Graham Frederick Cross (born 15 November 1943) is a former professional footballer and cricketer. He is the record appearance holder for Leicester City, making 600 appearances for the club in all competitions (as Community Shield now considered a full appearance).
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graham Frederick Cross | ||
| Date of birth | 15 November 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||
| Position(s) | Defender, midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1960–1976 | Leicester City | 498 | (29) |
| 1975–1976 | → Chesterfield (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 1976–1977 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | (3) |
| 1977–1979 | Preston North End | 45 | (1) |
| 1978–1979 | Lincoln City | 19 | (0) |
| Total | 620 | (33) | |
| International career | |||
| England U23 | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Football career
editCross was born in Leicester. He spent most of his career playing for Leicester City originally as an inside forward, then later as a centre-half and occasionally a right half. At Leicester he holds the record for the most appearances for the club with 600 between 1961 and 1975.[1] He went on to join Brighton & Hove Albion and then Preston North End. He made the record number of appearances for the England Under 23 side but never made a full international appearance.
Cricket career
editCross also represented Leicestershire as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler between 1961 and 1977. In 83 first-class matches, he scored 2,079 runs (average 18.39), highest score 78 with eight fifties and 61 catches. He took 92 wickets (average 29.95), best bowling 4/28. In 51 List A matches, he scored 701 runs (average 20.61), highest score 57 not out with three fifties and 17 catches. He took 63 wickets (average 20.23), best bowling 4/11.[2]
Appearing irregularly because of his football commitments, Cross was nevertheless a good enough player to find a place in Ray Illingworth's successful county side of the mid '70s. He was a member of the Leicestershire team that won the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1975.[3] Cross's last appearance came when the side was stricken by illness in May 1977. A scratch side had to be assembled to play Hampshire at Grace Road in the B&H Cup. Showing his characteristic adaptability, he kept wicket for the only time during his career.
Honours
editAs a player
editLeicester City
- Football League Second Division: 1970–71
- Football League Cup: 1963–64; runner-up: 1964–65
- FA Charity Shield: 1971[4]
- FA Cup runner-up: 1962–63,[5] 1968–69[6]
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Records
- Leicester City all-time leading appearance maker: 600 games
- Leicester City all-time leading appearance maker in the first tier (Premier League and predecessors): 414 games
- Leicester City all-time leading appearance maker in the FA Cup: 59 games
- Leicester City all-time leading appearance maker in the League Cup: 40 games (Joint record)
References
edit- ^ "Former Player Remembers: Graham Cross (Part One)". LCFC. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Former Player Remembers: Graham Cross (Part Two)". LCFC. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Middlesex v Leicestershire 1975". Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "1971/72 Charity Shield". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ Vernon, Leslie; Rollin, Jack (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78. London: Brickfield Publications Ltd. p. 490. ISBN 0354 09018 6.
- ^ Vernon, Leslie; Rollin, Jack (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78. London: Brickfield Publications Ltd. p. 491. ISBN 0354 09018 6.
External links
editFurther reading
editWilson, Jonathan (2011). Brian Clough. Nobody Ever Says Thank You. London: Orion Books. p. 173. ISBN 9781409123170.