Jimmy Croal
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Anderson Croal (27 July 1885 - 16 September 1939) was a Scottish footballer and Schoolmaster who played both North and South of the border. In Scotland
for Falkirk
and Rangers
and in England
for Chelsea
. He was judged to be a clever inside left
who when paired with Bob McNeil
was very effective.
before finally leaving Ibrox to sign for Falkirk in November 1910. The transfer fee was £10. At Brockville, his career blossomed, and he won the Scottish Cup in 1913, as well as three international caps and five appearances for the Scottish League. Croal transferred to Chelsea from Falkirk sometime in 1914. Chelsea paid £2,000 for him and he remained at Stamford Bridge
until 1922. He was a member of the Chelsea side that reached the FA Cup in 1915
. He made a total of 130 appearances for Chelsea, scoring a total of 26 goals. Croal then spent a season with Fulham before retiring. He was a schoolmaster by profession.
Chelsea
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...
for Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
and Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and in England
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...
for 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...
. He was judged to be a clever inside left
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
who when paired with Bob McNeil
Bob McNeil
Bob McNeil was a Scottish footballer who played both North and South of the border. In Scotland for Hamilton Academical and in England for Chelsea...
was very effective.
Career
Croal was a lively inside left, who joined Rangers in 1904 from junior football. However, he failed to make the breakthrough to the first team and went out on loan to Ayr Parkhouse, Alloa Athletic and Dunfermline AthleticDunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
before finally leaving Ibrox to sign for Falkirk in November 1910. The transfer fee was £10. At Brockville, his career blossomed, and he won the Scottish Cup in 1913, as well as three international caps and five appearances for the Scottish League. Croal transferred to Chelsea from Falkirk sometime in 1914. Chelsea paid £2,000 for him and he remained at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
until 1922. He was a member of the Chelsea side that reached the FA Cup in 1915
1915 FA Cup Final
The 1915 FA Cup Final took place on 24 April 1915 and was contested by Sheffield United and Chelsea. It was the last FA Cup final to be staged before competitive football was abandoned in Britain because of the First World War...
. He made a total of 130 appearances for Chelsea, scoring a total of 26 goals. Croal then spent a season with Fulham before retiring. He was a schoolmaster by profession.
Honours
FalkirkFalkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
: Winner 1913
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...
- 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...
: Runners Up 19151915 FA Cup FinalThe 1915 FA Cup Final took place on 24 April 1915 and was contested by Sheffield United and Chelsea. It was the last FA Cup final to be staged before competitive football was abandoned in Britain because of the First World War...