Craig McAllister

Return to non-League

Following his release from Exeter City, McAllister moved back to non-League, signing for Conference Premier outfit Crawley Town on a one-year contract in June 2010. He debuted on the opening day of 2010–11 in a 1–0 defeat at home to Grimsby Town and scored his first goal for Crawley ten days later with the second goal in a 2–1 win over newly promoted Bath City. At the end of the season, after Crawley won the Conference Premier title and therefore promotion into the Football League, McAllister was released after he rejected a new deal.

McAllister signed for Newport County in May 2011, deciding to stay in non-League football. He signed for Newport after their manager, Anthony Hudson, had earlier stated "We are on the verge of two massive additions to the squad, who will take the club in the direction that we want to go." He debuted on the opening day of 2011–12 in a 3–2 defeat away to Kettering Town. He was loaned to Conference Premier rivals Luton Town on 18 January until the end of 2011–12. McAllister debuted on 25 January in a 0–0 draw at home to Mansfield Town and scored his first goal for Luton with the third goal in a 3–0 victory at home to Ebbsfleet United on 17 April. and McAllister was introduced as a substitute in both legs of the play-off semi-final against Wrexham, which Luton won 3–2 on aggregate. He was introduced as a substitute again in the 2012 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium, in which Luton lost 2–1 to York City, and completed the loan spell with 17 appearances and one goal. His first appearance after his return came on the opening day of 2012–13 in a 3–0 defeat away to Boreham Wood and scored his first goal three days later in a 1–1 draw at home to former club Basingstoke Town. and McAllister played in both legs of the play-off semi-final defeat to Dover Athletic, losing 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out, after the tie finished 3–3 on aggregate. He made 48 appearances and scored 11 goals during Eastleigh's first season in the Conference Premier, including both legs of the play-off semi-final defeat to Grimsby Town, losing 5–1 on aggregate, after they finished fourth in the table. McAllister was released by Eastleigh after the end of the season.

McAllister signed for National League South club Sutton United prior to the start of 2015–16. He debuted on the opening day of the season in a 2–0 defeat at home to Maidstone United. but missed the latter part of the season due to injury. McAllister was loaned to National League South club Eastbourne Borough in September 2016 on a one-month loan. He debuted in a 4–0 victory at home to Oxford City on 3 September 2016 and completed the loan spell with one goal from five appearances. He made 16 appearances and scored two goals for Sutton in 2016–17. He made his fourth debut a day later in a 2–0 defeat at home to Tranmere Rovers.

On 11 January 2018, McAllister signed for Southern League Premier Division club Gosport Borough as player-coach, after leaving Eastleigh by mutual consent. After scoring four goals from 10 appearances for Gosport, He finished the season playing for both Blackfield & Langley and Gosport Borough, making a further three appearances, scoring once for Gosport, McAllister made 13 appearances and scored seven goals for Blackfield & Langley,

On 26 June 2018, McAllister was appointed player-manager of Gosport Borough.

He signed for Alresford Town for the 2019–20 campaign of the Wessex League Premier Division. He made 24 league appearances for the club, scoring eight goals. During 2020 he signed for Lymington Town. In December 2021 he moved to Baffins Milton Rovers. He returned to Lymington in May 2022, later moving back to Blackfield & Langley. He spent the 2023-24 season at Hythe & Dibden and Brockenhurst.

Style of play McAllister plays as a striker, His time at Basingstoke Town was described as "prolific" due to the number of goals he scored. and said that McAllister and fellow Exeter City striker Richard Logan had a good partnership together after McAllister scored a hat-trick for the reserve team. McAllister has two children, born in October 2011 and November 2013.

Career statistics

Honours Crawley Town Conference Premier: 2010–11

Eastleigh Conference South: 2013–14

Sutton United National League South: 2015–16

Blackfield & Langley Wessex League Premier Division: 2017–18