Ron Crisp

Ron Crisp
Personal information
Full name Ronald James Crisp[1]
Date of birth (1938-09-24) 24 September 1938 (age 86)
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
0000–1973 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

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Early years

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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After winding down his playing career in South Africa, Crisp served as coach of Glenwood, Juventus (two spells) and Expro 81.[2]

Representative career

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While with Watford, Crisp played for the Hertfordshire representative team.[2]

Personal life

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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

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Football League Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in Rigby-Taylor Cup

Honours

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Brentford

Durban Spurs

Individual

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Players – Clark to Crussell" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016. p. 38. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c d "Transformed stadium still echoes with memories of Crisp's stunner". Watford Observer. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 82. ISBN 1-874427-57-7.
  6. ^ a b c d "NASL Soccer North American Soccer League Players". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Jones, Trefor (1996). Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. p. 63. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
  8. ^ a b "NASL AllStar teams, all-time". Whitney, David. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Where are they now ? February 2003". Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Where are they now?". wfc.net. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  11. ^ a b White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 388–389. ISBN 0951526200.