Ron Crisp
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ronald James Crisp[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 24 September 1938 | ||
| Place of birth | Datchet, England | ||
| Position(s) | Utility player | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Dulwich Hamlet | |||
| 1959–1960 | Luton Town | 0 | (0) |
| 1960–1965 | Watford | 89 | (14) |
| 1965–1966 | Brentford | 18 | (0) |
| 1967 | Los Angeles Toros | 17 | (1) |
| 1968 | San Diego Toros | 32 | (5) |
| 1969 | Orient | 0 | (0) |
| 1969 | Durban Spurs | ||
| 1970 | Bloemfontein City | ||
| 1970–1971 | Durban United | ||
| 1972 | East London United | ||
| 1974 | Port Elizabeth City | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Glenwood | |||
| –1973 | Juventus | ||
| 1993–1994 | Expro 91 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ronald James Crisp (born 24 September 1938) is an English former footballer who was adept in a variety of positions. He played in England, the United States and South Africa.
Club career[edit]
Early years[edit]
Crisp began his career as an amateur at Isthmian League club Dulwich Hamlet and secured a move to the Football League with Luton Town in November 1959.[2] He departed in 1960, having failed to make an appearance.[2]
Watford[edit]
Crisp signed for Third Division club Watford in July 1960.[2] Operating initially as a forward, he had a slow start to his career at Vicarage Road,[3] making just seven appearances and scoring one goal during the 1960–61 season and deputising for Cliff Holton.[4] Crisp broke into the team in the following campaign and was top scorer with 13 goals in all competitions.[3] He scored a memorable goal in a match against Port Vale in February 1962, scoring within 30 seconds of the kickoff after running from the centre circle into the penalty area.[4] Crisp fell out of the team again during the 1962–63 season,[3] but was given a chance at wing half by incoming manager Bill McGarry in the following campaign, making 26 league appearances.[4] Crisp departed Watford in 1965, having made 102 appearances and scored 17 goals during his time with the Hornets.[3]
Brentford[edit]
Crisp signed for Third Division club Brentford in August 1965 for a £2,000 fee.[1] He failed to break into the team, making just 22 appearances and scoring one goal before departing in December 1966.[1] He spent much of his time with the reserve team, winning the 1966–67 London Challenge Cup with the team.[5]
United States[edit]
Crisp moved to the United States in 1967 to sign for National Professional Soccer League club Los Angeles Toros.[6] Despite a bottom place finish for the Toros in the Western Division, Crisp had a successful 1967 season, making 17 appearances, scoring one goal and was named the league's Player of the Year.[7] The franchise relocated to San Diego the following year and transferred to the new North American Soccer League. Crisp was once again a standout player, making 32 appearances, scoring five goals and helping the club to the Pacific Division title.[6] The team went all the way to the NASL Final, but were beaten 3–0 on aggregate by Atlanta Chiefs. Crisp was named in the 1968 All-Star team.[8]
Return to England[edit]
Crisp returned to England in March 1969 to go on trial at Third Division club Orient.[9] He signed a contract, but bought himself out of it and departed the club without making an appearance.[9]
South Africa[edit]
Crisp moved to South Africa in 1969 to join National Football League club Durban Spurs.[7][10] He had a good first season, winning the league title. Crisp moved to Bloemfontein City in 1970, but transferred mid-season to Durban Spurs United, with whom he remained until 1971.[2] Crisp had spells with East London United and Port Elizabeth City in 1972 and 1974 respectively.
Coaching career[edit]
After winding down his playing career in South Africa, Crisp served as coach of Glenwood, Juventus (two spells) and Expro 81.[2]
Representative career[edit]
While with Watford, Crisp played for the Hertfordshire representative team.[2]
Personal life[edit]
Crisp lives in South Africa and is a sales executive for an office machine company in Durban.[2] He has been married twice and has two sons and one daughter.[4][10]
Career statistics[edit]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Watford | 1960–61[3] | Third Division | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| 1961–62[3] | Third Division | 34 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | — | 41 | 13 | ||
| 1962–63[3] | Third Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| 1963–64[3] | Third Division | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 30 | 1 | ||
| 1964–65[3] | Third Division | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 | 2 | ||
| Total | 89 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 102 | 17 | ||
| Brentford | 1965–66[11] | Third Division | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |
| 1966–67[11] | Fourth Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 10 | 1 | ||
| Total | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 22 | 1 | |||
| Los Angeles Toros | 1967[6] | National Professional Soccer League | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | 17 | 1 | |||
| San Diego Toros | 1968[6] | North American Soccer League | 32 | 5 | — | — | — | 32 | 5 | |||
| Total | 49 | 6 | — | — | — | 49 | 6 | |||||
| Career total | 156 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 173 | 24 | ||
- ^ Includes FA Cup
- ^ Includes Football League Cup
- ^ Appearance in Rigby-Taylor Cup
Honours[edit]
Brentford
Durban Spurs
- National Football League: 1969
Individual
- National Professional Soccer League Player of the Year: 1967[7]
- North American Soccer League All-Star Team: 1968[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 42. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Players – Clark to Crussell" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016. p. 38. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Seasons – 1960/61 to 1969/70" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016. pp. 1–5. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Transformed stadium still echoes with memories of Crisp's stunner". Watford Observer. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ a b Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 82. ISBN 1-874427-57-7.
- ^ a b c d "NASL Soccer North American Soccer League Players". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ a b c Jones, Trefor (1996). Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. p. 63. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
- ^ a b "NASL AllStar teams, all-time". Whitney, David. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ a b "Where are they now ? February 2003". Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Where are they now?". wfc.net. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ a b White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 388–389. ISBN 0951526200.