Garth Crooks
Encyclopedia
Garth Anthony Crooks OBE
(born 10 March 1958 in Stoke-on-Trent
, Staffordshire
) is a retired English
football player of Jamaica
n ancestry. He played principally for Stoke City and Tottenham, with whom he was a prolific goal scorer and an FA Cup winner at Wembley in 1981. Throughout his career he was an active member of the Professional Footballers' Association and was elected the first black chairman of the union. He currently works for the BBC as an expert and outspoken pundit, and presents the occasional political programme.
, scoring 48 goals in 147 appearances. He became most famous following a high-profile transfer to Tottenham Hotspur
in 1980, where he formed a successful striking partnership with Steve Archibald
. With Crooks leading the line, Spurs won two FA Cup
s and the 1984 UEFA Cup
, won against Anderlecht
(he was an unused substitute in the final's second leg). Crooks is frequently credited as the first black
player to score in an FA Cup final for his equalising goal in a 3–2
win over Manchester City
in 1981, though this was pre-dated by Mike Trebilcock
in 1966. He later enjoyed a loan at Manchester United
as well as spells at West Bromwich Albion
and Charlton Athletic
, before a knee injury forced his retirement in 1990.
.
but gave up the role after retiring in 1990. He first worked in the media as a match analyst at the 1982 and 1990 World Cups
and later worked as Match of the Day
s reporter at the England
camp at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup
. In the late 1990s, Crooks became presenter of the political television show Despatch Box
. In 1999 he was awarded an OBE
in the Queen's Birthday Honours
for his services to football punditry, specifically citing his ability to bring passion to football. He currently regularly appears on Final Score
as a pundit. He is occasionally seen, on BBC television after league football matches, interviewing the players. He also submits his "best eleven" footballers each week on the BBC website. He is now on the board of North West London school Capital City Academy
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 10 March 1958 in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
) is a retired English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football player of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n ancestry. He played principally for Stoke City and Tottenham, with whom he was a prolific goal scorer and an FA Cup winner at Wembley in 1981. Throughout his career he was an active member of the Professional Footballers' Association and was elected the first black chairman of the union. He currently works for the BBC as an expert and outspoken pundit, and presents the occasional political programme.
Club career
The striker began his career at hometown club Stoke CityStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, scoring 48 goals in 147 appearances. He became most famous following a high-profile transfer to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in 1980, where he formed a successful striking partnership with Steve Archibald
Steve Archibald
Steven Archibald is a former Scottish football player and manager.- Club career :He first came to prominence playing in midfield for Scottish First Division side Clyde, but was converted to striker when he signed for Aberdeen, forging a prolific partnership with Joe Harper...
. With Crooks leading the line, Spurs won two FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
s and the 1984 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, won against Anderlecht
Anderlecht
Anderlecht is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region.There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within the Anderlecht municipality.-Pronunciation:* Dutch: * French:...
(he was an unused substitute in the final's second leg). Crooks is frequently credited as the first black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
player to score in an FA Cup final for his equalising goal in a 3–2
1981 FA Cup Final
The 1981 FA Cup Final was contested by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Wembley. The match finished 1–1 after extra time; Tommy Hutchison opened the scoring for City, and then scored an own-goal eleven minutes from time to bring Spurs level. In the replay, Spurs won 3–2, with...
win over Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in 1981, though this was pre-dated by Mike Trebilcock
Mike Trebilcock
Michael "Mike" Trebilcock is a retired Cornish professional footballer. He played primarily as a winger and is most famous for scoring twice in the 1966 FA Cup Final for Everton, becoming the first black player to score in an FA Cup Final.Mike Trebilcock played for non-league Tavistock before...
in 1966. He later enjoyed a loan at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
as well as spells at West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, before a knee injury forced his retirement in 1990.
International career
Crooks represented England at international level making four appearances for the England Under-21'sEngland national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
.
Outside of football
In 1988, he became the first black chairman of the Professional Footballers' AssociationProfessional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
but gave up the role after retiring in 1990. He first worked in the media as a match analyst at the 1982 and 1990 World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and later worked as Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
s reporter at the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
camp at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. In the late 1990s, Crooks became presenter of the political television show Despatch Box
Despatch Box
Despatch Box was a late night political analysis television programme produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC Two between 1989 and 2002. The programme was presented by Andrew Neil and produced at the BBC's Millbank studios in London....
. In 1999 he was awarded an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
for his services to football punditry, specifically citing his ability to bring passion to football. He currently regularly appears on Final Score
Final Score
Final Score is a BBC TV programme produced by BBC Sport. The programme is broadcast on late Saturday afternoons in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, usually on BBC ONE. BBC Northern Ireland opts away during the last ten minutes to cover local results, BBC Scotland runs a different programme...
as a pundit. He is occasionally seen, on BBC television after league football matches, interviewing the players. He also submits his "best eleven" footballers each week on the BBC website. He is now on the board of North West London school Capital City Academy
Capital City Academy
Capital City Academy is a specialist Sports and Arts Academy in Willesden, North West London, in the borough of Brent, UK.-Design:...
.
As a player
With Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 1981, 1982 - UEFA Cup: 1984