Tireless, energetic and an everlasting smile on his face; Gary Crawshaw was as much legend as real man when taking to the pitch for Boro’. The forward first arrived midway through the 1993-4 season from Hendon. According to the 1999 match programme for Kingstonian indoors, the signing could be seen as ‘dubious’. Well, it’s tongue-in-cheek – just that he arrived on a free transfer 10 days before Victor Green became chairman at Broadhall Way after leaving the Greens too.
Crawshaw spent a large chunk of the 1994-5 campaign missing, however. Instead of taking in such delightful sights as Stafford, Macclesfield and Dagenham, he decided to see the world. Boro’ were wise, however; keeping hold of the lad’s registration so he’d return to action for us. And, in his first full season back, we won the Conference title. It seems like too much of a coincidence, right?
But don’t be fooled. Crawshaw scored crucial goals throughout his time with us. None stand out quite as much as the consolation goal at Sid James’ Park when we “lost” to Newcastle United in 1998. But that doesn’t do justice to the other 51 he scored; goals placing Crawshaw in a select group of players to hit the half century. All things – good or otherwise – must end, however, and that includes Crawshaw’s career at Boro’.
He left us in summer 1998. As the match programme for Kingstonian in late November 1999 proves, however, is that Broadhall Way will forever be a home to Crawshaw. The forward played in Des Gallagher‘s testimonial and said afterwards: “I came on… and couldn’t believe my reception. It was great – and it brought it home just how much this club means to me.”
