Joe Crozier (footballer, born 1914)

Joseph Crozier (2 December 1914 – 27 July 1985) was a Scottish professional football goalkeeper who made 200 appearances in the Football League for Brentford. Crozier has been described as Brentford's best-ever goalkeeper and he is a member of the club's Hall of Fame.[2][3] He represented Scotland in wartime international matches.

Joe Crozier
Personal information
Full name Joseph Crozier[1]
Date of birth (1914-12-02)2 December 1914
Place of birth Coatbridge, Scotland
Date of death 27 July 1985(1985-07-27) (aged 70)[1]
Place of death Greenwich, England
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–1934 Strathclyde
1934–1937 East Fife 95 (0)
1937–1949 Brentford 200 (0)
1939–1941 → Airdrieonians (guest) 59 (0)
1941–1942 → Hibernian (guest) 43 (0)
1949–1951 Chelmsford City
1951–1953 Kidderminster Harriers
Ashford Town (Kent)
National team
1943–1944 Scotland (wartime) 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Crozier began his career at junior team Strathclyde and moved to Scottish League Second Division club East Fife in 1934.[4] He made 100 appearances for the club and earned a £1,000 move to English top-flight club Brentford in May 1937.[5] Either side of the Second World War, Crozier made 224 appearances for the Bees.[6] As a testament to his longevity, Crozier made 114 of his 200 league appearances consecutively.[2] During the war, Crozier played as a guest at Hibernian and Airdrieonians.[7][8] He departed Brentford in 1949 and ended his career with spells at non-league clubs Chelmsford City, Kidderminster Harriers and Ashford Town (Kent).[9][10]

International career

Crozier won three unofficial caps for Scotland in three wartime internationals versus England in 1943 and 1944.[11] He conceded 16 goals in three defeats.[11] The final match at Hampden Park in April 1944 was witnessed by a wartime record 133,000 crowd.[12]

Personal life

Crozier served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.[13] After retiring from football, he became managing director of Cory Lighterage and a Freeman of the City of London.[2]

Career statistics
Club Season League National Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
East Fife 1934–35[5] Scottish Second Division 31 0 1 0 — 32 0
1935–36[5] 33 0 1 0 — 34 0
1936–37[5] 31 0 3 0 — 34 0
Total 95 0 5 0 — 100 0
Brentford 1937–38[6] First Division 35 0 4 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 40 0
1938–39[6] 42 0 1 0 — 43 0
1945–46[6] — — 8 0 — 8 0
1946–47[6] First Division 42 0 4 0 — 46 0
1947–48[6] Second Division 40 0 2 0 — 42 0
1948–49[6] 41 0 4 0 — 45 0
Total 200 0 23 0 1 0 224 0
Career total 295 0 28 0 1 0 324 0
  1. Appearance in Empire Exhibition Trophy

Honours
  • Brentford Hall of Fame[3]

References
  1. "Joe Crozier". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  2. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 39. ISBN 1-874427-57-7.
  3. "Steve Phillips inducted in to Hall of Fame". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  4. Joe Crozier at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
  5. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  6. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 374–380. ISBN 0951526200.
  7. "Hibernian Player Jospeh [sic] Crozier Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  8. Gordon Smith – Tony Smith – Google Books.
  9. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. pp. 43–44. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. "Crozier Joe Image 1 Brentford 1937". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  11. "Joe Crozier". 11v11.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  12. TW8 Matchday: The Home Of Real Football – Official Brentford FC Matchday Programme versus Chesterfield 03/04/04. Charlton, London: The Yellow Printing Company. 2004. p. 32.
  13. "STEWART SIGNS FOR BRENTFORD. Bees Report for Training on Wednesday". Middlesex Chronicle. 3 August 1946.
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