| Francis Crowdy | |
| Fullname: | Francis Demainbray Crowdy |
| Birth Date: | 17 September 1857 |
| Birth Place: | Donnington, Berkshire |
| Death Place: | Exeter, Devon |
| Position: | Forward |
| Youthyears1: | 1873–77 |
| Youthclubs1: | Westminster School |
| Years1: | 1877–80 |
| Clubs1: | Oxford University |
| Years2: | 1881–84 |
| Clubs2: | Old Westminsters |
Francis Demainbray Crowdy (17 September 1857 - 12 February 1939) was an English medical doctor and footballer who played in the 1880 FA Cup final for Oxford University.
Crowdy was the son of Alfred, a solicitor from Berkshire. The family moved to Torquay in the mid-1860s.[1]
He was educated at Westminster School, an early adopter of association football laws, and appeared in the school's Christmas play (Andria by the Roman comedian Terence) in 1875.[2] He had an aptitude for athletics, winning the school's high jump contest in 1874 with a clearance of 5', and second in the pole vault with a height of 8'1".[3]
He went up to Oriel College, Oxford in 1877, reading Mechanics and Physics & Chemistry,[4] and took a "sportsman's" third.[5] He became a doctor of medicine in 1885.[6]
Crowdy first played football for his school in 1873,[7] and one particular highlight was his scoring one of the school's goals in a 2–2 draw with the Wanderers in 1875.[8]
He first played for Oxford University as a forward in the 1877 Varsity Match, which Oxford won 1–0.[9] His first FA Cup match came in the fourth round second replay match with the Royal Engineers in the 1877–78 competition; he scored one of the university's two goals, taking advantage of the ball spilling out of a scrimmage, but the Sappers won 4–2.[10]
He did not feature at all in the 1878–79 FA Cup, but was a regular in the 1879–80 FA Cup; it was his shot, in the semi-final against Nottingham Forest, which was parried into the path of George Childs for Childs to score the only goal of the game.[11] He "greatly distinguish[ed]" himself in the final against Clapham Rovers, but Oxford went down 1–0.[12]
After leaving university he continued to play football, usually on the left-wing or in the centre of the forward line, for the Old Westminsters.[13] His last match of any note was in the 3–2 defeat to the Old Carthusians in the 1882–83 FA Cup third round, in which he had the role of captain.[14]
Dr Crowdy was a member of the British Medical Association for 37 years; he originally practised at St Thomas' Hospital in London,[15] and spent 30 years in practice in Torquay, never mentioning his association football career to his colleagues, and instead enjoying cricket as a recreation.[16]
He married Florence Saunders on 8 April 1896 at St Mary's Church in Marylebone.[17] The couple had two sons and two daughters. Dr Crowdy died in Exeter on 12 February 1939, survived by his widow and three of his children.[18]