Leonard Crossley

Leonard Crossley (1883 – 1958) was a British-born Uruguayan footballer.[1][2] Crossley, who played as a goalkeeper, made two appearances for Uruguay in home and away friendly matches against Argentina in April and November 1911.[3]

He was one of several foreign-born players to represent Uruguay in the early days of international football, a time when eligibility requirements were more lax.[4][5]

Biography

Crossley was not considered tall enough to play in English football at the top level.[6] He emigrated to Uruguay in 1906 to work as a stenographer for the Central Uruguay Railway and soon began playing Uruguayan league football for Central Uruguay Railway Cricket Club (CURCC).[6][7] An innovator on the field, Crossley differed from many other goalkeepers of the time through his "tactical vision", including a willingness to play the ball short and actively organize his defence.[8][6] He rarely punched the ball, as was then common, instead "pocketing" it.[6]

Crossley retired from playing for Peñarol, the successor to CURCC, in 1914 and immediately joined the club's management team.[9]

References
  1. Álvarez, Luciano (12 June 2010). "El inglés con diez centímetros de menos". El Pais. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  2. Prats, Luis (3 July 2018). "Uruguayos de afuera". El Pais. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  3. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Leonard Crossley (Player)". National Football Teams. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  4. "El back que vino del frío para ser campeón". Asociación de Historiadores e Investigadores del Fútbol Uruguayo (in Spanish). 14 August 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  5. Prats, Luis (3 July 2018). "Uruguayos de afuera". El Pais. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  6. Martinez, Pablo D. (31 January 2019). "Los 10 centímetros que favorecieron al fútbol uruguayo". Obdulio Son Los Padres (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  7. "Leonard Crossley". World Football. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  8. Luzuriaga, Juan Carlos (2020). Orígenes y Desarrollo Del Fútbol en el Uruguay Nuevas Miradas (1870-1920). Buenos Aires: Alter Ediciones. ISBN 9789974877108.
  9. González, Fernando (19 October 2021). "La falsa "coexistencia" y el team recreativo de 1914". Padre y Decano (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
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