Harry Croxton
Encyclopedia
Harry Clement Croxton was a footballer who played as a half-back
. He made 206 appearances (116 in the Football League) and scored 11 times (7 in the football league) for Burslem Port Vale
in two spells from 1901 to 1911. He spent 1905 to 1908 at Stoke
, making 24 league and cup appearances, scoring one goal.
from Burslem Park in March 1901, and soon became a regular in the side, making 28 appearances for the Second Division
side in 1901–02
. He played seventeen games in 1902–03
, before he became an ever-present throughout the 39 game 1904–05
season. He scored his first goal in senior football on 27 February, in what was a 6–2 victory over Leicester Fosse
at the Athletic Ground
. He was also an ever-present in the forty game 1904–05
season, scoring in draws with Bradford City
and Lincoln City
, he also bagged Vale's consolation goal in a 8–1 thumping from Liverpool
at Anfield
. He scored in a 3–2 win over Chelsea
on 30 October, but after making fourteen appearances in 1905–06
, he was sold to rivals Stoke
in November 1905.
He played eighteen times for the "Potters" in 1905–06, hitting the net in a 4–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers
at the Victoria Ground
. However he played only six games in 1906–07, as Stoke suffered relegation after finishing bottom of the First Division
. He was absent completely in 1907–08, after which Stoke resigned from the Football League
.
Croxton returned to Port Vale in December 1908 and went straight back into the first team. However the club had resigned from the Football League in 1907, and were now competing in the North Staffordshire & District League. He helped the club to both top the division and lift the Staffordshire Junior Cup in 1910, before he retired from football the following year.
. He had a family of four daughters and three sons. His eldest son, also named Harry, became a director of Chivers and had a daughter, Jennifer, who became a RADA
trained actress and appeared in the celebrated 1960s spy-fi
series The Avengers
. One of his daughters, Clara, won the Staffordshire ballroom dancing
championship in 1937 with her partner, Basset Riseley, whose father was Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent
.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He made 206 appearances (116 in the Football League) and scored 11 times (7 in the football league) for Burslem Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in two spells from 1901 to 1911. He spent 1905 to 1908 at Stoke
Stoke 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...
, making 24 league and cup appearances, scoring one goal.
Playing career
Croxton joined Burslem Port ValePort Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
from Burslem Park in March 1901, and soon became a regular in the side, making 28 appearances for the 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...
side in 1901–02
1901–02 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season
The 1901–02 season was Burslem Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football in the Football League. The season was an unremarkable mid-table affair, however was a positive step for the club as they managed to turn a profit without selling any major players.-Second Division:After an...
. He played seventeen games in 1902–03
1902–03 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season
The 1902–03 season was Burslem Port Vale's fifth consecutive season of football in the Football League. Finishing in ninth place for the second time in three years, it would take just over two decades for the club to again reach the heights of a top ten second tier finish...
, before he became an ever-present throughout the 39 game 1904–05
1904–05 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season
The 1904–05 season was Burslem Port Vale's seventh consecutive season of football in the Football League. A poor season, the club had to apply for re-election...
season. He scored his first goal in senior football on 27 February, in what was a 6–2 victory over Leicester Fosse
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
at the Athletic Ground
Athletic Ground (Cobridge)
The Athletic Ground was a football stadium, located in Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent and home to Port Vale for 27 years, hosting twelve Football League seasons....
. He was also an ever-present in the forty game 1904–05
1904–05 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season
The 1904–05 season was Burslem Port Vale's seventh consecutive season of football in the Football League. A poor season, the club had to apply for re-election...
season, scoring in draws with Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
and Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, he also bagged Vale's consolation goal in a 8–1 thumping from Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
. He scored in a 3–2 win over 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 30 October, but after making fourteen appearances in 1905–06
1905–06 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season
The 1905–06 season was Burslem Port Vale's eighth consecutive season of football in the Football League. It was another season spent struggling at the lower end of the league....
, he was sold to rivals Stoke
Stoke 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...
in November 1905.
He played eighteen times for the "Potters" in 1905–06, hitting the net in a 4–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
at the Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers...
. However he played only six games in 1906–07, as Stoke suffered relegation after finishing bottom of the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. He was absent completely in 1907–08, after which Stoke resigned from the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Croxton returned to Port Vale in December 1908 and went straight back into the first team. However the club had resigned from the Football League in 1907, and were now competing in the North Staffordshire & District League. He helped the club to both top the division and lift the Staffordshire Junior Cup in 1910, before he retired from football the following year.
Personal life
Until 1933 he owned the Pack Horse Inn at Longport, near BurslemBurslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
. He had a family of four daughters and three sons. His eldest son, also named Harry, became a director of Chivers and had a daughter, Jennifer, who became a RADA
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
trained actress and appeared in the celebrated 1960s spy-fi
Spy-fi
-Definition and characteristics:It often uses a secret agent or superspy whose mission is a showcase of science fiction elements such as technology and ideas used for extortion, plots for world domination or world destruction, futuristic weapons, gadgets and fast vehicles that can travel on land,...
series The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
. One of his daughters, Clara, won the Staffordshire ballroom dancing
Ballroom dance
Ballroom dance refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television....
championship in 1937 with her partner, Basset Riseley, whose father was Lord Mayor of 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...
.
Honours
with Port Vale- North Staffordshire & District League champion: 1909–10
- Staffordshire Junior Cup winner: 1910