Croydon Common Football Club was an Amateur sports, amateur and, later on, Professional sports, professional association football, football Football team, club based in Croydon.

History

The team formed in 1897 in association football, 1897 as an amateur church team competing in local leagues. They turned professional in 1907, joining the Southern Football League, Southern League Second Division. A final place of third was achieved despite the stand at the Crescent being burnt down. A move was made to the Nest (future home of Crystal Palace F.C., Crystal Palace) in 1908 where promotion to the Southern Football League, Southern League First Division was achieved. In the FA Cup, English Football League, Football League members Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C., Bradford Park Avenue were beaten and Arsenal F.C., Woolwich Arsenal taken to a replay before final defeat. An immediate return was made to the Second Division after finishing second from bottom. At the new ground another main stand was damaged; the roof being removed in a gale. Seasons of mid to high table finishes then followed until the 1913-14 in English football, 1913–14 season when the championship was achieved again with only two defeats. Again, Common's stay in the First Division resulted in a second from bottom placing. Relegation was not experienced due to the suspension of the League during World War I. In 1917 the club was finally wound up, the only First Division club not to return to action after the War.

Players

*Dick Allman: Reading F.C., Reading, Portsmouth F.C., Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle F.C., Plymouth Argyle, Stoke City F.C., Stoke, Liverpool F.C., Liverpool, Port Vale F.C., Burslem Port Vale, Leicester City F.C., Leicester Fosse and Arsenal F.C., Arsenal *Arthur Box: Birmingham City F.C., Birmingham City, Stoke and Burslem Port Vale goalkeeper *William Balmer: England national football team, England and Everton F.C., Everton *Harry Dawson (association footballer), Harold Dawson: Everton F.C., Everton and Blackpool F.C., Blackpool *Bob Evans (footballer born 1881), Bob Evans: Wales national football team, Wales and Blackburn Rovers F.C., Blackburn Rovers *Dave Gardner (footballer), Dave Gardner: Scotland national football team, Scotland, West Ham United F.C., West Ham United *Harry Hadley: England and Aston Villa F.C., Aston Villa *Jack Harrow: England and Chelsea F.C., Chelsea * Ted Price (footballer), Ted Price: Stockport County F.C., Stockport County and Queens Park Rangers F.C., Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper *Sandy Tait: 1901 FA Cup Final winner with Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Tottenham Hotspur *Ernest Williamson, Ernie Williamson: England and Arsenal *Sam Wolstenholme (footballer), Sam Wolstenhome: England, Everton and Blackburn Rovers

Records

*Most appearances: Percy Barnfather, 286 *Most goals: Percy Barnfather, 88

Sources

*The Official Centenary History of the Southern League

References

{{Reflist

External links