Sammy Crooks

Infobox Football biography
playername = Sammy Crooks


fullname = Samuel Dickinson Crooks
dateofbirth = 16 January, 1908
cityofbirth = Bearpark, County Durham
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = death date and age|1981|02|3|1908|01|16
cityofdeath = Belper, Derbyshire
countryofdeath = England
currentclub =
position = Outside right
youthyears =
youthclubs = Bearpark Colliery
Brandon Juniors
Tow Law Town
years = 1926-1927 1927-1946
clubs = Durham City Derby County
caps(goals) = 016 00(4) 408 (105)
nationalyears = 1930-1936
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 026 00(7)
manageryears = 1949-1950
1950-1954
1955-1957
1957
1958-1959
1959-1960
managerclubs = Retford Town
Shrewsbury Town
Gresley Rovers
Burton Albion
Gresley Rovers
Heanor Town
ntupdate =
pcupdate =

Samuel "Sammy" Dickinson Crooks (born at Bearpark, County Durham on 16 January 1908; died Belper, Derbyshire, on 3 February, 1981) was an English footballer who played as outside-right for Derby County in the mid-war era. He was one of the best-known footballers of the 1920s and 1930s and was capped 26 times by England at outside-right.

Early life

He was one of a family of 17 children. After leaving school, he worked in the coal-mines and played for the colliery team and then for Tow Law Town in his spare time until problems with rheumatism forced him to abandon his career underground. When his health was restored he joined Durham City in June 1926 and made 16 appearances for them in the Third Division (North).

Derby County

By April 1927, he had been spotted by George Jobey and was signed for Derby County for a fee of £300, making his debut for The Rams in a 2-1 win over Leicester City on 10 September 1927. Between 1927 and 1946 he played 445 games for the Rams, scoring 111 goals. During this period, County were twice runners-up in the Football League, in 1930 and 1936.

His first appearance for England was in a 5-2 victory against Scotland on 5 April 1930. [http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=170] . He then became a regular fixture in the England side, making 26 appearances with 7 goals, including two in a 7-1 defeat of Spain on 9 December 1931. His final England appearance came in a 6-2 victory over Hungary on 2 December 1936, (playing alongside Derby County colleagues Raich Carter and Eric Keen). (Ted Drake of Arsenal scored a hat trick in this match.) [http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=207]

In 1935, Arsenal attempted to sign Crooks and Tom Cooper in exchange for Alex James, but the deal fell through as Arsenal required a cash payment as well which Derby were not prepared to meet.

Crook's playing career was interrupted by World War II, but he made a handful of league appearances in the 1946-47 season before retiring. He was unlucky to miss Derby's FA Cup win of 1946 due to a knee injury.

Management

In December 1949, Crooks moved into management with Retford Town before moving on to Third Division Shrewsbury Town in May 1950. In 1955 he moved to Gresley Rovers turning out occasionally as a player. There followed spells as manager with Burton Albion and Heanor Town. During this time he opened a sport clothing store in Derby.

After finishing in local team management he became Derby County's Chief Scout (until 1967) and also served for 14 years as Secretary of the Association Football Players Union.

His career has been marked by Durham City naming the upper lounge at New Ferens Park, 'The Sammy Crooks Lounge', which is home to some of the memorabilia from his playing career.

External links

*soccerbase (manager)|id=1127|name=Sammy Crooks
*englandstats|id=279|name=Sammy Crooks
* [http://www.englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=282 Profile at www.Englandfc.com]

References

* Mortimer, Gerald (2004): "The Who's Who of Derby County". Breedon Books Publishing, Derby. ISBN 1-85983-409-4
* Mortimer, Gerald (2006): "Derby County - The Complete Record". Breedon Books Publishing, Derby. ISBN 1-85983-517-1