Professional rugby league footballer
Alan Crumpton (27 January 1928 – 13 January 1983) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and 1950s. He played five seasons in the New South Wales Rugby League Premiership for the Canterbury-Bankstown club.
Playing career
Starting in reserve grade in 1947, before becoming a regular member of the 1948 third grade team. Crumpton was eventually promoted to the first grade side in 1949, making his debut in Round 3 against St. George. His side lost 9-39.[2] He scored his first career try in Canterbury's 17-28 loss to Newtown in Round 8.[3] In Round 12 (his final game for the season), he scored another try in a rematch against St. George.[4] Crumpton finished the season with two tries from seven appearances.[5]
In 1950, Crumpton had arguably the most successful season of his career. He scored a try the opening round of the season in a narrow lost to South Sydney, before scoring a try in 4 straight consecutive games.[6] In Round 17 (second last round), he scored 2 tries against Parramatta, with his side winning 23-9.[7] Crumpton finished the season with 9 tries in 16 appearances - tying with Cec Cooper as Canterbury's leading tryscorer. He was also tied as the second-highest point-scorer for his team, behind the team's primary goal-kicker, Ronald Willey.[8]
Crumpton only made 3 appearances in 1951, not scoring any points that season.
The next season, he scored 2 tries against the Manly-Warringah in Round 13. He finished that year with 4 tries from only 6 appearances. During that time, he mostly played reserve grade, playing against South Sydney in the reserve grade Grand Final in 1952.[9]
Crumpton played one game in 1953, which turned out to be his last game. His final game of his career was against Newtown in a 9-12 loss.[10] Crumpton finished his career with 15 tries (45 points) in 33 appearances.[11]
References