Another Derry Boy

L

LeChatNoir

Goalkeeper
My first SAFC hero, Johnny Crossan. Part of that unforgettable team that took us back to the First Division, and who went on to captain Man City to promotion soon after. His goals, alongside Nick Sharkey and George Mulhall, combined with the defensive qualities of King Charlie etc. made us proud again, following the indignities of the 1950s.

I went to an England U23 game at SJP and met him and Neil Young (Man City, not CSNY.) He was signing autographs for everybody and came across as a real good bloke. I got a few canny autographs that night including Shack, Jackie Milburn, Cloughie and loads more.

Last I heard he was still running a sports shop in Derry and involved in youth football. Hope he's ok, must be a canny age!

Proper Sunderland legend!
 


Vauxie said:
Great player.
Londonderry
Click to expand...
Johnny Crossan started his career at Derry City ,then Coleraine banned from UK football .Went to Spara Rotterdam,Standard Liege.UK ban lifted ,signed SAFC for £23,000.
82 league games 39 goals ,10 fa cup 8 goals.
For some reason we sold him to Man City for 40,000 where he was successful.
Up till quite recently he was commentating for Radio Foyle on Derry City games.
 
LeChatNoir said:
My first SAFC hero, Johnny Crossan. Part of that unforgettable team that took us back to the First Division, and who went on to captain Man City to promotion soon after. His goals, alongside Nick Sharkey and George Mulhall, combined with the defensive qualities of King Charlie etc. made us proud again, following the indignities of the 1950s.

I went to an England U23 game at SJP and met him and Neil Young (Man City, not CSNY.) He was signing autographs for everybody and came across as a real good bloke. I got a few canny autographs that night including Shack, Jackie Milburn, Cloughie and loads more.

Last I heard he was still running a sports shop in Derry and involved in youth football. Hope he's ok, must be a canny age!

Proper Sunderland legend!
Click to expand...

Last I heard Johnny was running a pub in Derry with a football pitch in the beer garden.
 
Hettonlass said:
84 year old in November

Good read this

beyondthelastman.com

Johnny Crossan – A Tale of Survival

Councillor Eamonn McCann stands with his back to Free Derry Wall and announces, ‘over there in that ditch is where I lay on Bloody Sunday’. Up the road in the Rathmore Estate Raymond Mc…
beyondthelastman.com beyondthelastman.com
Click to expand...
Really enjoyed the article,answered a lot I didn’t know but rise’s other questions.Sunderland to pay £10,000 ,haft to Derry City the rest to Jobby ,was that normal practice in 1957 ? And why did a 19 year old on £3 a game turn it down to go to Coleraine
 
LeChatNoir said:
My first SAFC hero, Johnny Crossan. Part of that unforgettable team that took us back to the First Division, and who went on to captain Man City to promotion soon after. His goals, alongside Nick Sharkey and George Mulhall, combined with the defensive qualities of King Charlie etc. made us proud again, following the indignities of the 1950s.

I went to an England U23 game at SJP and met him and Neil Young (Man City, not CSNY.) He was signing autographs for everybody and came across as a real good bloke. I got a few canny autographs that night including Shack, Jackie Milburn, Cloughie and loads more.

Last I heard he was still running a sports shop in Derry and involved in youth football. Hope he's ok, must be a canny age!

Proper Sunderland legend!
Click to expand...
Great player was Johnny Crossan
 
He was my favourite forward in that Promotion winning team, He also scored one of the best solo goals I have seen when he dribbled down the wing, then cut inside to scoere the first goal at Old Trafford in the first game of that trilogy.
The goal used to be shown at the beginng of "Shoot" on a Sunday afternoon. Anyone got a Video of it?
 
Aldhun said:
He was my favourite forward in that Promotion winning team, He also scored one of the best solo goals I have seen when he dribbled down the wing, then cut inside to scoere the first goal at Old Trafford in the first game of that trilogy.
The goal used to be shown at the beginng of "Shoot" on a Sunday afternoon. Anyone got a Video of it?
Click to expand...
Mine too
Loved that goal
 
viccarlton said:
Have just watched this programme, thank you for the heads up, must admit I didn’t know the full back story of * Jobby*.
Click to expand...

You're very welcome wish I'd been old enought to see him play my dad and elder brother speal very highly of him.



https://www.theguardian.com › sport › blog › 2011 › nov › 02 › forgotten-story-john-crossan-ban
Green domain

The forgotten story of ... John Crossan's ban from football​


John Crossan's ban from football Banned for 'life' in 1959, the former Northern Ireland forward can consider himself the most harshly treated footballer of all time John Crossan,...
 
LeChatNoir said:
My first SAFC hero, Johnny Crossan. Part of that unforgettable team that took us back to the First Division, and who went on to captain Man City to promotion soon after. His goals, alongside Nick Sharkey and George Mulhall, combined with the defensive qualities of King Charlie etc. made us proud again, following the indignities of the 1950s.

I went to an England U23 game at SJP and met him and Neil Young (Man City, not CSNY.) He was signing autographs for everybody and came across as a real good bloke. I got a few canny autographs that night including Shack, Jackie Milburn, Cloughie and loads more.

Last I heard he was still running a sports shop in Derry and involved in youth football. Hope he's ok, must be a canny age!

Proper Sunderland legend!
Click to expand...

www.belfastlive.co.uk

The NI footballing legend now honouring future stars of sport

The living soccer legend shared a pitch with many footballing greats including the iconic trio of Best, Eusébio and Pelé
www.belfastlive.co.uk www.belfastlive.co.uk
Lickspittle said:
Logon or register to see this image
Click to expand...

Belter, that!
 
Last edited:
Unfortunately only saw the other Derry born player at Sunderland...James McLean..........Was Johnny as controversial and argumentative as him?
 

Back
Top