Tucker Croft Explained

Tucker Croft
Fullname:Thomas Croft
Birth Place:Belfast, Ireland
Death Date:1955
Death Place:Northern Ireland
Position:Inside right
Youthclubs1:Dundela
Years1:1918–1921
Clubs1:Glentoran
Caps1:39
Goals1:10
Years2:1921–1924
Clubs2:Queen's Island
Caps2:?
Goals2:?
Years3:1924–1926
Clubs3:Fall River
Caps3:75
Goals3:36
Years4:1926–1927
Clubs4:J & P Coats
Caps4:10
Goals4:3
Years5:1927
Clubs5:Fall River
Caps5:3
Goals5:3
Years6:1927
Clubs6:Newark Skeeters
Caps6:5
Goals6:1
Years7:1927–1928
Clubs7:New York Nationals
Caps7:8
Goals7:2
Years8:1928–1929
Clubs8:Newark Skeeters
Caps8:1
Goals8:0
Years9:1928–1929
Clubs9:Queen's Island
Caps9:?
Goals9:?
Years10:1929–1930
Clubs10:Glentoran
Caps10:27
Goals10:5
Years11:1930
Clubs11:Glenavon
Years12:1930–1931
Clubs12:Dundela
Years13:1931–1933
Clubs13:Drumcondra
Goals13:6
Nationalyears1:1922–1924
Nationalteam1:Ireland
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:1

Thomas "Tucker" Croft was an Irish international footballer who played professionally in Ireland and the United States as an inside right.

Club

Born in Belfast, Croft played in his native Ireland for Dundela, Glentoran and Queen's Island. In 1924, he left Northern Ireland for the United States, joining the Fall River of the American Soccer League. He was under contract to Queen's Island at the time and the move led to his suspension by the IFA. During his time with the 'Marksmen' he was noted for his discipline problems and in 1925, he petitioned the Irish Football Association for re-admittance. When this was denied, he returned to Fall River.[1] In 1926, Croft began the season with Fall River, but moved to J & P Coats after fourteen games. Croft was back with Fall River for the start of the 1927–1928 season, but quickly moved to the Newark Skeeters. In December 1927, the New York Nationals purchased Croft's contract.[2] He played only eight games for the Nationals, and was back with the Skeeters for the 1928–1929 season, but played only one game before returning to Northern Ireland. The IFA re-admitted Croft on 7 December 1928 and he played with both Queen's Island and Glentoran, before retiring in 1930.

International

Croft also represented Ireland at international level between 1922 and 1924, scoring one goal in three appearances. The goal was the winning goal against England, and marked the first win for Ireland over England following the advent of the partition of Ireland in 1922.

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://bethlehemsteelsoccer.org/gl080725.html Bethlehem Club a Haven for New Talent
  2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19271215&id=nZQhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bJgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4495,3503338 15 December 1927 Sports Briefs