Jimmy Crabtree
{{Short description|English footballer (1871–1908)}}
{{distinguish|Jimmy Crabtree (footballer, born 1895)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jimmy Crabtree
| image = JimmyCrabtree.jpg
| caption =
| fullname = James William Crabtree
| birth_date = {{birth date|1871|12|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Burnley, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1908|6|18|1871|12|23|df=y}}
| death_place = Birmingham, England
| height =
| position = Full back / Half back
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1889–1890
| years2 = 1890–1891
| years3 = 1891–1892
| years4 = 1892–1895
| years5 = 1895–1904
| years6 = 1904
| clubs1 = Burnley
| clubs2 = Rossendale
| clubs3 = Heywood Central
| clubs4 = Burnley
| clubs5 = Aston Villa
| clubs6 = Plymouth Argyle
| caps1 = 3
| caps2 = ?
| caps3 = ?
| caps4 = 69
| caps5 = 176
| caps6 = 4
| goals1 = 1
| goals2 = ?
| goals3 = ?
| goals4 = 8
| goals5 = 6
| goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 252
| totalgoals = 15
| nationalyears1 = 1894–1902
| nationalteam1 = England
| nationalcaps1 = 14
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| medaltemplates =
}}
James William Crabtree (23 December 1871 – 18 June 1908Sporting Life, 19 June 1908, p. 6) was a gifted English footballer of the end of the 19th century. Crabtree, alongside his great rival Ernest Needham, was described as the finest wing-half and the greatest player of all time by various teammates and journalists, including Sir Charles Clegg and Howard Spencer.
Career
Crabtree began his career at Burnley, but left in 1890 and played in non-league football for two years before returning to Burnley for the 1892–93 season.{{cite book|first=Ray|last=Simpson|title=The Clarets Chronicles|year=2007|publisher=Burnley Football Club |isbn=978-0-9557468-0-2}} His performances attracted the attention of FA Cup holders, Aston Villa, in 1895. He played alongside Howard Spencer at left-half, and went on to share the captaincy of the club with him.
He won League Championship medals with Villa in 1897, 1899 and 1900, he also lifted the FA Cup in as a part of the Aston Villa team that completed the Double in 1897. He was capped 11 times by England whilst at Villa. Crabtree joined Plymouth Argyle in January 1904 and made four appearances in the Southern League before injury forced him to retire.{{cite web|title=Jimmy Crabtree|url=http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=201&scp=1,2,3,4,5,6,7|publisher=Greens on Screen|access-date=25 April 2013}} He then coached at several non-league clubs and later became a pub licensee in Birmingham.
Death
He died suddenly at the age of 36.{{cite web|url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/green-barmy-england-goalkeeper-jimmy-1189912|title=England defender had career ended by injury at Argyle|first=Gordon|last=Sparks|date=10 February 2018|website=Plymouthherald.co.uk|access-date=29 March 2019}} His death was drink related.Not Taking the Medicine: Sportsmen and Doctors in Late Nineteenth-Century Britain, Mike Cronin, Journal of Sport History, Vol. 34, No. 1 (Spring 2007), pp. 23–35
Legacy
Crabtree is considered as one of the best footballers of the 19th century. Numerous footballers and experts named him as they best player they had ever seen at the time.{{cite web|url=https://90soccer.com/the-superiority-of-british-soccer-1863-1940-and-the-evolution-of-the-game/|title=The superiority of British soccer (1863-1940) and the evolution of the game|first=Ken|last=Salmon|date=4 March 2025|website=90soccer.com|access-date=}} He also remains one of the greatest Aston Villa legends.
Honours
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com/306.html Jimmy Crabtree] at [http://www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com/ Aston Villa Player Database]
- {{Englandstats}}
- [http://www.spartacus-educational.com/ASTONcrabtree.htm Jimmy Crabtree] at [http://www.spartacus-educational.com/ Spartacus Educational]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crabtree, Jimmy}}
Category:Footballers from Burnley
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Rossendale United F.C. players
Category:Heywood Central F.C. players
Category:Aston Villa F.C. players
Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. players
Category:English Football League players