Warney Cresswell
Encyclopedia
Warneford "Warney" Cresswell (5 November 1897 – 20 October 1973) was an English
professional footballer, who helped Everton
win the Football League
championship twice and the FA Cup
. His ability and talents earned him the sobriquet "The Prince of Full Backs" and helped him win seven caps for England
. For three years he was the world's most expensive footballer.
He has also been credited with the quote: "Good goalkeepers never make great saves".
, which at the time was probably considered more manly than flowers or a bag of grapes.
, Tyne and Wear
(then in County Durham
). He represented South Shields Schools and England Schools as a youngster, as well as playing junior football locally, although the outbreak of World War I
prevented him playing professional football in England, where football was suspended. This was not the case in Scotland
, however, where the Scottish Football League
continued throughout the hostilities, so the teenage Cressswell moved north of the border to play for Morton
, Heart of Midlothian
and Hibernian
.
He later enlisted in the army, and was captured and held in a prisoner-of-war camp
before being repatriated at the end of the war.
In the summer of 1919 he signed for South Shields
, then playing in the Football League Second Division
.
He moved to Sunderland
in 1922 for a then-world record fee
of £5,500. The record was not broken again until 1928. He made 190 appearances for the club.
He moved to Everton
in 1927 for £7,000, at the age of 30, where he played alongside goal machine Dixie Dean
. The club was massively successful during his time there and with Cresswell's help they won the FA Community Shield
in 1928 and 1932
, were crowned Football League
champions in both the 1927–28 & 1931–32 seasons and lifted the FA Cup
in 1933
. He left Everton when he was 38 having made 306 appearances for the club, signaling the end of his career as a player.
for England seven times. His first match was against Wales
on 14 March 1921 and his last was against Ireland on 19 October 1929. His first appearance was whilst still at South Shields
, thus making him South Shield's only England international.
in May 1936. He introduced strict training methods to the club, the emphasis being on fitness, using activities such as running and gymnastics. These were combined with relaxed sessions of snooker
and billiards. His professional manner seemed to indicate a bright future as manager and in May 1937 left his position at Vale by mutual consent, to take up the management position at Northampton Town
, later being the manager-secretary.
In 1947, he was on a short-list of 10 for the post of manager at Newcastle United
. Instead he took up the position at Dartford
, resigning after a poor run of results.
in the Sunderland area.
, also played for Sunderland
as well as clubs including West Bromwich Albion
, Chester
and Notts County
. His son, Corbett Cresswell, was in the Bishop Auckland
team which won the FA Amateur Cup
three years in succession in the 1950s. His great-granddaughter is Lincoln based Olympic swimmer Kate Haywood
.
Everton
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional footballer, who helped Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
win the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
championship twice and the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. His ability and talents earned him the sobriquet "The Prince of Full Backs" and helped him win seven caps for 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...
. For three years he was the world's most expensive footballer.
He has also been credited with the quote: "Good goalkeepers never make great saves".
Playing style
Cresswell played in the right back position. He was a renowned tackler and famed for his cool demeanour, fine tackling and masterful positional play. He became hugely popular with fans wherever he played, establishing a reputation as a 'gentleman', both on and off the pitch. He has been described, during his Everton days, as: "A stylish English fullback, who made "modern" runs forward and usually stole the ball from the opposition with skillful rather than crude tackling". One player recounted how his leg was broken following a collision with Cresswell, who appeared later at the hospital with a pouch of smoking tobaccoTobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
, which at the time was probably considered more manly than flowers or a bag of grapes.
Club career
Cresswell was born in South ShieldsSouth Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
, Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
(then in 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...
). He represented South Shields Schools and England Schools as a youngster, as well as playing junior football locally, although the outbreak of 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...
prevented him playing professional football in England, where football was suspended. This was not the case in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, however, where the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
continued throughout the hostilities, so the teenage Cressswell moved north of the border to play for Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
, Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
and Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
.
He later enlisted in the army, and was captured and held in a prisoner-of-war camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
before being repatriated at the end of the war.
In the summer of 1919 he signed for South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
, then playing in the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
.
He moved to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in 1922 for a then-world record fee
World football transfer record
This is a list of the progression of the world association football transfer record when measured in British pounds.-See also:*Highest transfer fees*Progression of British football transfer fee record-Notes:...
of £5,500. The record was not broken again until 1928. He made 190 appearances for the club.
He moved to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in 1927 for £7,000, at the age of 30, where he played alongside goal machine Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean
William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
. The club was massively successful during his time there and with Cresswell's help they won the FA Community Shield
FA Community Shield
The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
in 1928 and 1932
1932 FA Charity Shield
The 1932 FA Charity Shield was the 19th FA Charity Shield, a football match between the winners of the previous season's First Division and FA Cup competitions. The match was contested by league champions Everton and FA Cup winners Newcastle, and was played at St James' Park, the home ground of...
, were crowned Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
champions in both the 1927–28 & 1931–32 seasons and lifted the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1933
1933 FA Cup Final
The 1933 FA Cup Final was a football match between Everton and Manchester City on 29 April 1933 at Wembley Stadium in London. The deciding match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the 62nd final, and the 11th at Wembley...
. He left Everton when he was 38 having made 306 appearances for the club, signaling the end of his career as a player.
International career
Cresswell was cappedCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for England seven times. His first match was against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 14 March 1921 and his last was against Ireland on 19 October 1929. His first appearance was whilst still at South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
, thus making him South Shield's only England international.
Managerial career
After retiring as a player, Cresswell was appointed manager-coach of Port ValePort Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in May 1936. He introduced strict training methods to the club, the emphasis being on fitness, using activities such as running and gymnastics. These were combined with relaxed sessions of snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
and billiards. His professional manner seemed to indicate a bright future as manager and in May 1937 left his position at Vale by mutual consent, to take up the management position at Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
, later being the manager-secretary.
In 1947, he was on a short-list of 10 for the post of manager at Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. Instead he took up the position at Dartford
Dartford F.C.
Dartford F.C. are an English football club based in Dartford, Kent. After finishing as champions of the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2007–08 season, they compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They finished in 8th position in their first season...
, resigning after a poor run of results.
After football
After leaving the game, he went on to manage a pubPublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in the Sunderland area.
Family
Warney's brother, FrankFrank Cresswell
Frank Cresswell was a former English professional footballer who played as a forward. He made appearances in The Football League for four clubs between 1926 and 1938.-Playing career:...
, also played for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
as well as clubs including West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, Chester
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...
and Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. His son, Corbett Cresswell, was in the Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland F.C.
Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
team which won the FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
three years in succession in the 1950s. His great-granddaughter is Lincoln based Olympic swimmer Kate Haywood
Kate Haywood
Kate Emma Haywood is an English swimmer. She was the youngest swimmer to represent England in the Commonwealth Games when she qualified for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where she won a bronze medal in the 4×100 m medley relay...
.
Honours
SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
runners-up: 1922–23
Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
- FA Community ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
winner: 1928 & 19321932 FA Charity ShieldThe 1932 FA Charity Shield was the 19th FA Charity Shield, a football match between the winners of the previous season's First Division and FA Cup competitions. The match was contested by league champions Everton and FA Cup winners Newcastle, and was played at St James' Park, the home ground of... - Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
champion: 1927–28 & 1931–32 - Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
champion: 1930–31 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner: 19331933 FA Cup FinalThe 1933 FA Cup Final was a football match between Everton and Manchester City on 29 April 1933 at Wembley Stadium in London. The deciding match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the 62nd final, and the 11th at Wembley...