Jim Crawford (footballer)

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

Personal information
Jim Crawford
Full name	Jim Crawford
Date of birth	May 1, 1973 (1973-05-01) (age 35)
Place of birth	Chicago, United States
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Sporting Fingal
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1991-1995 1995-1998 1996 1998 1998-2000 2000-2007 2008-present	Bohemians Newcastle United → Rotherham United (loan) → Dundee United (loan) Reading Shelbourne Sporting Fingal	064 (3) 002 (0) 011 (0) 002 (0) 020 (1) 180 (4) 0 (0)
National team
1993-1994	Republic of Ireland U21	003 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 08:00, 5 February 2008 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Jim Crawford (born May 1, 1973 in Chicago, U.S.) is an Irish footballer currently playing for Eircom League of Ireland First Division club Sporting Fingal. Crawford is an experienced central midfielder.

1 Career
2 Honours
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Career

Crawford began his career at Bohemians making his debut against Bray Wanderers in 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.

This form attracted Newcastle United and he moved to Tyneside in 1995. He also spent a short period of time playing for both Rotherham United and Dundee Utd before signing up for Reading in March 1998, with Tommy Burns at the helm. The next match he played, he was to help secure a Reading record, as they achieved their seventh straight defeat, the first time that had happened in 127 years. He also played during a club-record run of fifteen straight defeats. Eight games later, this record was equalled once again, and Crawford was to leave Reading, as manager Tommy Burns was sacked and he failed to prove himself under 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 February 25, 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^[1]. He was swiftly appointed captain by new manager, Dermot Keely^[2]. 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^[3].

Crawford was quoted as saying: ^[4]

“

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 was the 1993-94 PFAI Young Player of the Year.^[5]

Crawford joined newly formed Sporting Fingal in February 2008.