Crooks, Sammy - A Derby County Legend Speaks!

The famous Derby County and England winger Sammy Crooks

SAMUEL DICKINSON CROOKS - more familiarly known as SAMMY CROOKS - was born at Bearpark, County Durham, on 16 January 1908, and died in Belper, Derbyshire, on 3 February, 1981, aged 73.

One of the best-known footballers of the 1920s and 1930s, he was capped 26 times by England at outside-right. Between 1927 and 1946 he played 445 games for Derby County and scored 111 goals. He was one of the most popular players in the club's history.

After finishing playing he became Chief Scout for Derby County and also served for 14 years as Secretary of the Association Football Players Union.

In that latter capacity, through the medium of archive film, he may be seen and heard giving an interview to the Arsenal manager George Allison at Highbury in 1945. Crooks seems ill at ease talking to camera and appears to be consulting a cue card. The rare vintage film is thought to be the earliest sound footage featuring a Derby County player.

To watch the film visit www.itnsource.com and enter "Sammy Crooks" in the search box. This results in a single hit entitled 'Exit Cricket, Enter football. ' Click on the title to bring up full details and then press 'view'.

Does anyone know of any earlier sound footage featuring a Derby County player? If so simply click on 'discussion' at the top of this page and then 'add comment' to share the information with others.

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Sammy Crooks

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