Gavin Crawford (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Gavin Crawford was a Scottish
footballer
.
Born in Kilmarnock
, Crawford started playing for local junior sides before joining Sheffield United
(then of the Midland League) in 1890 from Glasgow side Fairfield Rangers. After a single season with the Blades, Crawford moved to London
to join Woolwich Arsenal
, becoming the first professional player for the side. He immediately became a regular, and remained so as the club joined the Football League in 1893; Crawford scored on his League debut, in a Second Division
match against Walsall Town Swifts
on September 11, 1893.
Crawford started out at Arsenal as a right-winger
, but later on in his career moved into midfield
as a right-half. He remained a near ever-present in Arsenal's first four seasons, becoming club captain after the death of Joe Powell
in 1896. However, injury wrecked his 1897-98
season, and he lost his place in the side. In all, he played 138 times for Woolwich Arsenal in league and cup, scoring 18 goals, and an additional 83 games in Arsenal's pre-league days.
Crawford was one of the longest-surviving members of Arsenal's first professional side, along with Bill Julian
and Jack McBean
. The three were reunited at an Arsenal game against Chelsea
on March 20, 1948 (by which time Arsenal were one of the leading sides in English football), an event recorded in The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal.
After losing his place at the Manor Ground Gavin moved on to Millwall
in 1898 and later had a spell with Queens Park Rangers
where he made up a quartet of ex-Arsenal players including Adam Haywood
, Alex McConnell and William White. After retiring from football, he became a groundsman and eventually became head groundsman at Charlton Athletic
, until the late 1940s.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
.
Born in Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
, Crawford started playing for local junior sides before joining Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
(then of the Midland League) in 1890 from Glasgow side Fairfield Rangers. After a single season with the Blades, Crawford moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to join Woolwich Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, becoming the first professional player for the side. He immediately became a regular, and remained so as the club joined the Football League in 1893; Crawford scored on his League debut, in a Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
match against Walsall Town Swifts
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
on September 11, 1893.
Crawford started out at Arsenal as a right-winger
Winger (sport)
In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball, rugby union, lacrosse and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch . In American football and Canadian football, the analogous position...
, but later on in his career moved into midfield
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
as a right-half. He remained a near ever-present in Arsenal's first four seasons, becoming club captain after the death of Joe Powell
Joe Powell
Joseph Joshua "Joe" Powell was an English footballer who was captain of Woolwich Arsenal in their first season of League football. He is also notable for being one of the few footballers to die as a result of an injury incurred whilst playing.Born in Bristol, Powell had joined the Army as a young...
in 1896. However, injury wrecked his 1897-98
1897-98 in English football
The 1897–98 season was the 27th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season, and he lost his place in the side. In all, he played 138 times for Woolwich Arsenal in league and cup, scoring 18 goals, and an additional 83 games in Arsenal's pre-league days.
Crawford was one of the longest-surviving members of Arsenal's first professional side, along with Bill Julian
Bill Julian
John William "Bill" Julian was an English football player and coach.Born in Boston, Lincolnshire, he first played for his local side Boston Town before moving to Royal Arsenal in 1889, following a match between the two on Good Friday of that year...
and Jack McBean
Jack McBean
Jack McBean is a midfielder for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. He is the club's youngest ever-signing. In June 2011, it was confirmed that he has been formally approached to consider switching his FIFA nationality from American to Scottish at the request of Scotland national football...
. The three were reunited at an Arsenal game against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
on March 20, 1948 (by which time Arsenal were one of the leading sides in English football), an event recorded in The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal.
After losing his place at the Manor Ground Gavin moved on to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in 1898 and later had a spell with Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
where he made up a quartet of ex-Arsenal players including Adam Haywood
Adam Haywood
Adam Seymour Haywood was an English footballer who played as an inside-forward. Some sources spell his surname as Heywood or Hayward.- Biography :Haywood was born in Horninglow, Burton upon Trent...
, Alex McConnell and William White. After retiring from football, he became a groundsman and eventually became head groundsman at 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,...
, until the late 1940s.