Martin Cranie

Martin James Cranie (born 26 September 1986) is an English former professional footballer. He last played as a centre back and right back for Championship club Luton Town. He is a former England U21 international. He began his career with the Southampton youth academy before moving to local rivals Portsmouth and later to Coventry City after several loan spells, then followed by three years at Barnsley.

Born at Yeovil, Somerset, Cranie attended the local Buckler's Mead Community School between 1998 and 2003 after completing his primary school education at Birchfield Community School.

Following an injury crisis at the club, manager Paul Sturrock was forced to use Cranie in the first-team against Chelsea in May 2004. However, his debut was marred when he inadvertently scored an own-goal, in a 4–0 defeat. After the match, Cranie's teammate Danny Higginbotham said: "He's a very good player with a bright future who certainly didn't look out of place at all." Cranie, one of the youngest post-war players to make their debut for the club, described it as a "good experience". "I was asked to play left wing-back, which I had never played before, but being out on the pitch with some of those players was unbelievable."

In October 2004, Cranie spent time on loan to AFC Bournemouth. He made three appearances for the club, and although they were keen to extend his loan spell, their request was rejected. After his loan spell with Bournemouth ended, Cranie made his first appearance of the season, in a 0–0 draw against Charlton Athletic on 26 December 2004. He later made two more appearances in the 2004–05 season, as Southampton were relegated from the Premier League. He was a member of Southampton's youth team that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in 2005, losing on aggregate to Ipswich Town.

The 2005–06 season saw Cranie make eleven appearances and then, on 7 November 2006, he joined League One side Yeovil Town on loan until January. After spending two months back with Southampton, on 2 March 2007, he returned to Yeovil on loan until Easter. Cranie stayed with the club for several weeks before returning to his parent club on 30 March 2007. He made his first and only 2006–07 appearance for the Saints in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Derby County where he acquitted himself well although his side was defeated on penalties.

With lack of first team opportunities, Cranie hinted at leaving the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2006–07 season, though he said that he was "keeping his options open". "I would like to break into the first team but if not I will have to look elsewhere to get my football." At the end of the 2006–07 season, Cranie was offered a one-year contract to stay at the club, but rejected the offer. Then manager George Burley, begrudgingly accepted, and understood, Cranie's decision to leave the club.

Cranie signed with Portsmouth on 26 June 2007, rejoining his former manager Harry Redknapp.

He made his Portsmouth debut in the first home game of the 2007–08 season against Manchester United on 15 August 2007, with a solid performance at right back. On 6 October, after three appearances for Portsmouth, Cranie agreed to join Queens Park Rangers on a three-month loan. QPR, bottom of the Championship, were interested in Cranie when he was with the Saints. He made his Queens Park Rangers debut on 8 October 2007, in a 1–0 win over Norwich City. However, his loan ended when he suffered a broken leg after just six appearances for the London side.