10.4.13

Bob Crompton




 Bob Crompton is still at number 10 on the all-time list of England captains, leading the national side in 21 games . In the  1902–1914 period (during which he represented England 41 times, a record that stood for nearly 40 years) there were far fewer games- and Crompton was a professional, which ruled him out of the Olympics. He played on the 1908 and 1909 continental tours. 
  • Crompton played at right back for Blackburn Rovers, making 528 appearances between 1896 and 1920 and leading them to the First Division championship in 1912 and 1914.

  • Notice how the blue and white halves are on different sides of Crompton's jersey in the two pictures? Apparently this is not an artists' error, photographs from the era show both combinations, even in the same team.