Henry 'Ivo' Crapp
Encyclopedia
Henry 'Ivor' Crapp was a leading Australian rules football
field umpire
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) at its formation in the 1890s, and with the West Australian Football League
in the early 1900s. Known as VFL's 'Prince of Umpires', he umpired the first ever match in that League.
in 1895; when the newly formed Victorian Football League
commenced in 1897, he was appointed to the first match at Corio Oval
between Geelong
and Essendon
.
Crapp was well regarded amongst the players as being a very competent umpire, well able to discern a "stage" for a free kick. He was also proud of the then unusual ability to refer to all players by their names during the course of a match. In 1901, Crapp began the practice of calling the reasons for free kicks and nominating who was to take the kick by name. This innovation was soon adopted generally amongst the umpiring fraternity.
Crapp umpired at a time when the field umpire had to not only control the field play, but also return the ball into play once out of bounds (boundary umpires commenced in 1904 http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/collingwood.htm). Furthermore, until 1922, the field umpire also had to return the ball to the centre following the scoring of a goal. Luckily, the overall pace of games was much slower than in the more modern eras, and Crapp maintained a relatively high standard of fitness.
By 1905, his record stood at 147 matches, including 17 finals and 7 Grand Finals (1898–1902 and 1904–05). In addition he umpired Interstate matches in 1899, 1902 and 1905.
on the promise of employment and a contract from the Goldfields Football Association
. Crapp found that no job existed for him and departed by train to Perth
intending to return to Melbourne
.
WAFL officials however managed to intercept Crapp and convince him to umpire the first round in their Perth-based competition. The League quickly offered him a contract having seen the quality of his umpiring. He was outstanding in the WAFL, as he had been in the VFL, and he was appointed to the 1906 finals series and Grand Final. He became the first-choice umpire in the WAFL and he umpired every final until 1914 – a total of 30 in all. Crapp also umpired four West Australian State Premiership
matches; in 1906, 1909 and 1913.
Although historically Crapp was considered to have coached East Perth
in 1909, it seems that this was unlikely. Records indicate that he also umpired every week that season, including a final in which East Perth played. It seems likely he may have been in some other capacity with the club and that Ben Wallish was the coach http://www.aflua.com.au/index.asp?d=5A4C5A717251477C7008060A0F0609.
In 1914 he travelled to Sydney
as the Western Australian representative umpire at the Australian National Football Council Carnival.
In the WAFL Crapp umpired more than 120 games before his retirement in 1920. His last major appointment (by request of the Victorian association) was to the 1921 Interstate match between Western Australia and Victoria - at the astonishing age of 48.
He died in Western Australia
.
in 1996 his citation read:
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
field umpire
Umpire (Australian rules football)
An umpire is an official in the sport of Australian rules football.-Origins:Unlike many other codes of football, where the official is called a referee, in Australian Football, the officials borrow their title from the game of cricket, which is played on the same types of fields and was an...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) at its formation in the 1890s, and with the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
in the early 1900s. Known as VFL's 'Prince of Umpires', he umpired the first ever match in that League.
VFL
Crapp started his umpiring career in the Victorian Football AssociationVictorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
in 1895; when the newly formed Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
commenced in 1897, he was appointed to the first match at Corio Oval
Corio Oval
Corio Oval was an Australian rules football ground, located in Geelong, Victoria and used by the Geelong Football Club in the VFL from 1897 to 1941. Located in the Eastern Gardens, the oval was served by trams from 1930 when the line was extended....
between Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
and Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
Crapp was well regarded amongst the players as being a very competent umpire, well able to discern a "stage" for a free kick. He was also proud of the then unusual ability to refer to all players by their names during the course of a match. In 1901, Crapp began the practice of calling the reasons for free kicks and nominating who was to take the kick by name. This innovation was soon adopted generally amongst the umpiring fraternity.
Crapp umpired at a time when the field umpire had to not only control the field play, but also return the ball into play once out of bounds (boundary umpires commenced in 1904 http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/collingwood.htm). Furthermore, until 1922, the field umpire also had to return the ball to the centre following the scoring of a goal. Luckily, the overall pace of games was much slower than in the more modern eras, and Crapp maintained a relatively high standard of fitness.
By 1905, his record stood at 147 matches, including 17 finals and 7 Grand Finals (1898–1902 and 1904–05). In addition he umpired Interstate matches in 1899, 1902 and 1905.
WAFL
In 1906 Crapp was enticed to move to Kalgoorlie, Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
on the promise of employment and a contract from the Goldfields Football Association
Goldfields Football League
The Goldfields Football League is a regional Australian football league based in the Kalgoorlie region, Western Australia. Originally founded in 1896 as Hannans District Football Association, the league enjoyed a seat and full voting rights on the Australian National Football Council until 1919...
. Crapp found that no job existed for him and departed by train to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
intending to return to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
WAFL officials however managed to intercept Crapp and convince him to umpire the first round in their Perth-based competition. The League quickly offered him a contract having seen the quality of his umpiring. He was outstanding in the WAFL, as he had been in the VFL, and he was appointed to the 1906 finals series and Grand Final. He became the first-choice umpire in the WAFL and he umpired every final until 1914 – a total of 30 in all. Crapp also umpired four West Australian State Premiership
West Australian State Premiership
The West Australian State PremiershipSeveral different names were used in contemporary sources for the matches, including "state premiership", "state championship" and "the football championship"...
matches; in 1906, 1909 and 1913.
Although historically Crapp was considered to have coached East Perth
East Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
in 1909, it seems that this was unlikely. Records indicate that he also umpired every week that season, including a final in which East Perth played. It seems likely he may have been in some other capacity with the club and that Ben Wallish was the coach http://www.aflua.com.au/index.asp?d=5A4C5A717251477C7008060A0F0609.
In 1914 he travelled to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
as the Western Australian representative umpire at the Australian National Football Council Carnival.
In the WAFL Crapp umpired more than 120 games before his retirement in 1920. His last major appointment (by request of the Victorian association) was to the 1921 Interstate match between Western Australia and Victoria - at the astonishing age of 48.
He died in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Honours
Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of FameAustralian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1996 his citation read:
- The VFL's first 'Prince of Umpires'. Moving from the VFA to the newly formed VFL, he officiated in round one, 1897, and retired in 1905 after 147 matches including seven Grand Finals. Moved to Western Australia where he coached East Perth in 1909 then returned to umpiring, adding 120 games and three WAFL grand finals to his senior total before retiring in 1920.