Brian Croft
Encyclopedia
Brian Graham Alexander Croft (born 27 September 1967 in Chester
, England
) is a retired English professional footballer who played as a winger. The majority of his Football League appearances were made for his hometown club Chester City
in the 1980s and early 1990s.
on 24 August 1985. Although that was to be his only league appearance during Chester’s promotion season from Division Four, he started two matches in the Freight Rover Trophy
. Croft became much more involved in first team duty in 1986–87
when he featured in 21 league games, scoring his first league goal in a 3–1 win over Bristol Rovers
in November 1986. This same period saw several other youngsters such as Chris Lightfoot
and Colin Woodthorpe
break through the Chester youth ranks and go on to enjoy long professional careers.
Croft opted to drop into Division Four with Cambridge United
in October 1988, but after less than a year away he rejoined Chester. During his spell at Cambridge, Croft was loaned out to Grantham Town
.
Back at Chester, Croft was to be a regular in the left wing berth over the next three years. In the summer of 1992 he made a surprise £60,000 move to Premier League side Queens Park Rangers
, but he was unable to make the first-team over the next three years. His only league action during this period came during a loan spell with Shrewsbury Town
, playing four times midway through their 1993–94
Division Three title success.
Croft’s final league season was 1995–96
, when he had brief spells with Blackpool
, Torquay United
, Stockport County
and non-league sides Southport
and Bath City
.
In April 1999 Croft returned to Chester as Football in the Community officer. The following March
he registered again as a player. However, he was not included in any first-team matches as Chester were relegated out of the Football League. In October 2001 Croft moved to Macclesfield Town
, again for a Football in the Community post.
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a retired English professional footballer who played as a winger. The majority of his Football League appearances were made for his hometown club Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Playing career
Croft joined Chester as a schoolboy, with his debut coming as a 17-year old substitute away at Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
on 24 August 1985. Although that was to be his only league appearance during Chester’s promotion season from Division Four, he started two matches in the Freight Rover Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
. Croft became much more involved in first team duty in 1986–87
1986-87 in English football
The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
when he featured in 21 league games, scoring his first league goal in a 3–1 win over Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in November 1986. This same period saw several other youngsters such as Chris Lightfoot
Chris Lightfoot (footballer)
Chris Lightfoot was a professional footballer who played in the Football League for four clubs. He later managed in non-league football....
and Colin Woodthorpe
Colin Woodthorpe
Colin Woodthorpe is a veteran English footballer currently serving as assistant manager at Colwyn Bay F.C..-Early career:...
break through the Chester youth ranks and go on to enjoy long professional careers.
Croft opted to drop into Division Four with Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
in October 1988, but after less than a year away he rejoined Chester. During his spell at Cambridge, Croft was loaned out to Grantham Town
Grantham Town F.C.
Grantham Town F.C. is a football club, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. They are nicknamed The Gingerbreads and they play their home matches at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium . They were established in August 1874...
.
Back at Chester, Croft was to be a regular in the left wing berth over the next three years. In the summer of 1992 he made a surprise £60,000 move to Premier League side Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, but he was unable to make the first-team over the next three years. His only league action during this period came during a loan spell with Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, playing four times midway through their 1993–94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
Division Three title success.
Croft’s final league season was 1995–96
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
, when he had brief spells with Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
and non-league sides Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
and Bath City
Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
.
In April 1999 Croft returned to Chester as Football in the Community officer. The following March
March 2000
March 2000 was the third month of 2000. It began on a Wednesday and ended after 31 days on a Friday.-Events:...
he registered again as a player. However, he was not included in any first-team matches as Chester were relegated out of the Football League. In October 2001 Croft moved to Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
, again for a Football in the Community post.