Norman Creek (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Frederick Norman Smith Creek MBE
, MC
(12 January 1898 – 26 July 1980) was an English
amateur footballer who was associated with the Corinthians amateur team for many years. He made one appearance as a centre forward for the full England
team and five for the England amateur team.
, County Durham
and first played representative football for Darlington Grammar School. During the First World War he was in the Royal Flying Corps
and was awarded the Military Cross
.
After the cessation of hostilities, he went up to Cambridge University
where he won his first "Blue" in 1920. Injury prevented him playing in 1921, but he earned his second blue the following year.
He first began playing for Corinthian in 1919 and remained associated with the club until the 1930s. He signed amateur forms with Darlington
and made two Football League appearances between 1922 and 1924.
His solitary appearance for the England
team came on 10 May 1923, when he scored in a 4–1 victory over France
although he also won five caps for the England amateur team, scoring four goals on his debut.
Between 1923 and 1954, he worked as a schoolteacher at Dauntsey's School
, Wiltshire
teaching "games" and Geography, during which time he also played cricket
for Wiltshire
. While at the school, he helped organise the Local Defence Volunteers.
He was also a cricket writer for the Daily Telegraph, and wrote various books including "A History of the Corinthian Football Club" (1933) and "Centre Half - Attack or Defence?".
In 1943 he was awarded an MBE
. After retiring from playing he continued his association with the England amateur team as their manager. He was also managed the Great Britain Olympic Football Team during the 1950s and 1960s, whilst working for the FA.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(12 January 1898 – 26 July 1980) was an English
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...
amateur footballer who was associated with the Corinthians amateur team for many years. He made one appearance as a centre forward for the full 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...
team and five for the England amateur team.
Career
Creek was born in DarlingtonDarlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and first played representative football for Darlington Grammar School. During the First World War he was in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
.
After the cessation of hostilities, he went up to Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
where he won his first "Blue" in 1920. Injury prevented him playing in 1921, but he earned his second blue the following year.
He first began playing for Corinthian in 1919 and remained associated with the club until the 1930s. He signed amateur forms with Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
and made two Football League appearances between 1922 and 1924.
His solitary appearance for the 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...
team came on 10 May 1923, when he scored in a 4–1 victory over France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
although he also won five caps for the England amateur team, scoring four goals on his debut.
Between 1923 and 1954, he worked as a schoolteacher at Dauntsey's School
Dauntsey's School
Dauntsey's School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school in the village of West Lavington, Wiltshire, England. The School was founded in 1542, in accordance with the will of William Dauntesey, a master of the Worshipful Company of Mercers....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
teaching "games" and Geography, during which time he also played 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...
for Wiltshire
Wiltshire County Cricket Club
Wiltshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Wiltshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy....
. While at the school, he helped organise the Local Defence Volunteers.
He was also a cricket writer for the Daily Telegraph, and wrote various books including "A History of the Corinthian Football Club" (1933) and "Centre Half - Attack or Defence?".
In 1943 he was awarded an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
. After retiring from playing he continued his association with the England amateur team as their manager. He was also managed the Great Britain Olympic Football Team during the 1950s and 1960s, whilst working for the FA.