Johnny Crossan
John Andrew Crossan is a Northern Irish author, radio sports analyst, entrepreneur, and former footballer. His brother Eddie was also a player.
Club career
Crossan began his career playing for Derry City, where he played as an inside forward. His talent was spotted by several leading English clubs, including Arsenal and Sunderland. When the latter made a substantial offer, Derry City offered Crossan a payment deal which he rejected, offering his own. When the Sunderland negotiations broke down, Derry City dropped Crossan, who signed for Coleraine. Derry City, still aggrieved by Crossan's actions, reported themselves to the Football League authorities for technical breaches of regulations, thus ensuring that Crossan would face disciplinary action.In January 1959, a commission of inquiry imposed small fines on Derry and Coleraine, but banned Crossan from all forms of football for life. A partial lifting of the ban was allowed following an appeal, in May 1959 the inside forward signed for Dutch Champions Sparta Rotterdam, where he was first called up to the Northern Ireland squad.
He went from there to Standard Liège, where he played in the semi-final of the European Cup against Real Madrid. In 1963, Crossan returned to football in the UK when he was signed by Sunderland, with whom he made it to the old First Division. He then signed for Manchester City who were playing in the old Second Division. As team captain, he helped them make their way into the old First Division, before being sold to Middlesbrough after a loss of form following a car crash and other health problems.
International career
Internationally, he was capped 24 times by Northern Ireland and scored 10 goals.International goals
Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 28 November 1961 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 1964 qualifying | |
| 2 | 20 November 1963 | London, England | 3–8 | 1964 British Home Championship | |
| 3 | 29 April 1964 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 3–0 | Friendly match | |
| 4 | 29 April 1964 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 3–0 | Friendly match | |
| 5 | 14 October 1964 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 1–0 | 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 6 | 17 March 1965 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 2–1 | 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 7 | 7 May 1965 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 4–1 | 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 8 | 7 May 1965 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 4–1 | 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 9 | 7 May 1965 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 4–1 | 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 10 | 2 October 1965 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 3–2 | 1966 British Home Championship |