Billy Crone
Encyclopedia
Billy Crone also referred to as William Crone was an Irish
footballer
who played for Distillery
and Ireland
during the 1880s and 1890s. After retiring as a player he also coached both Distillery and Ireland
. On February 20, 1897 he became the first coach in the history of modern football to take charge of a national team. Crone’s younger brother Bob Crone
was also a notable footballer, playing for Glentoran
, Middlesbrough
, West Bromwich Albion
and Notts County
, as well as Distillery and Ireland
. Crone, an all-round athletic, was also a useful cricket
er and distance runner.
, Jack Reynolds and Samuel Johnston
. Crone could play anywhere across the back-line, but was most familiar as a left-back or left-half. He made 290 appearances for Distillery and helped the club win the Irish Cup
four times. He also played for Distillery during the inaugural Irish League
season of 1890-91 and went onto make 35 league appearances for the club before he retired in 1893.
. He made his debut on February 25, 1882, while still in his teens, in a 7-1 defeat to Wales
. This was only Ireland’s second ever international. He remained a regular for Ireland throughout the following eight seasons. On April 7, 1888 he scored for Ireland in a 5-1 defeat to England
. All of his 12 international appearances ended in defeat, a statistic which results in Crone holding the unfortunate record of finishing on the losing side more times then any other international player during the 1800s.
team for the 6-0 defeat against England
. This was the first time in the history of modern football that a coach took charge of a national team.
Player
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played for Distillery
Lisburn Distillery F.C.
Lisburn Distillery is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1880, originated in west Belfast, where it was based at Grosvenor Park at Distillery Street off the Grosvenor Road until 1971...
and Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
during the 1880s and 1890s. After retiring as a player he also coached both Distillery and Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
. On February 20, 1897 he became the first coach in the history of modern football to take charge of a national team. Crone’s younger brother Bob Crone
Bob Crone
Robert "Bob" Crone was an Irish football player and coach. He was the younger brother of fellow player Billy Crone.-Playing career:...
was also a notable footballer, playing for Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, as well as Distillery and Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
. Crone, an all-round athletic, was also a useful cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er and distance runner.
Distillery
Crone spent sixteen seasons at Distillery playing as a defender. His club team mates included fellow Irish internationals Olphert StanfieldOlphert Stanfield
Olphert Martin Stanfield also referred to as Olphie Stanfield or Ollie Stanfield was an Irish footballer who played for Distillery and Ireland during the 1880s and 1890s. Stanfield was a complete forward, capable of scoring with either foot and his head. He was also comfortable playing as...
, Jack Reynolds and Samuel Johnston
Samuel Johnston (footballer)
Samuel Johnston was a Northern Irish footballer who made his international debut for Ireland at the age of 15 years 154 days - a record which stands to this day. Johnston, who played as a centre forward, played club football for Distillery between 1881 and 1888.-References:...
. Crone could play anywhere across the back-line, but was most familiar as a left-back or left-half. He made 290 appearances for Distillery and helped the club win the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
four times. He also played for Distillery during the inaugural Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
season of 1890-91 and went onto make 35 league appearances for the club before he retired in 1893.
Irish International
Between 1882 and 1890 Crone also played 12 times for IrelandIreland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
. He made his debut on February 25, 1882, while still in his teens, in a 7-1 defeat to Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
. This was only Ireland’s second ever international. He remained a regular for Ireland throughout the following eight seasons. On April 7, 1888 he scored for Ireland in a 5-1 defeat to England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. All of his 12 international appearances ended in defeat, a statistic which results in Crone holding the unfortunate record of finishing on the losing side more times then any other international player during the 1800s.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player, Crone became a coach at Distillery, a post he held for fifteen seasons. On February 20, 1897 he also took charge of the IrelandIreland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
team for the 6-0 defeat against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. This was the first time in the history of modern football that a coach took charge of a national team.
Honours
DistilleryPlayer
- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
- Winner 1883-84, 1884–85, 1885–86, 1888-89: 4
- Runner Up 1887-88: 1
- County Antrim ShieldCounty Antrim ShieldThe County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
- Winner 1888-89: 1
- Runner Up 1889-90: 1
- Belfast Charities Cup
- Runner Up 1883-84, 1889–90, 1891–92, 1892-93: 4