Billy Crone

Football player infobox
playername= Billy Crone


fullname = William Crone
dateofbirth = 1864
cityofbirth = Belfast
countryofbirth = Ireland
position= Defender
years = 1881-1893
clubs= Distillery
caps(goals) = 35 (X)
nationalyears = 1882-1890
nationalteam = Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 12 (1)
manageryears = 1896-19xx
1897
managerclubs = Distillery
Ireland

Billy Crone ( born Belfast, 1864) also referred to as William Crone was an Irish footballer who played for Distillery and Ireland during the 1880s and 1890s. After retiring as a player he also coached both Distillery and Ireland. On February 20 1897 he became the first coach in the history of modern football to take charge of a national team. Crone’s younger brother Bob Crone was also a notable footballer, playing for Glentoran, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion and Notts County, as well as Distillery and Ireland. Crone, an all-round athletic, was also a useful cricketer and distance runner.

Playing career

Distillery

Crone spent sixteen seasons at Distillery playing as a defender. His club team mates included fellow Irish internationals Olphert Stanfield, Jack Reynolds and Samuel Johnston. Crone could play anywhere across the back-line, but was most familiar as a left-back or left-half. He made 290 appearances for Distillery and helped the club win the Irish Cup four times. He also played for Distillery during the inaugural Irish League season of 1890-91 and went onto make 35 league appearances for the club before he retired in 1893.

Irish International

Between 1882 and 1890 Crone also played 12 times for Ireland. He made his debut on February 25 1882, while still in his teens, in a 7-1 defeat to Wales. This was only Ireland’s second ever international. He remained a regular for Ireland throughout the following eight seasons. On April 7 1888 he scored for Ireland in a 5-1 defeat to England. All of his 12 international appearances ended in defeat, a statistic which results in Crone holding the unfortunate record of finishing on the losing side more times then any other international player during the 1800s.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Crone became a coach at Distillery, a post he held for fifteen seasons. On February 20 1897 he also took charge of the Ireland team for the 6-0 defeat against England. This was the first time in the history of modern football that a coach took charge of a national team.

Honours

Distillery

"Player"

*Irish Cup
**"Winner" 1883-84, 1884-85, 1885-86, 1888-89: 4
**"Runner Up" 1887-88: 1
*County Antrim Shield
**"Winner" 1888-89: 1
**"Runner Up" 1889-90: 1
*Belfast Charities Cup
**"Runner Up" 1883-84, 1889-90, 1891-92, 1892-93: 4

External links

* [http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/09/billy-crone.html Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats]
* [http://blue.srv2.com/~lisburn/TOD%201880.htm Distillery fansite]
*IFFHS
** [http://www.iffhs.de/?388f07788c02fc0d85a9d854a85fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeeda0840a Player Stats]
** [http://www.iffhs.de/?384f02788ac03f4d85fc8f15285fdcdc3bfcdc0aec7cdeedb0a40b Irish Cup appearances]