Fergus Crawford
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Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 1934 | ||
Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
Position(s) | Left-Back | ||
Youth career | |||
1950–1951 | Bulfin United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1951–1959 | St Patrick's Athletic | 57 | (1) |
1959–1961 | Limerick | 28 | (0) |
International career | |||
League of Ireland XI | 13 | (0) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Fergus Crawford (1934–1985) was an Irish professional footballer.[1] Crawford was brought up on the Phibsboro Road in Dublin, Ireland, in the shadow of Dalymount Park.
Career
Crawford's football career started when he was instructed by the local constabulary to stop playing football on the roads. The local
He played many times for the
He was picked for the full international squad on more than one occasion but did not receive a full international cap despite having "warmed the bench", most notably against Yugoslavia in 1955. He was incredibly unlucky in that regard as at that time only one substitution was allowed.
Crawford founded the
Following a contractual dispute with St.Pats that kept him out of football for almost two years he returned to League of Ireland football for the 1959 - 1960 season with Limerick F.C. This was despite offers from big English clubs including Arsenal. It proved a great move for Limerick as, for the first of only two times in their history, they won the League championship.
Crawford is fondly remembered by many soccer fans as a cultured and lightning fast fullback, regarded by many to the best Irish player in that position never to play a full international. He lived quietly in his native Dublin following the end of his career and died at home aged 51 in Dublin in August 1985 following a long illness and in the presence of his family.
References
- ^ Kinsella, Colm (7 April 2021). "Limerick v Waterford, League of Ireland, Markets Field, 1960". Limerick Live. Retrieved 11 February 2024.