Craig Harrison signs new deal for Nomads – story and profile

The good news just keeps on coming for Connah’s Quay Nomads……

Seven days after winning the Welsh Premier League for the first time in their history, the Deesiders have announced Craig Harrison has signed a new two-year deal at the club.

Here is a profile of the man himself…..

CRAIG HARRISON – IN PROFILE

Craig Harrison forms part of a ‘management dream team’ at Deeside Stadium which also includes former Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers defender Andy Morrison, plus highly qualified coach and director of football Jay Catton.

Both Harrison and Morrison have played in the English Premier League.

Morrison appeared for Blackburn and Man City in the top flight, while Harrison was with Middlesbrough when they returned to the PL in 1998-99.

Craig also represented Crystal Palace and Preston North End as a professional before injury ended his career in 2003.

Harrison’s stock as a manager at Welsh Premier League level was long established before he arrived at Nomads two years ago.

After a spell in charge at Airbus, the north-easterner took the helm at The New Saints in December 2011 and kick-started a stunning run of success.

By the end of his first season at Park Hall, Harrison had led the team to the Welsh Premier and Welsh Cup double.

He transformed the club’s fortunes, getting them playing a brand of exciting, attacking football which made them virtually unstoppable over a five-and-a-half year spell.

TNS won six successive WPL titles, four Welsh Cups and three League Cups under Harrison, as well as achieving some big results in the Uefa Champions League, before the Gateshead-born boss took over at Hartlepool United in May 2017.

After a promising start, where he won the National League’s manager of the month award for October 2017, results dipped and he left his position in February 2018.

On May 23, 2018, Harrison was appointed manager of Bangor City following their relegation from the Welsh Premier League after failing to obtain a tier one license.

Five months later, he left the club to go to Connah’s Quay as first team coach.

With his successes at TNS and now Nomads, Craig has established himself as one of the finest managers ever to work in the Welsh Premier and some would argue he is THE best.

His combination with Morrison and Catton at Deeside Stadium is certainly a winning one.

MOVE TO NOMADS

Harrison arrived at Deeside in October 2018 and has been part of the coaching team that has led the Quay to the recent Cymru Premier title and Nathaniel MG Cup double, as well as historic moments such as the Europa League victory over Kilmarnock and reaching the Scottish Challenge Cup Final.

On his new deal, Craig told the Nomads club website: “I’m obviously delighted to sign a new deal with Connah’s Quay Nomads.

“This season’s success was the reason I joined 18 months ago as I believed and could see the potential of the club moving forwards and direction, drive and ambition of Andy (Morrison), Gary (Dewhurst), and Victoria (Roycroft).

“I really enjoy working on a daily basis with fantastic players and staff and really enjoy working with Andy and Jay (Catton) as we are all on the same page about how we keep moving forwards, improve and look to defend our title.

“I am also looking forward to being back in the UEFA Champions’ League and it will be great for everyone involved as there are lots of people who work extremely hard behind the scenes to aid the success of the club.

“It will also be nice to see the hardcore amazing Connah’s Quay fans enjoy seeing the team playing in the Champions’ League – they deserve it and they have been incredible.”

Club secretary Tom Houghton added: “We’re delighted to announce Craig’s contract extension for at least another two years – as his contract was approaching it’s end, it was a very simple decision for us to do everything in our power to extend it.

“Since Craig joined us in 2018, we’ve achieved a huge amount as a club; we’ve reached the Irn Bru Cup Final, the Welsh Cup Final, we’ve knocked Kilmarnock out of the Europa League, won the League Cup and now the JD Cymru Premier.

“Craig has had a hugely positive impact in all areas of the club from coaching through to scouting and recruitment of new players. I’m sure everyone at the club is looking forward to Craig continuing his hard work and helping us win more silverware in the near future.”