Jim Crawford (footballer)

For other people named Jim Crawford, see Jim Crawford (disambiguation).

Jim Crawford

Personal information
Full name	Jim Crawford
Date of birth	(1973-05-01) 1 May 1973
Place of birth	Chicago, Illinois, US
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1989–1991	Rangers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1991–1995	Bohemians	64	(3)
1995–1998	Newcastle United	2	(0)
1996	→ Rotherham United (loan)	11	(0)
1998	→ Dundee United (loan)	2	(0)
1998–2000	Reading	20	(1)
2000–2007	Shelbourne	180	(12)
2008	Sporting Fingal	12	(0)
Total		291	(16)
International career
1993–1994	Republic of Ireland U21	3	(0)
Managerial career
2008	Shamrock Rovers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jim Crawford (born 1 May 1973) is a retired footballer who played as a midfielder for Bohemian, Newcastle United, Rotherham United, Dundee United, Reading, Shelbourne and Sporting Fingal. Born in Chicago in the United States, he represented the Republic of Ireland at under-21 level.

Playing career

Crawford began his career at schoolboy level with Rangers before moving to Bohemian making his debut against Bray Wanderers on 3 November 1991. He soon became a big favourite at Dalymount Park and won the PFAI Young Player of the Year for the 1993–94 season.

Represented Republic of Ireland at the World Student Games in 1993.

This form attracted Newcastle United and he moved to Tyneside in 1995. While playing for Newcastle, Crawford found his first-team opportunities limited (scoring only once in a pre-season game against Derry City) and was sent out on loan to both Rotherham United and Dundee United before signing up for Reading in March 1998, with Tommy Burns at the helm. Burns was sacked and he failed to prove himself under the new managership.

Crawford's next destination was Shelbourne back in Ireland whom he helped to four League of Ireland championships. He signed a new one-year contract on 25 February 2007 with Shels as they got their preparations in place for the new First Division season following the FAI's decision to demote the reigning champions. He was swiftly appointed captain by new manager, Dermot Keely. Crawford's last seasons at Shelbourne were hampered by numerous injuries which limited his appearances. After eight immensely successful seasons at Shelbourne, Crawford departed the club in December 2007.

Crawford was quoted as saying:

After I signed for Shels I spent some time dwelling on my career in England and it seemed to consist of nothing but injuries. I had three groin operations and bad knees, which looked serious for a while. The last two years were a write-off.

Crawford joined newly formed Sporting Fingal in February 2008, though he retired through injury at the end of their first season. He then took over as interim manager at Shamrock Rovers after Pat Scully's contract was terminated by mutual consent on 16 October.

Honours

Club

Shelbourne

• League of Ireland Premier Division (4): 2001–02, 2003, 2004, 2006

Individual

• PFAI Young Player of the Year (1): 1993–94

External links

• Jim Crawford's profile at www.shelbournefc.com