William Crake
Encyclopedia
William Parry Crake sometimes known as William Parry, was an English amateur footballer who won the inaugural F.A. Cup with the Wanderers
in 1872 and played for the English XI against Scotland in the representative matches
between 1870 and 1872. By profession, he was a merchant in India.
between 1866 and 1870. At Harrow, he was a member of the school football team in 1868 and 1869; he also played cricket
for the school in his last two years.
On 2 April 1881, he married Emily Noble Chase in Madras; they had two sons:
. He played as a forward and was described in the 1873 Football Annual as "a very neat dribbler, slow but certain" and "very useful on the side". He made his debut for the Wanderers on 5 January 1870 at Crystal Palace, having been introduced to the club by E. E. Bowen, a master at Harrow School.
In March 1870, he and Bowen were selected for the first unofficial international match
between an English XI and a team representing Scotland, which had been arranged by another Old Harrovian, C. W. Alcock
. One match report said that Crake "deserved no little praise for the energy of [his] following-up throughout the game". He also played for England in the matches played in November 1870 and February 1871 (listed as a member of the Barnes Club) and November 1871 (now with Harrow Chequers).
In 1871, Wanderers were one of 15 clubs who entered the inaugural FA Cup
competition. Wanderers reached the final where they met a side from the Royal Engineers
. Crake played as one of eight forwards as Wanderers claimed the trophy for the first of five times, with the single goal coming from Morton Betts
.
Crake continued to play for the Wanderers until 1874, making a total of 23 appearances with three goals.
and the Free Foresters. In June 1868, aged 16, he played for the M.C.C. against his own school.
, London where he died on 1 December 1921, aged 69. He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery
.
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
in 1872 and played for the English XI against Scotland in the representative matches
England v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
between 1870 and 1872. By profession, he was a merchant in India.
Family and education
Crake was born in Madras, India where his father had been in business. He was educated at Harrow SchoolHarrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
between 1866 and 1870. At Harrow, he was a member of the school football team in 1868 and 1869; 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 the school in his last two years.
On 2 April 1881, he married Emily Noble Chase in Madras; they had two sons:
- Ralph Hamilton Crake (1882–1952), who became a Lieutenant Colonel in the King's Own Scottish BorderersKing's Own Scottish BorderersThe King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
and was awarded the D.S.O.Distinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
. He played two first-class cricketFirst-class cricketFirst-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches, the first in 1901 and the last in 1921. - Eric Hamilton Crake (1886–1948), who made one first-class cricket appearance for M.C.C.Marylebone Cricket ClubMarylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
in 1912.
Football career
He played football for several clubs, including the Barnes Club, Harrow Chequers and the WanderersWanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
. He played as a forward and was described in the 1873 Football Annual as "a very neat dribbler, slow but certain" and "very useful on the side". He made his debut for the Wanderers on 5 January 1870 at Crystal Palace, having been introduced to the club by E. E. Bowen, a master at Harrow School.
In March 1870, he and Bowen were selected for the first unofficial international match
England v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
between an English XI and a team representing Scotland, which had been arranged by another Old Harrovian, C. W. Alcock
C. W. Alcock
Charles William Alcock was an influential English sportsman and administrator. He was a major instigator in the development of both international football and cricket, as well as being the creator of the FA Cup....
. One match report said that Crake "deserved no little praise for the energy of [his] following-up throughout the game". He also played for England in the matches played in November 1870 and February 1871 (listed as a member of the Barnes Club) and November 1871 (now with Harrow Chequers).
In 1871, Wanderers were one of 15 clubs who entered the inaugural 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...
competition. Wanderers reached the final where they met a side from the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers A.F.C.
The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the "Sappers", of the British Army. In the 1870s it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and being Cup Finalists in four of the first...
. Crake played as one of eight forwards as Wanderers claimed the trophy for the first of five times, with the single goal coming from Morton Betts
Morton Betts
Morton Peto Betts was a leading English sportsman of the late 19th century. He was notable for scoring the first goal in an English FA Cup Final....
.
Crake continued to play for the Wanderers until 1874, making a total of 23 appearances with three goals.
Cricket career
Crake was a keen cricketer who played for various clubs, including M.C.C.Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
and the Free Foresters. In June 1868, aged 16, he played for the M.C.C. against his own school.
Professional career
By the end of the 1870s, Crake had returned to India and set up as a merchant. Following his retirement in 1892, he returned to England to live in Norfolk Crescent, near Hyde ParkHyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
, London where he died on 1 December 1921, aged 69. He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
.