Stan Crowther (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Stan Crowther


fullname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1935|9|3|df=y
cityofbirth = Bilston
countryofbirth = England
height =
position = Wing-half
currentclub =
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1956-58
1958
1958-61-
1961
clubs = Aston Villa
Manchester United
Chelsea
Brighton & Hove Albion
caps(goals) = 50 (4)
13 (0)
51 (0)
04 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Stanley 'Stan' Crowther (born 3 September 1935) was a footballer who played during the 1950s. He was born in Bilston.

A wing-half, Crowther started out with Aston Villa, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1957, beating Manchester United 2-1 in the final. Less than a year later, in February 1958, Crowther was hastily signed by United for £18,000 in the wake of the Munich air disaster. The transfer was completed just 75 minutes before their match against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup was due to kick-off.

Having already played for Villa in the competition that year, Crowther would normally have been cup-tied, but United's squad had been decimated by Munich and were therefore given special dispensation by the FA to field him; he scored in a 3-0 win. Crowther and United went on to reach a second consecutive final, though they lost 2-0 to Bolton Wanderers.

His time at Old Trafford was short-lived, however, and in December that year he joined Chelsea for £10,000; ironically, his debut for the Blues was against United. Crowther stayed with the West London side for two seasons, making 58 appearances, before having brief spells with Brighton & Hove Albion and non-league sides Rugby Town and Hednesford Town. Crowther announced his retirement at the age of 27, citing his disillusionment with the game.

References