Ernie Crawford

Ernie Crawford (born in Belfast) was an Irish sportsman during the 1920s.

Crawford was a Belfastman who played full back at rugby for Lansdowne R.F.C. He also played for Ireland on 30 occasions after making his debut against England on February 14 1920. [http://www.lansdownerugby.com/clubhouse/view_player_profile.asp?player_id=48] . He scored a total of 18 points during his international career in rugby - 2 tries and 6 penalties. He was President of the Irish Rugby Football Union in the 1957-58 season. He is a member of Lansdowne Rugby Club's Hall of Fame. [http://www.lansdownerugby.com/clubhouse/hall_of_fame.asp] He also some time as President of Skerries Rugby Club [http://skerriesrfc.ie/history.html]

In football, he played for Cliftonville F.C. and Bohemians. A tough full back, he helped Bohs to a Metropolitan Cup win in the early 1920's against Shamrock Rovers and famously took off his jersey at the end of the match to offer Bob Fullam a fight! This is still regaled by the Bohs faithful in song:

"Ernie Crawford, he's our friend,"
"He's our friend, he's our friend"
"Ernie Crawford, he's our friend"
"He hates Rovers"