It’s ‘just beginning to sink in’, says Auchinleck Talbot defender Craig McCracken
A legally-minded amateur footballer hit headlines over the weekend after his late strike saw Auchinleck Talbot clinch victory over Ayr United in the Scottish Cup.
Scottish law student Craig McCracken’s 78th-minute header helped his semi-pro side secure a 1-0 win over their full-time, Championship playing local rivals. Through to the last sixteen, Auchinleck now face a tricky trip away to Hearts, a club currently sitting 5th in the Scottish Premiership.
Off the pitch, McCracken is studying the Diploma in Legal Services (the Scottish equivalent to the Legal Practice Course (LPC)) at the University of Glasgow. He holds a law degree from Glasgow Caledonian University.
Despite recent on-field exploits, McCracken appears to be focused on pursuing a career in law. According to the defender’s LinkedIn profile, he’s a future trainee solicitor at Scottish outfit Anderson Strathern, a full-service law firm with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and East Lothian.
Craig McCracken scores the goal for @atfc1909 that booked them a place in the Fifth Round of the @WilliamHill Scottish Cup.#ScottishCup
(? via @BBCSportScot)pic.twitter.com/JRh8tgn65K
— William Hill Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) January 19, 2019
Reflecting on his new-found hero status, the law student told the Scottish Sun newspaper: “Saturday’s just beginning to sink in. After the game we stayed at the club for a couple of hours, then we went out in the town. I shouldn’t have had to put my hand in my pocket, but I seem to have spent a fair amount! In fairness there were a few offers to buy me a drink, so the supporters enjoyed the day.”
McCracken, who previously played for Ayr United before quitting when they went full-time to concentrate on his LLB, continued:
“I completed my degree at Glasgow Caledonian University last year and now I’m doing an additional diploma at Glasgow University. I start a law traineeship in September 2020, so being part-time suits me perfectly. If the chance came to go back into senior football it would have to tie in with my legal work.”
