Born on this day is former Sunderland and Wolves fan favourite Jody Craddock, who now has a successful career as an artist!
The central defender signed for Peter Reid's men on the day the Stadium of Light opened in1997 for a fee of £300k plus add-ons from Cambridge United. He was only 22 at the time and was touted as one for the future, facing stiff competition for a starting place from Andy Melville and Dicky Ord, however, Craddock impressed and it wouldn't be long before he became very much a first teamer.
Although an orthodox centre half, he could ply his trade anywhere across the backline and had been nurtured at The Abbey Stadium by former England centre back Roy McFarland during his time with Cambridge.
The 1997/98 season would see Craddock form a solid defensive partnership with Darren Williams but the following season would be a frustrating campaign for Craddock as a calf injury ruled him out for the start of the season. He failed to break back into the first team for a while due to outstanding performances from Paul Butler and Andy Melville. He ended up spending part of Sunderland's return top flight season out on loan at Sheffield United where he made 10 league starts at Bramall Lane.
On his return, he would re-establish himself on Wearside, staying here until 2003 when he was courted by Wolverhampton Wanderers, he would go on to spend a decade at Molineux where he became somewhat of a club legend.
He would finally hang up his boots in 2013 and Sunderland would feature in his testimonial match at Molineux where his children each scored penalties. Jody is a passionate fundraiser after his son was diagnosed with cancer, he was given the all clear in 2020. As an artist producing portraiture, graffiti and photorealism. His first exhibition of his works, entitles "Le Bellezza Della Fusione", was held in November 2015, at the Antidote Art Gallery in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. He's also done commissions for former teammtes, as well as oil paintings of Wolves' Raul Jimenez and Joao Moutinho.
