Percy Northcroft
Encyclopedia
Percy Wilfred Northcroft (August 31, 1886 – December 20, 1967) was an American football
player and Naval officer. He played tackle
for the Navy Midshipmen football
team from 1905 to 1908 and was selected as an All-American in 1906 and 1908. He later served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.
. He enrolled at the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis, Maryland
in June 1905 and played at the tackle position for the Navy Midshipmen football
team from 1905 to 1908. Northcroft also competed in the weight events for the Academy's track and field team and was elected as captain of the track team in May 1908.
In 1906, Northcroft helped lead the Navy football team to a record of 8–2–2 and a 10–0 victory over Army
. In the season-ending win over Army, Northcroft kicked a field goal that was variously reported to have been from the 42-yard line or the 48-yard line. One observer later recalled that Northcroft's long kick was made with the ball placed near the sideline and he "kicked the ball at least 20 feet above the goal posts and clear up into the end stand." The 1906 victory broke a four-game winning streak for Army. After the 1906 season, Northcroft was selected as a third-team All-American by Walter Camp
for Collier's Weekly
and a second-team All-American by Caspar Whitney
for The Outing Magazine
.
As a junior in 1907, Northcroft helped lead Navy to a record of 9–2–1, including eight shutouts. The 1907 Navy team also won its second consecutive victory over Army in the last game of the season. Following the 1907 season, Northcroft was elected by his fellow Midshipmen as the captain of the 1908 Navy football team.
As a senior in 1908, the Navy team with Northcroft as captain compiled a record of 9–2–1 and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 218 to 38. At the end of the 1908 season, Northcroft was selected as a first-team All-American by the Chicago Inter-Ocean and a third-team All-American by Walter Camp.
In 1909, the Naval Academy tested the strength of more than 800 midshipmen at the academy using a "Kellogg testing machine"; Northcroft was determined to be "the strong man of the whole academy" with a "multiple" of 9,275 pounds. He also had his name engraved on the Naval Academy's Thompson trophy cup in 1909 "for having had the best influence for the betterment of athletics during the past year."
After graduating from the Naval Academy, Northcroft spent his career in the U.S. Navy. In January 1917, he was assigned to the destroyer force of the Navy's Atlantic Fleet, serving as a lieutenant on the USS McDougal
. In June 1917, following the entry of the United States into World War I
, Northcroft was promoted from the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) to full lieutenant. He continued to serve through World War II
advancing through the ranks of commander and Captain.
Northcroft was also inducted into the U.S. Naval Academy's Hall of Fame for his contributions to the football teams.
Northcroft died in 1967 at age 81. He was buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery
in San Bruno, California
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and Naval officer. He played tackle
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
for the Navy Midshipmen football
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
team from 1905 to 1908 and was selected as an All-American in 1906 and 1908. He later served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.
Biography
Northcroft was a native of Pawtucket, Rhode IslandPawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
. He enrolled at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
at Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
in June 1905 and played at the tackle position for the Navy Midshipmen football
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
team from 1905 to 1908. Northcroft also competed in the weight events for the Academy's track and field team and was elected as captain of the track team in May 1908.
In 1906, Northcroft helped lead the Navy football team to a record of 8–2–2 and a 10–0 victory over Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
. In the season-ending win over Army, Northcroft kicked a field goal that was variously reported to have been from the 42-yard line or the 48-yard line. One observer later recalled that Northcroft's long kick was made with the ball placed near the sideline and he "kicked the ball at least 20 feet above the goal posts and clear up into the end stand." The 1906 victory broke a four-game winning streak for Army. After the 1906 season, Northcroft was selected as a third-team All-American by Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
for Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
and a second-team All-American by Caspar Whitney
Caspar Whitney
Caspar William Whitney was an American author, editor, explorer, and war correspondent. He originated the concept of the All-American team in college football in 1889 when he worked for Harper's Magazine....
for The Outing Magazine
Outing (magazine)
Outing was a late-nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American magazine covering a variety of sporting activities. It began publication in 1882 as the Wheelman and had four title changes before ceasing publication in 1923....
.
As a junior in 1907, Northcroft helped lead Navy to a record of 9–2–1, including eight shutouts. The 1907 Navy team also won its second consecutive victory over Army in the last game of the season. Following the 1907 season, Northcroft was elected by his fellow Midshipmen as the captain of the 1908 Navy football team.
As a senior in 1908, the Navy team with Northcroft as captain compiled a record of 9–2–1 and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 218 to 38. At the end of the 1908 season, Northcroft was selected as a first-team All-American by the Chicago Inter-Ocean and a third-team All-American by Walter Camp.
In 1909, the Naval Academy tested the strength of more than 800 midshipmen at the academy using a "Kellogg testing machine"; Northcroft was determined to be "the strong man of the whole academy" with a "multiple" of 9,275 pounds. He also had his name engraved on the Naval Academy's Thompson trophy cup in 1909 "for having had the best influence for the betterment of athletics during the past year."
After graduating from the Naval Academy, Northcroft spent his career in the U.S. Navy. In January 1917, he was assigned to the destroyer force of the Navy's Atlantic Fleet, serving as a lieutenant on the USS McDougal
USS McDougal (DD-54)
USS McDougal was an built for the United States Navy prior to the American entry into World War I. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of David Stockton McDougal, a U.S...
. In June 1917, following the entry of the United States into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Northcroft was promoted from the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) to full lieutenant. He continued to serve through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
advancing through the ranks of commander and Captain.
Northcroft was also inducted into the U.S. Naval Academy's Hall of Fame for his contributions to the football teams.
Northcroft died in 1967 at age 81. He was buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery
Golden Gate National Cemetery
Golden Gate National Cemetery is a U.S. National Cemetery, located in the city of San Bruno, San Mateo County, 12 miles south of San Francisco. Because of the name and location, it is frequently confused with San Francisco National Cemetery, which dates to the 19th century and is in the Presidio...
in San Bruno, California
San Bruno, California
San Bruno is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 41,114 at the 2010 census.The city is adjacent to San Francisco International Airport and Golden Gate National Cemetery.-Geography:San Bruno is located at...
.
See also
- 1906 College Football All-America Team1906 College Football All-America TeamThe 1906 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1906 college football season...
- 1908 College Football All-America Team1908 College Football All-America TeamThe 1908 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1908 college football season...