquired his 4th yellow card of the season after a poor challenge on Jason Walker. [18]
On 11 August 2012, Disley scored the opening goal of the season for Grimsby in the 1–1 draw against Southport on 74 minutes, an Aswad Thomas cross from the left by-line was parried by goalkeeper McMillan straight into the path of Disley, scoring from close range. [19]
Disley's goal tally reached double figures in the 2013–14 season and he was Grimsby's second top scorer, with 11 league goals, and a goal in the 3–2 FA Cup defeat to Huddersfield Town. [20] He also scored against Gateshead in both legs of the play-off semi finals, however this was not enough to prevent Gateshead progressing to the final. [21] [22]
He missed just two league games of the 2014–15 season and he was Grimsby's third top scorer, with nine league goals as Paul Hurst's Grimsby came third in the Conference Premier, and secured a play-off spot. [23]
On 26 May 2015, Disley was the first player commit his future to Grimsby for the 2015–16 season, signing a new one-year deal. [24] Disley played in Grimsby's 3–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers in the 2016 National League play-off final at Wembley Stadium, seeing Grimsby promoted into League Two after a six-year absence from the Football League. [25] [26]
On 27 May 2016, Disley agreed to a new one-year contract with the newly promoted club. [27]
After making 32 appearances and scoring three goals for Grimsby in the 2016–17 season he was released by the club on 9 May 2017. [28] [29] Grimsby Town director John Fenty released a statement following Disley's release; he said: "The club will be arranging a special benefit (testimonial) game for Craig in due course, an opportunity for good many like-minded fans to have the opportunity express their respect for a true Town legend." [30]
On 1 November 2017 Disley and his All Star team were defeated 7–2 by the current Grimsby Town team in his testimonial game. Disley's team included former Town players such as Shaun Pearson, Lenell John-Lewis, Liam Hearn, Aristote Nsiala, Nathan Arnold and Michael Boulding. With goals coming from Disley himself and Ross Hannah. [31]
