5th April 1987 is a day that will live in the memory of thousands of Glens supporters over the age 0f 40. It was the day we beat Linfield 3-2 at the Oval in the final of one of our favourite old tournaments, the Gold Cup. It was also the day the cup was won by a great run and strike from one of our own, 18 year old winger and lifelong Glenman, Robert Craig.
More than virtually anyone else at Glentoran in those late 80s glory years for the club, Robert Craig lived the dream on behalf of every Glentoran supporter. In that Gold Cup Final and in the successful Irish Cup Final a week later he came on as substitute for Johnny Jameson, one of the greatest of all Glentoran wingers. The team he came into that day contained genuinely legendary (not in the loose 21st century meaning of the word) Glens players like Cleary, Caskey, Macartney, Jameson, Mullan, Paterson, Mullan, Harrison, Bowers and Manley. It was a monumental achievement for a Glentoran supporting kid from the heart of East Belfast to come through the ranks and take his place among them. When Robert scored his late winner against our biggest rivals that day he did it on behalf of every one of us standing under the shed or sitting in the stand who were never good enough to achieve what he did. That made him very special to the Glentoran support and it’s a memory we will never lose.
Robert followed in a family tradition when he signed for the Glens. His Dad Tommy also had a good playing career with the club as a left winger/left back and was an integral part of the squad that reached the European Cup Winners Cup in 1973-74. After coming through the Colts and Seconds he made his first team debut as an 18 year old in an inauspicious 4-1 away defeat to Bangor. Over seven seasons with the first team squad Robert made 97 first team appearances, scoring 8 goals. For a home grown product to make so many appearances at such a time of strength demonstrated the club’s belief in him. In addition to that Gold Cup medal he also gained an Irish Cup winner’s medal against Larne a week later, again as substitute for Johnny Jameson. He also gained two winner’s medals in the Ulster Cup (1988/89 and 1989/90) and a further winner’s medal in the Budweiser Cup ,another Big Two final victory in 1989/90, the famous seven up season. He also won a Steel & Sons Cup Winners medal with the Seconds. After leaving the Oval Robert joined Ballymena United and in 1994/95 was a member of the Loughgall squad that won the old B Division.
Robert emigrated to Australia some years ago with his wife Gillian. He made a last, poignant visit home last August where he met up with many of his old friends, went to see the Glens play for the last time and attended a benefit match in his honour when the Glentoran Legends (including some of his old team mates such as Raymond Morrison, Gary Smyth, Gary Hillis and Andy Mathieson) played a Robert Craig Select XI at Wilgar Park. A sad but fitting goodbye to East Belfast for one of our own who got to play and win for the club he loved.
On behalf of everyone at Glentoran, the Board of Directors offer the deepest and most sincere condolences to Robert’s widow Gillian, his parents Tommy and Winnie, brother Thomas and to all of Robert’s extended family and friends both in Northern Ireland and his adopted home in Australia.
Thanks for the memories Craiger. Le Jeu Avant Tout.