Joseph Crozier (2 December 1914 – 27 July 1985) was a Scottish professional footballer who made 200 appearances in the Football League for Brentford as a goalkeeper. 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.
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 First Division 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 and as of August 2023,[2] his 25 top-flight clean sheets is the club record.[7] During the war, Crozier played as a guest at Hibernian and Airdrieonians.[8][9] He departed Brentford in 1949 and ended his career with spells at non-League clubs Chelmsford City, Kidderminster Harriers and Ashford Town.[10][11][12]
International career
Crozier won three unofficial caps for Scotland in three wartime internationals versus England in 1943 and 1944.[13] He conceded 16 goals in three defeats.[13] The final match at Hampden Park in April 1944 was witnessed by a wartime record 133,000 crowd.[14]
Personal life
Crozier served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.[15] 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[a] | 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[b] | 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 | ||
| Ashford Town | 1953–54[12] | Kent League | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| 1954–55[12] | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Total | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 320 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 353 | 0 | ||
- ^ Includes Scottish Cup, FA Cup
- ^ Appearance in Empire Exhibition Trophy
- ^ Appearance in Kent League Cup
Honours
References
- ^ a b "Joe Crozier". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ a b c Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 39. ISBN 1-874427-57-7.
- ^ a b "Steve Phillips inducted in to Hall of Fame". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ Joe Crozier at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- ^ a b c d Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
- ^ a b c d e f g White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 374–380. ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ "Raya signs new contract and joins Arsenal on loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Hibernian Player Jospeh [sic] Crozier Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ Smith, Tony (2011). Gordon Smith – Prince of Wingers. Edinburgh: Black & White Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84502-381-2. OCLC 779827535.
- ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. pp. 43–44. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ "Crozier Joe Brentford 1937". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- ^ a b c "Joe Crozier Player Profile". The Nuts and Bolts Archive. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Joe Crozier". 11v11.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ TW8 Matchday: The Home Of Real Football – Official Brentford FC Matchday Programme versus Chesterfield. Charlton, London: The Yellow Printing Company. 3 April 2004. p. 32.
- ^ "Stewart Signs For Brentford. Bees Report for Training on Wednesday". Middlesex Chronicle. 3 August 1946.