Robert McCracken (footballer)

Robert McCracken (25 June 1890 – unknown), also known as Roy McCracken,[1] was a Northern Irish professional footballer who played as a defender or as a wing half. He was a cousin of Billy McCracken who also had a career as a professional footballer.[1]

Robert McCracken
Personal information
Date of birth (1890-06-25)25 June 1890[1]
Place of birth Dromore, County Down, Ireland
Height 5 ft 10+1⁄2 in (1.79 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender / Wing half
Youth career
Dromore United ?–1910
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1910–1920 Distillery ? (?)
1920–1926 Crystal Palace 175 (1)
1926–? Portadown ? (?)
International career
1920–1922 Ireland (IFA) 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

McCracken was born in Dromore, County Down, at that time part of a united Ireland, but subsequently within the province of Northern Ireland, part of the UK. He began his youth career with local club Dromore United. In 1910,[1] he joined Distillery. He made 118 appearances in all competitions between then and 1920. His career was interrupted by service in World War I but he returned to play for the club thereafter.

In 1920,[3] he signed for Crystal Palace then playing in the Football League Third Division in its inaugural season. Although he sustained a broken leg in December,[4] he made 18 league appearances in 1920–21 as Palace won the title and promotion to the Football League Second Division.[5] That season, he also made his debut for the Ireland (IFA) national team.[1]

McCracken returned from injury to play in Palace's first season in the second division,[4] making 35 appearances in the league, scoring once.[6] Over the subsequent three seasons, he made 40, 37 and 25 league appearances respectively, but without scoring.[7] In 1925, Palace were relegated but McCracken remained with the club for one further season, making 20 appearances,[8] before returning to Ireland in 1926 to play for Portadown.[3]

References
  1. "Bob "Roy" McCracken". nifootball.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  2. "The lure of promotion. Crystal Palace". Athletic News. Manchester. 13 August 1923. p. 6.
  3. Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. p. 332. ISBN 0907969542.
  4. Rogers, Jonathon (17 March 2016). "Take a look at the top 10 Irish players to have played for Crystal Palace in their history". cpfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  5. Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. pp. 134–5. ISBN 0907969542.
  6. Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. p. 137. ISBN 0907969542.
  7. Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. pp. 139–43. ISBN 0907969542.
  8. Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. p. 145. ISBN 0907969542.
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