The 1960s: Johnny Crossan

As part of the series on Manchester City in the 1960s I’m taking a look today at an Irish player who joined the club in January 1965 and went on to captain the team, Johnny Crossan. Here goes…

Johnny Crossan was born in Derry on 29th November 1938 and first came to the notice of English clubs when he was a youth.  Crossan:  “I had apparently been doing quite well as a youngster.  I had got into the Derry team when only aged 14 and Joe Mercer came over to have a look round and weigh up likely prospects.  Later, I learned he wanted to sign me for his club, which was then Sheffield United, and a fee of around £5,000 was discussed.  I never did find out what went wrong.  Perhaps Derry wanted more money.”

He moved on to Coleraine a little later, and then another proposed move to England collapsed when problems over a possible transfer to Bristol City resulted in a ‘life’ ban.  Crossan then moved to the continent, signing for Sparta Rotterdam, and then Standard Liege.  At Liege he played in the European Cup.  By October 1962 the English ban was lifted and he was transferred to Sunderland for £27,000.  

At Roker Park he managed to score 39 goals in 82 appearances, before George Poyser brought him to Maine Road as a last desperate act to save his own job.  

Crossan made his debut in a 2-0 defeat at Derby County on 30 January 1965.

Although the Irishman did little to impress City’s support during Spring 1965, over time he did prove to be an excellent signing.  

When Mercer took over from Poyser he was delighted to find Crossan was already at the club.  He was determined to award him the captaincy and always admitted that Crossan was one of the main reasons City achieved success:  “We received tremendous help from one little fellow in the dressing room – Johnny Crossan.  In those early days this whimsical Irishman was a wonderful dressing room influence as we tried to mould players we hardly knew into a fighting unit.”

The promotion season was Crossan’s best at Maine Road and clearly demonstrated his playing ability, humour, and captaincy skills.  He seemed to be destined to play a major part in City’s future when tragedy struck.  At the age of 28 he was involved in a car crash close to Roker Park prior to the 1966-7 season.  He missed the opening game of the season and, despite managing to regain his place, his City career was nearing its end.  Foolishly he tried to disguise an injured knee and as a result gave the impression he just wasn’t trying.  In actual fact he was probably trying more than most, but he was simply unable to cope.  He also suffered from a grumbling appendix.

In August 1967 he was transferred to Middlesbrough for £32,000 – proving that he was still a player with much to offer.  At Middlesbrough he made a total of 56 appearances and scored 8 goals, but suffered with insomnia and was forced to endure several hospital visits.

Once his footballing career was over Crossan returned to Derry, and in later years played an active role in training local youngsters. 

In total Crossan made 24 international appearances for Northern Ireland (ten while with City), and proved to be a very popular player within the dressing room and, for most of his City career, on the terraces.  Without Crossan Mercer and Allison would have found it more difficult to lift the Blues out of the Second Division, and the transformation in City’s fortunes may have taken a while longer.  

Johnny Crossan

Born: Derry, 29^th November 1938

Debut v Derby County (away) 30/1/1965

City Appearances:

FL: 94 apps. 24 goals.

FAC: 14 apps. 2 goals.

FLC: 2 apps. 2 goals.

TOTAL: 110 apps. 28 goals.

Middlesbrough Appearances: 

FL: 54+2 apps. 7 goals.

FAC: 5 apps. 1 goal.

FLC: 2 apps. 

TOTAL: 61+2 apps. 8 goals.

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