Alfie
...Crawford profile
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A local lad who first appeared for Rovers in January 1938. He had played local football for Bromsgrove Y.M.C.
It was reported he signed an amateur form for Nottingham Forest in February 1938.
In the 1938/39 season, when not selected by the Rovers he turned out for Stourbridge Road in the Bromsgrove & District League.
He made occasional appearances in the 1939/40 season, when not picked he turned out for Sidemoor Juniors, for whom he scored 21 goals as they won the Bromsgrove & District League title.
After being a bit part player in the first post war season he really came of age in the 1946/47 season, making the inside left spot his own in what was a wonderful "Jubilee" season with Rovers celebrating 50 years of Birmingham Combination football. The captured the league and the Worcestershire Senior Cup and also reached the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup. Alfie played in both finals, scoring the first goal in Rovers Worcestershire Senior Cup triumph over Wellington Town. Only Bill Oldnall scored more goals for Rovers than Alfie did that campaign.
In September 1947 he was presented with a collection from supportes of £29 1s 6d, as he had been out of work due to arm trouble. It is not clear what this issue was, but it did not stop him playing football where he was still Rovers first choice inside left.
His Rovers career ended with a bang with his final game being the F.A. Cup First Round game away at Third Division Aldershot where Rovers put in a battling performance before going down 2-1.
The following Saturday he got married and then relocated to the Manchester area. He was transferred to Macclesfield, who played in the Cheshire League. He also signed as a part-time professional for Third Division Chester City, but he never played for the first team.
Stats:
Debut: vs Bournville "A", Birmingham Combination, Bournville, 29 January 1938, 0-4.
Last game: vs Aldershot, F.A. Cup First Round, Recreation Ground, 29 November 1947, 1-2.
4 goals in a game:
vs Nuneaton Borough, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 19 April 1947, 7-3.
Hat-trick:
vs Atherstone Town, Birmingham Combination, Sheepy Road, 24 November 1945, 4-3.
1937/38: 16 appearances, 3 goals
1938/39: 1 appearances, 0 goals
1939/40: 6 appearances, 2 goals
1945/46: 8 appearances, 6 goals
1946/47: 35 appearances, 17 goals
1947/48: 11 appearances, 2 goals
TOTAL: 77 appearances, 30 goals
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