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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francis Demainbray Crowdy | ||
| Date of birth | 17 September 1857 | ||
| Place of birth | Donnington, Berkshire | ||
| Date of death | 12 February 1939 (aged 81) | ||
| Place of death | Exeter, Devon | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1873–77 | Westminster School | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1877–80 | Oxford University | ||
| 1881–84 | Old Westminsters | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life edit
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]
Football career edit
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]
Medical career edit
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]
Personal life edit
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]
References edit
- ^ Census records confirm the birthplace of his siblings changes from Berkshire to Torquay circa 1864.
- ^ "The Westminster Play". John Bull: 862. 24 December 1875.
- ^ "Athletic sports". The Elizabethan. I (14): 111–2. November 1875.
- ^ "Oxford University". Globe: 4. 7 June 1879.
- ^ "University Intelligence". Morning Post: 2. 20 December 1880.
- ^ Foster, Joseph (1891). Alumni Oxonienses 1715–1886 volume 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 323.
- ^ "Westminster School v Mr Stephenson's Team". Sportsman: 3. 28 October 1873.
- ^ "The Fields". The Elizabethan. I (14): 113–4. November 1875.
- ^ "Oxford v Cambridge". York Herald: 8. 12 February 1877.
- ^ "Royal Engineers v Oxford University". Bell's Life: 3. 16 March 1878.
- ^ "Oxford University v Nottingham Forest". Bell's Life: 10. 27 March 1880.
- ^ "Clapham Rovers v Oxford University". Referee: 6. 11 April 1880.
- ^ "Royal Engineers v Old Westminsters". Bell's Life: 10. 5 November 1881.
- ^ "Old Carthusians v Old Westminsters". Sporting Life: 4. 19 December 1882.
- ^ The Medical Register. London: Spottiswoode & Co. 1886. p. 278.
- ^ "Obituary". British Medical Journal: 421. 25 February 1939.
- ^ Register of Marriages. London: Saint Mary, Bryanston Square: Bryanston Square, Saint Marylebone. 1892–1906. p. 224.
- ^ Calendar of all grants of probate and letters of administration A.B.C. Birkenhead: Willmer Brothers. 1939. p. 1035.