 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Crompton | ||
| Date of birth | 26 September 1879 | ||
| Place of birth | Blackburn, England | ||
| Date of death | 15 March 1941(1941-03-15) (aged 61) | ||
| Place of death | Blackburn, England | ||
| Position | Right back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1896–1920 | Blackburn Rovers | 530 | (14) |
| 1915–1916 | →Blackpool (guest) | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1902–1914 | England | 41 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1926–1931 | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| 1935–1936 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | ||
| 1938–1941 | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Robert Crompton (26 September 1879 – 15 March 1941) was an English professionalfootballer. He spent the entirety of his career with hishometown club,Blackburn Rovers. He also representedEngland on 41 occasions, captaining them 22 times.
Born inBlackburn, Crompton spent his entire career at full-back forBlackburn Rovers, playing 528 games between 1896 and 1920. He won theleague twice as captain of the team in 1912 and 1914. In the1915–16 season he played forBlackpool in the regional leagues set up by theFootball League duringWorld War I where he was made club captain.[1] His 41 England caps were arecord until surpassed byBilly Wright in 1952. He began his career as a centre-half, but it was at full-back that he excelled,Charlie Buchan describing him as "...the outstanding full-back of his time. A commanding personality, he was the best kicker of a ball I ever ran across."[2]
Crompton later went on to manage Blackburn between 1926 and 1930, leading them to theFA Cup victory overHuddersfield Town in 1928. After a spell managingBournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Crompton returned to Rovers as manager in the late 1930s to guide them to the Second Division championship.
Crompton had a heart attack in 1941 while watching Blackburn playBurnley, while he was still in charge of Blackburn. His team had just won the match 3–2. He died that evening.[3]
Crompton was in partnership with his Blackburn Rovers teammate, the Welsh international centre-forwardWilliam Davies, as motor engineers.[4]
It was announced on 25 February 2015 via Twitter that Bob Crompton would be inducted to the Hall of Fame by the National Football Museum as a 'Historic Player'.[5]
Crompton became the first player (and manager) to be entered into the Blackburn Rovers Football Club Hall of Fame on 8 February 2019.[6]
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers
