Tony Crane
Encyclopedia
Anthony Steven "Tony" Crane (born 8 September 1982 in Liverpool
, England
) is a former English
footballer. He notably played as a professional for Sheffield Wednesday
and Grimsby Town
and was active between 1999 and 2009. His original position was in the centre of midfield, but he later became utilised as a defender. During his time with Wednesday, he was also used as a make shift striker. He went on to play for Worksop Town
and Boston United
before quitting football in 2008 due for several reasons one of which was his weight, but briefly returned to play for Non League Hallam
in 2009.
in 1999, and was promoted from the clubs youth academy into the squad that summer. The 1999-2000 campaign would spell the end of Wednesday's stay in the Premier League, as well as this, Crane failed to make an appearance in England
's top division for The Owls. In the next couple of seasons, Crane established himself as a first team player, and played apart in the clubs next three seasons, which were all contested playing in the English First Division
. Crane would be used in three positions for the Wednesday. His original position of playing as a defensive central midfield, was often mixed with using him as a centre back, and in some circumstances his height and frame were used as an advantage when his manager picked him as a make shift centre forward. In the 2002-2003 season, Sheffield Wednesday were relegated from the First Division, along with Brighton & Hove Albion
and local rivals Grimsby Town
. Following the clubs further demise down the English domestic football ladder, Crane decided to leave Hillsborough
at the end of the season, and moved to sign for Grimsby on a free transfer, he would become the first new signing for manager Paul Groves for the 2003-04 season. after both clubs had been relegated in the previous season.
, Simon Ford
or Player-Manager Paul Groves in the heart of the Grimsby defence during his first season with The Mariners. His career at Grimsby was dogged with controversy, despite being a fans favourate, his disciplinary record wasn't the greatest, clocking up 15 yellow cards and two red cards in his debut season. By the end of the 2003-2004 season Crane had suffered a third career relegation as Grimsby slumped into the drop zone on the last day of the season which saw them relegated for the second successive season.
During the 2004-2005 season, Crane was plagued with an injury that keep him out on the sidelines for up to 8 months. He eventually returned very late on in the season, making 3 appearances in total. Crane would not manage to reclaim his position at the back until the following season. Following some encouraging performances in the clubs pre-season friendlies, Crane had cemented himself back in the team, partnering Rob Jones
as the clubs preferred centre backs, thus seeing club captain Justin Whittle
relegated to the bench.
Crane managed to score a goal on the first day of the 2005-2006 season against Oxford United
, this would be his last goal for Grimsby, after scoring three times before hand. A slight aggravation in his old injury would eventually see Tony lose his place to Whittle in the team in September 2005, and after several months on the sidelines he had appeared to gain weight rapidly and became alarmingly unfit by the standards of a professional footballer. Crane returned from injury but found his chances of first team football to be non-existent, despite the sale of Simon Ramsden
too Rochdale
, Crane was constantly overlooked in the first team with manager Russell Slade
preferring to name reserve Glen Downey
as the defensive option on the bench. Crane was made available for loan in October with Russell Slade slamming him for his poor fitness and also his lack of enthusiasm to shed weight and in November 2005 fellow League Two side Wrexham
made an approach to sign him, but this bid was rejected on the basis that Crane didn't fancy a move to Wales
. Also interested were Conference North
outfit Worksop Town
, and shortly afterwards Crane joined the Nottinghamshire
club on an initial three month loan.
on loan, a former Grimsby team mate of Crane's. With many people expecting Crane to return to Grimsby and fight for his place, he did not and he moved to Worksop on a permanent deal in January 2006 on a free transfer. Tony played out the remainder of the 2005-2006 season for the club, but soon attracted more attention from another Welsh club, with The Tigers turning down a bid for Crane from Newport County
in December 2006. In May 2007, Worksop were relegated from the Conference North
division; this would be Tony's third career relegation, and also meaning he had suffered relegation with every club he had played for. With finances that bad at Worksop, they had had to leave there home stadium, some of the more expensive playing staff were released to reduce costs. Crane would be one of the players who would see his Worksop career end in this fashion.
on trial, along with fellow former Grimsby players Jonathan Rowan
, Matthew Bloomer
and Adam Buckley
. A month later Crane made the move to Boston a permanent one. Tony slotted in at centre back for the club, and his never say die attitude, that made him popular at Grimsby, saw him become increasingly popular with United fans. His aerial presence had seen him score several headed goals, and Boston boss Tommy Taylor was able to mould his first team defence around Crane. Despite his performances he became increasingly over weight, even more so than when the problem occurred at Grimsby, and once again he became under fire again by his own club manager. Taylor stated that Tony would find it a huge possibility to return to the professional game. but only if he was able to knuckle down and lose the required weight he had gained. Taylor, also commented that his weight was the reason that Crane received at least a yellow card in nearly every game he played in, mentioning that he was slow on challenging and his big frame would often be used against him when in a tussle with an opponent. Crane continued to play week in week out for The Pilgrims, but continued to struggle to budge any weight, and carried on to put on more bulk as the season ran along. Following the close of the 2007-2008 season, Crane and Boston parted company. He would remain without a club for the entire 2008-2009 season and had turned down an offer to join up with Ilkeston Town
in order to concentrate on his new found fatherhood. In December following the sacking of Tommy Taylor, Boston's new manager Steve Welsh
confirmed the club would like to resign Crane, if he was in a fit enough state to play.
.Crane was present in the clubs league game at home with Frickley Athletic
and commented a return to United could be on the cards. However a deal was never struck and Crane would play no part in the entire season.
, who play in the Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division. By Christmas
, Crane had departed.
he was ousted from the first team by his manager Russell Slade
for his rapidly increasing weight problems. Despite being recognised as a talasmanic figure head amongst the clubs crop of players at the time his weight instantly led to his departure from professional football when he left Grimsby to join Worksop Town
in 2006. Whilst with Boston United
during the 2007-2008 season, writer Duncan Browne wrote "Despite having arguably the finest touch in the Blue Square North
, he certainly had the largest frame (the club's XL shirt and shorts fitting him as if he was a cyclist),". "Despite becoming an instant fans' favourite, he got into several scrapes with manager Tommy Taylor, failing to show up for training and even getting busted for playing in goal for a Sheffield
Sunday League side while under contract.
"Taylor once joked: 'It would help if Craney stopped turning up for training with a Big Mac
' - – eventually dropping him for the final seven games of the season due to his inability to shed the weight. And with that, the player's contract expired and he decided to quit football." Despite his short stay with Hallam in 2009, Crane has since retired from the sport at the age of 27.
During the 2011/12 season Tony has made a football comeback signing for Sheffield Meadowhall League Division 2 side Hackenthorpe F.C.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, 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 former 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...
footballer. He notably played as a professional for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
and Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
and was active between 1999 and 2009. His original position was in the centre of midfield, but he later became utilised as a defender. During his time with Wednesday, he was also used as a make shift striker. He went on to play for Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
and Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
before quitting football in 2008 due for several reasons one of which was his weight, but briefly returned to play for Non League Hallam
Hallam F.C.
Hallam Football Club are a football club in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who currently play in the Northern Counties East League Division One...
in 2009.
Sheffield Wednesday
Crane started his career with Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in 1999, and was promoted from the clubs youth academy into the squad that summer. The 1999-2000 campaign would spell the end of Wednesday's stay in the Premier League, as well as this, Crane failed to make an appearance in 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...
's top division for The Owls. In the next couple of seasons, Crane established himself as a first team player, and played apart in the clubs next three seasons, which were all contested playing in the English First Division
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. Crane would be used in three positions for the Wednesday. His original position of playing as a defensive central midfield, was often mixed with using him as a centre back, and in some circumstances his height and frame were used as an advantage when his manager picked him as a make shift centre forward. In the 2002-2003 season, Sheffield Wednesday were relegated from the First Division, along with Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
and local rivals Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. Following the clubs further demise down the English domestic football ladder, Crane decided to leave Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
at the end of the season, and moved to sign for Grimsby on a free transfer, he would become the first new signing for manager Paul Groves for the 2003-04 season. after both clubs had been relegated in the previous season.
Grimsby Town
After playing the majority of his football in midfield and attack with Wednesday, Tony found himself installed as one of Grimsby's first choice centre backs although though he was initially unveiled as a midfielder when he signed for the club. He featured alongside Mike EdwardsMike Edwards (footballer)
Mike Edwards is an English professional footballer who plays for Football League One side Notts County as a defender.He has previously played in the Football League for Hull City, Colchester United and Grimsby Town.-Hull City:...
, Simon Ford
Simon Ford
Simon Gary Ford is an English-born Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a defender for Football League One side Chesterfield....
or Player-Manager Paul Groves in the heart of the Grimsby defence during his first season with The Mariners. His career at Grimsby was dogged with controversy, despite being a fans favourate, his disciplinary record wasn't the greatest, clocking up 15 yellow cards and two red cards in his debut season. By the end of the 2003-2004 season Crane had suffered a third career relegation as Grimsby slumped into the drop zone on the last day of the season which saw them relegated for the second successive season.
During the 2004-2005 season, Crane was plagued with an injury that keep him out on the sidelines for up to 8 months. He eventually returned very late on in the season, making 3 appearances in total. Crane would not manage to reclaim his position at the back until the following season. Following some encouraging performances in the clubs pre-season friendlies, Crane had cemented himself back in the team, partnering Rob Jones
Rob Jones (footballer born 1979)
Robert William "Rob" Jones is an English footballer who currently plays as a centre back for League One club Sheffield Wednesday....
as the clubs preferred centre backs, thus seeing club captain Justin Whittle
Justin Whittle
Justin Whittle is a former English professional footballer who played as a defender from 1994 until 2011.As a player he notably captained Humberside clubs Hull City and Grimsby Town. He also appeared for Celtic where he started his career in 1994 before moving on to Stoke City...
relegated to the bench.
Crane managed to score a goal on the first day of the 2005-2006 season against Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, this would be his last goal for Grimsby, after scoring three times before hand. A slight aggravation in his old injury would eventually see Tony lose his place to Whittle in the team in September 2005, and after several months on the sidelines he had appeared to gain weight rapidly and became alarmingly unfit by the standards of a professional footballer. Crane returned from injury but found his chances of first team football to be non-existent, despite the sale of Simon Ramsden
Simon Ramsden
Simon Paul Ramsden is an English footballer playing for Football League Two side Bradford City. He is a defender capable of playing in the centre or on the right side.-Sunderland:...
too Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
, Crane was constantly overlooked in the first team with manager Russell Slade
Russell Slade
Russell Slade is an English football manager currently in charge of League One side Leyton Orient.-Notts County:Slade was assistant manager to Mick Walker at Notts County, and took over as caretaker manager when Walker was sacked in September 1994. When County appointed Howard Kendall as manager...
preferring to name reserve Glen Downey
Glen Downey
Glen Downey is a former English footballer who played as a Defender between 1997 and 2007...
as the defensive option on the bench. Crane was made available for loan in October with Russell Slade slamming him for his poor fitness and also his lack of enthusiasm to shed weight and in November 2005 fellow League Two side Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
made an approach to sign him, but this bid was rejected on the basis that Crane didn't fancy a move to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Also interested were Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
outfit Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
, and shortly afterwards Crane joined the Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
club on an initial three month loan.
Worksop Town
Worksop had also signed Darren MansaramDarren Mansaram
Darren Timothy D. Mansaram is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division side Armthorpe Welfare....
on loan, a former Grimsby team mate of Crane's. With many people expecting Crane to return to Grimsby and fight for his place, he did not and he moved to Worksop on a permanent deal in January 2006 on a free transfer. Tony played out the remainder of the 2005-2006 season for the club, but soon attracted more attention from another Welsh club, with The Tigers turning down a bid for Crane from Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
in December 2006. In May 2007, Worksop were relegated from the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
division; this would be Tony's third career relegation, and also meaning he had suffered relegation with every club he had played for. With finances that bad at Worksop, they had had to leave there home stadium, some of the more expensive playing staff were released to reduce costs. Crane would be one of the players who would see his Worksop career end in this fashion.
Boston United
In June 2007 he joined former Football League side Boston UnitedBoston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
on trial, along with fellow former Grimsby players Jonathan Rowan
Jonathan Rowan
Jonathan Robert "Jonny" Rowan is a former English professional footballer. He notably played in the Football League for his home town club Grimsby Town, having also played for Kidderminster Harriers, Kettering Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Boston Town and Boston United.He currently runs his own...
, Matthew Bloomer
Matthew Bloomer
Matthew "Matty" Brian Bloomer is an English professional footballer who plays in the Conference North for Harrogate Town. He plays as a centre back or right back, but can also play in a variety of positions...
and Adam Buckley
Adam Buckley
Adam Christian Buckley is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder at a semi-professional level for Sleaford Town....
. A month later Crane made the move to Boston a permanent one. Tony slotted in at centre back for the club, and his never say die attitude, that made him popular at Grimsby, saw him become increasingly popular with United fans. His aerial presence had seen him score several headed goals, and Boston boss Tommy Taylor was able to mould his first team defence around Crane. Despite his performances he became increasingly over weight, even more so than when the problem occurred at Grimsby, and once again he became under fire again by his own club manager. Taylor stated that Tony would find it a huge possibility to return to the professional game. but only if he was able to knuckle down and lose the required weight he had gained. Taylor, also commented that his weight was the reason that Crane received at least a yellow card in nearly every game he played in, mentioning that he was slow on challenging and his big frame would often be used against him when in a tussle with an opponent. Crane continued to play week in week out for The Pilgrims, but continued to struggle to budge any weight, and carried on to put on more bulk as the season ran along. Following the close of the 2007-2008 season, Crane and Boston parted company. He would remain without a club for the entire 2008-2009 season and had turned down an offer to join up with Ilkeston Town
Ilkeston Town F.C.
Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....
in order to concentrate on his new found fatherhood. In December following the sacking of Tommy Taylor, Boston's new manager Steve Welsh
Steve Welsh
Steven George Welsh is a former professional footballer and currently Head of Youth Development at Boston United. He joined the Pilgrims in October 2005 and acted as manager from 18 December 2008 until the end of the 2008-2009 season...
confirmed the club would like to resign Crane, if he was in a fit enough state to play.
.Crane was present in the clubs league game at home with Frickley Athletic
Frickley Athletic F.C.
Frickley Athletic F.C. are a football club based in South Elmsall, in West Yorkshire, England. They were established in 1910 as Frickley Colliery F.C., and changed to their present name in 1974.-History:...
and commented a return to United could be on the cards. However a deal was never struck and Crane would play no part in the entire season.
Hallam
On 23 October 2009, exactly 17 months after leaving Boston, Crane returned to the sport, signing with lowly non league side Hallam F.C.Hallam F.C.
Hallam Football Club are a football club in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who currently play in the Northern Counties East League Division One...
, who play in the Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division. By Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, Crane had departed.
Personal life
During Crane's time at Grimsby TownGrimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
he was ousted from the first team by his manager Russell Slade
Russell Slade
Russell Slade is an English football manager currently in charge of League One side Leyton Orient.-Notts County:Slade was assistant manager to Mick Walker at Notts County, and took over as caretaker manager when Walker was sacked in September 1994. When County appointed Howard Kendall as manager...
for his rapidly increasing weight problems. Despite being recognised as a talasmanic figure head amongst the clubs crop of players at the time his weight instantly led to his departure from professional football when he left Grimsby to join Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
in 2006. Whilst with Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
during the 2007-2008 season, writer Duncan Browne wrote "Despite having arguably the finest touch in the Blue Square North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
, he certainly had the largest frame (the club's XL shirt and shorts fitting him as if he was a cyclist),". "Despite becoming an instant fans' favourite, he got into several scrapes with manager Tommy Taylor, failing to show up for training and even getting busted for playing in goal for a Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
Sunday League side while under contract.
"Taylor once joked: 'It would help if Craney stopped turning up for training with a Big Mac
Big Mac
The Big Mac is a hamburger sold by McDonald's, an international fast food restaurant chain. It is one of the company's signature products...
' - – eventually dropping him for the final seven games of the season due to his inability to shed the weight. And with that, the player's contract expired and he decided to quit football." Despite his short stay with Hallam in 2009, Crane has since retired from the sport at the age of 27.
During the 2011/12 season Tony has made a football comeback signing for Sheffield Meadowhall League Division 2 side Hackenthorpe F.C.