Tom Crawley Explained

Tom Crawley
Height:5ft 9in
Position:Centre forward
Birth Date:10 November 1911
Birth Place:Blantyre, Scotland
Death Place:Coventry, England
Clubs1:Blantyre Victoria
Years2:1932–1934
Clubs2:Hamilton Academical
Caps2:46
Goals2:25
Years3:1934–1935
Clubs3:Motherwell
Caps3:8
Goals3:9
Years4:1935
Clubs4:Hamilton Academical
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:1935–1936
Clubs5:Preston North End
Caps5:2
Goals5:0
Years6:1935–1947
Clubs6:Coventry City
Caps6:45
Goals6:16
Years7:
Totalcaps:101
Totalgoals:50

Thomas Crawley (10 November 1911 – 1977) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre forward for Hamilton Academical,[1] Motherwell,[2] Preston North End and Coventry City.[3] [4]

He signed for Hamilton as a replacement for the injured David Wilson[1] and moved to Motherwell for the same reason to fill in for Willie MacFadyen,[2] but was unable to displace either of them on a long-term basis despite a good scoring record (they were among the leading forwards of the period in Scottish football). He turned out for Accies once more in the summer of 1935 in the Rosebery Charity Cup in 1935 with Wilson unavailable.[5]

Crawley then moved to England, firstly for a short spell with Preston. In his later years at Coventry (where he stayed until after World War II),[6] he moved back to play at centre half. During the war he made guest appearances for Nottingham Forest[7] and Leicester City.[1]

His son Tommy[8] and grandson Ian both played in non-league football in the East Midlands, Ian winning the FA Vase with VS Rugby and the FA Trophy with Telford United in the 1980s.[9]

Notes and References

  1. https://sites.google.com/site/hamiltonacademicalmemorybank/players/crawley-tom-1932 Crawley, Tom (1932)
  2. http://www.motherwellnet.com/database/player-archive/c/tom-crawley/ Tom Crawley
  3. http://www.ccfpa.co.uk/player_search/player_profile.php Tommy Crawley
  4. A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players. John Litster. Scottish Football Historian magazine. October 2012.
  5. https://www.londonhearts.com/scores/images/1935/1935050804.htm Hearts Beat Hamilton Unusual Goal at Tynecastle
  6. https://www.11v11.com/players/tommy-crawley-30030/ Tommy Crawley
  7. http://www.thecityground.com/player.php?player_name=Tommy_Crawley Tommy Crawley
  8. http://www.fromtowntotown.org.uk/assets/nuneaton-borough-1958-1970-pt2-approved.pdf Nuneaton Borough 1958-1970 – Part 2
  9. https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-bogey-officially-been-14208863 The Coventry City bogey that has officially been put to rest