A number of Croydon Common
players appeared in an F.A. Cup final at some point in their career, as detailed
below.
WILLIAM BALMER appeared for Everton in successive finals in 1906
(beating Newcastle United) and 1907 (losing to Sheffield Wednesday).
JACK HARROW appeared for Chelsea in the last final before the war. The
Blues lost 3-0 to Sheffield United.
Click on his photo to see a clip of him walking out to play for The
British Army v. The Belgian Army during WW1. He is the sixth
player in the line.
SAM MESTON played for
Southampton for several seasons before joining
Croydon Common. He appeared for the Saints in
the finals of 1900 and 1902.
SANDY TAIT appeared for
Tottenham Hotspur in the 1901 final, when Sheffield United were beaten
after a reply. A strong tackling full back, he later played for and
managed Croydon Common.
ROBERT THOMSON played for
Chelsea in the 1915 final along with Jack Harrow. Having only one eye
following a childhood accident did not prevent him scoring 51 goals in
his only season at Croydon.
WILLIAM WOOLDRIDGE played
for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 3-1 win over Newcastle United in
1908. As with many other players, he finished his career with a spell
at Croydon Common.
BILLY YENSON was in the
Bolton Wanderers side that lost by a single goal to Manchester City in
the 1904 final.