'Something deep in my character allows me to take the hits and get on with trying to win.'
Lionel MessiArgentina
Hanwell Celtic - Posted 3 years ago
Quote of the Day (3)
'Team Spirit MUST be fostered if the side is going to achieve anything and the captain can do much towards this if he is given a chance...When Charlton won promotion... we were not a great side...but we had the right spirit developed throughout the club and we won our matches because we WERE a team, in which every man was a vital cog in the machinery.'
Jimmy Seed, Soccer from the Inside, London:Thorsons, 1947, p. 109.
Hanwell Celtic - Posted 3 years ago
Soccer Schoolmaster No 7 Gerald Mc Crossan
Gerald Louis McCrossan was born in 1885 in County Tyrone. He was one of 15 children and his father Patrick was at that time the head porter at Omagh Station. The family then moved to Cambuslang in Scotland where Patrick McCrossan got a job in the nail works as a storeman. Louis was a pupil at Our Lady’s High School in Motherwell and in 1905 he went to St Mary’s College in Brook Green, Hammersmith to train as a teacher. As a youth, before he went to London, he played for Celtic “A. He also, played junior football for Cambuslang.
When he was in London at St Mary’s College he played for Brentford FC. He was paid ‘off the book’ - Brentford have no record of his being ‘employed’ by the club.
As soon as he completed his probationary year he returned to Cambuslang and was posted to St Andrews RC School in Ropework Lane, Glasgow. a first team appearance at Celtic and joined Albion Rovers in the Scottish Second division. In 1912 he went on trial to Ayr United making his debut in October, 1912 in a Scottish Qualifying Cup 3rd round tie. His first league game (2nd Division) for the club was a week later when Ayr United beat Albion Rovers 1-0. Ironically, McCrossan was at Ayr United on a trial spell from Albion Rovers. In reference to that match the Ayr Advertiser’s report stated: “Against his old club mates McCrossan put up a very useful game and with time should serve United well.” On the next Saturday (26th October) he was in the team that lost2-1 away to Abercorn at Ralston Park (Paisley) in the Scottish Cup Qualifying 4th round. The resumption of league football (2th November, 1912) saw Ayr United beat Albion Rovers 3-0 at Somerset Park, a further irony. McCrossan’s first two league matches for Ayr United were against the club that held his registration. His final match for Ayr United was a league match at Somerset Park on 7th December, 1912. The result was Ayr United 3 Leith Athletic 0. He then returned to Albion Rovers “on the conclusion of his trial spell.” In total McCrossan made nine appearances for Ayr United: seven in the league and two in the cup. Ayr United went on to retain the Second Division championship.
