Sammy Crooks
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sammy" Dickinson Crooks (born at Bearpark
, County Durham
on 16 January 1908; died Belper
, Derbyshire
, on 3 February 1981) was an English
footballer
who played as outside forward
outside-right for Derby County
in the mid-war era. He was one of the best-known footballers of the 1920s and 1930s and was capped 26 times by England
.
in his spare time until problems with rheumatism forced him to abandon his career underground. When his health was restored he joined Durham City in June 1926 and made 16 appearances for them in the Third Division (North).
and was signed for Derby County for a fee of £300, making his debut for The Rams in a 2-1 win over Leicester City
on 10 September 1927. Between 1927 and 1946 he played 445 games for the Rams, scoring 111 goals. During this period, County were twice runners-up in the Football League, in 1930
and 1936
.
His first appearance for England was in a 5-2 victory against Scotland
on 5 April 1930.. He then became a regular fixture in the England side, making 26 appearances with 7 goals, including two in a 7-1 defeat of Spain
on 9 December 1931. His final England appearance came in a 6-2 victory over Hungary
on 2 December 1936, (playing alongside Derby County colleagues Raich Carter
and Eric Keen
)
In 1935, Arsenal
attempted to sign Crooks and Tom Cooper
in exchange for Alex James
, but the deal fell through as Arsenal required a cash payment as well which Derby were not prepared to meet.
Crook's playing career was interrupted by World War II
, but he made a handful of league appearances in the 1946-47 season before retiring. He was unlucky to miss Derby's FA Cup
win of 1946 due to a knee injury, having scored in all of the earlier rounds.
During the war he guested for Nottingham Forest making 12 appearances (2 goals) in the 1941-42 season.
In May 1950 he became manager of Shrewsbury Town
, who had been elected to the Football League Division Three North for the 1950–51 season. He remained with the Shropshire side until 1954.
In 1955 he moved to Gresley Rovers
turning out occasionally as a player. There followed spells as manager with Burton Albion
and Heanor Town
. During this time he opened a sport clothing store in Derby
.
After finishing in local team management he became Derby County's Chief Scout (until 1967) and also served for 14 years as Secretary of the Association Football Players Union.
His career has been marked by Durham City naming the upper lounge at New Ferens Park, 'The Sammy Crooks Lounge', which is home to some of the memorabilia from his playing career.
Bearpark
Bearpark is a village and civil parish in County Durham in England. It is situated two and a half miles west of Durham, and a short distance to the north of Ushaw Moor....
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
on 16 January 1908; died Belper
Belper
Belper is a town and civil parish in the local government district of Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England.-Geography:Belper is situated eight miles north of Derby and is centred in the valley of the River Derwent...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, on 3 February 1981) was an 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...
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...
who played as outside forward
Outside forward
Outside forward is a position in association football which refers to a footballer who plays as an advanced forward on the right or left wing - as an outside right or outside left. Typically as part of a 2-3-5 formation or one of its variants...
outside-right for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in the mid-war era. He was one of the best-known footballers of the 1920s and 1930s and was capped 26 times by 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...
.
Early life
He was one of a family of 17 children. After leaving school, he worked in the coal-mines and played for the colliery team and then for Tow Law TownTow Law Town F.C.
Tow Law Town A.F.C. is an English non-league football club from Tow Law, County Durham, currently playing in the Northern League Division One. The team, nicknamed "The Lawyers", play their home games at Ironworks Road...
in his spare time until problems with rheumatism forced him to abandon his career underground. When his health was restored he joined Durham City in June 1926 and made 16 appearances for them in the Third Division (North).
Derby County
By April 1927, he had been spotted by George JobeyGeorge Jobey
George Jobey was an English football player and manager. He won the league championship as a player with his hometown club Newcastle United.-Career:...
and was signed for Derby County for a fee of £300, making his debut for The Rams in a 2-1 win over Leicester City
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...
on 10 September 1927. Between 1927 and 1946 he played 445 games for the Rams, scoring 111 goals. During this period, County were twice runners-up in the Football League, in 1930
1929-30 in English football
The 1929–30 season was the 55th season of competitive football in England.-Events:The Wednesday officially changed their name to Sheffield Wednesday prior to the start of this season....
and 1936
1935-36 in English football
The 1935–36 season was the 61st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Sunderland AFC won the league, and in doing so they remain the last team to win the English League while wearing striped jerseys...
.
His first appearance for England was in a 5-2 victory against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
on 5 April 1930.. He then became a regular fixture in the England side, making 26 appearances with 7 goals, including two in a 7-1 defeat of Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
on 9 December 1931. His final England appearance came in a 6-2 victory over Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
on 2 December 1936, (playing alongside Derby County colleagues Raich Carter
Raich Carter
Horatio Stratton "Raich" Carter was one of the greatest English footballers of the pre-war era...
and Eric Keen
Eric Keen
Errington Ridley Liddell Keen was an English football player and manager. Keen played at both professional and international levels, before becoming a coach at both national and international level in Europe and Africa....
)
In 1935, 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...
attempted to sign Crooks and Tom Cooper
Tom Cooper (footballer)
Thomas "Tom" Cooper was an England international footballer who played for Derby and Liverpool.-Playing career:Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Cooper played for Longton and then Trentham before being bought by Port Vale for £20 in August 1924...
in exchange for Alex James
Alex James (footballer)
Alexander Wilson James was a Scottish footballer, and is most noted for his success with Arsenal, where he is regarded as one of the club's greatest players of all time. James played as an inside forward, as a supporting player for the main strikers...
, but the deal fell through as Arsenal required a cash payment as well which Derby were not prepared to meet.
Crook's playing career was interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but he made a handful of league appearances in the 1946-47 season before retiring. He was unlucky to miss Derby's 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...
win of 1946 due to a knee injury, having scored in all of the earlier rounds.
During the war he guested for Nottingham Forest making 12 appearances (2 goals) in the 1941-42 season.
Management
In December 1949, Crooks moved into management with Retford Town.In May 1950 he became manager of Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, who had been elected to the Football League Division Three North for the 1950–51 season. He remained with the Shropshire side until 1954.
In 1955 he moved to Gresley Rovers
Gresley Rovers F.C.
Gresley Football Club are an English football club from Church Gresley, near Swadlincote, Derbyshire. Gresley are currently in the Midland Football Alliance, playing their home games at The Moat Ground...
turning out occasionally as a player. There followed spells as manager with Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
and Heanor Town
Heanor Town F.C.
Heanor Town Football Club is a football club established in 1883 and based in Heanor, Derbyshire, England. They have reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup six times in their history...
. During this time he opened a sport clothing store in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
.
After finishing in local team management he became Derby County's Chief Scout (until 1967) and also served for 14 years as Secretary of the Association Football Players Union.
His career has been marked by Durham City naming the upper lounge at New Ferens Park, 'The Sammy Crooks Lounge', which is home to some of the memorabilia from his playing career.