Johnny Crossan

Johnny Crossan

Personal information
Full name	John Andrew Crossan
Date of birth	(1938-11-29)29 November 1938
Place of birth	Derry,Northern Ireland
Position(s)	Inside forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1954–1958	Derry City	?	(5)
1958	Coleraine	0	(0)
1958–1959	Bristol City	0	(0)
1959–1961	Sparta Rotterdam	20	(5)
1961–1962	Standard Liège	33	(6)
1962–1965	Sunderland	82	(39)
1965–1967	Manchester City	94	(24)
1967–1970	Middlesbrough	56	(7)
1970–1975	KSK Tongeren	108	(5)
Total		370 +	(80 +)
International career
1959	Northern Ireland B	1	(0)
1959–1967	Northern Ireland	24	(10)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Andrew Crossan(born 29 November 1938) is a Northern Irish author, radio sports analyst, entrepreneur, and formerfootballer.His brotherEddiewas also a player.

Club career

Crossan began his career playing forDerry City,where he played as an inside forward. His talent was spotted by several leading English clubs, includingArsenalandSunderland.When the latter made a substantial offer, Derry City offered Crossan a payment deal which he rejected, offering his own. When the Sunderland negotiations broke down, Derry City dropped Crossan, who signed forColeraine.Derry City, still aggrieved by Crossan's actions, reported themselves to the Football League authorities for technical breaches of regulations, thus ensuring that Crossan would face disciplinary action.

In January 1959, a commission of inquiry imposed small fines on Derry and Coleraine, but banned Crossan from all forms of football for life. A partial lifting of the ban was allowed following an appeal, in May 1959 the inside forward signed for Dutch ChampionsSparta Rotterdam,where he was first called up to theNorthern Irelandsquad.

He went from there toStandard Liège,where he played in the semi-final of theEuropean CupagainstReal Madrid.In 1963, Crossan returned to football in the UK (following the lifting of his 'life-time' ban) when he was signed by Sunderland, with whom he made it to the oldFirst Division.He then signed forManchester Citywho were playing in the oldSecond Division.As team captain, he helped them make their way into the oldFirst Division,before being sold toMiddlesbroughafter a loss of form following a car crash and other health problems.

International career

Internationally, he was capped 24 times byNorthern Irelandand scored 10 goals.

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Competition
1	28 November 1961	Belfast,Northern Ireland	Poland	2–0	UEFA Euro 1964 qualifying
2	20 November 1963	London, England	England	3–8	1964 British Home Championship
3	29 April 1964	Belfast,Northern Ireland	Uruguay	3–0	Friendly match
4
5	14 October 1964	Belfast,Northern Ireland	Switzerland	1–0	1966 FIFA World Cup qualification
6	17 March 1965	Belfast,Northern Ireland	Netherlands	2–1	1966 FIFA World Cup qualification
7	7 May 1965	Belfast,Northern Ireland	Albania	4–1	1966 FIFA World Cup qualification
8					1966 FIFA World Cup qualification
9					1966 FIFA World Cup qualification
10	2 October 1965	Belfast,Northern Ireland	Scotland	3–2	1966 British Home Championship

Management

After his playing days, Crossan had a spell in management and took the top job atLeague of Irelandclub,Sligo Rovers.He resigned soon after.

Media career

He also commentates forBBC Radio Foylewhen they cover Derry City games.

External links

• Johnny Crossanat WorldFootball.net
• Johnny Crossanat National-Football-Teams.com
• Johnny Crossanat Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
• The forgotten story of John Crossan's lifetime banby Simon Burnton,The Guardian2 Nov 2011