*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Dave Crush
Appearances: 41+1 Goals: 3
Date / Year of birth: 2nd December 1946
Position: Striker / Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1978/79
Season of last appearance: 1978/79
Also played for: Tonbridge, Ashford Town, Dover, Maidstone United, Canterbury City and Hastings United
Attacking player born in Pembury who started his career at Tonbridge, making his first team debut on 3.1.66 in a game against Bedford. Dave went on to become a first team regular for the Angels and whilst he was playing centre-forward future 1st Division and England striker Malcolm MacDonald was a teenage full-back in the Tonbridge side.
In August 1967 Dave moved to Ashford and scored 40 Southern League goals in 129 appearances between 1967/68 and 1970/71. His tally included a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Margate on 14.1.70. He played for Kent during his time with the Nuts & Bolts.
Dave linked up with Dover for the 1971/72 campaign and scored 19 goals during the season. He added three more at the start of 1972/73 before returning to Tonbridge in September 1972 for a fee in the region of £1,000. He scored nine goals for Tonbridge during 1972/73.
Dave then joined Maidstone for the 1975/76 season and he also spent the 1976/77 campaign with the Stones. On 12.3.77 he was sent off after a clash with Norman Fusco in a game against Margate.
In the summer of 1977 Dave rejoined Tonbridge and his third spell with the club lasted until the end of the 1977/78 season.
He moved on to Margate for the 1978/79 campaign and was immediately appointed as club captain. Dave made his debut in a Southern League Cup tie at Dartford on 19.8.78, the opening day of the season. He initially played as a striker and scored his first goal with a thumping 20-yarder in a 2-1 win at Dorchester on 9.9.78. However Dave later moved into midfield and spent the majority of the season playing there, impressing with his accurate passing and busy style. He was regularly described as "talented" by the Thanet local press. Prior to Christmas Dave was a fixture in the side but on 26.12.78 he was sent off for dissent against Hastings at Hartsdown and was given a three match ban as a result.
Following his suspension he was in and out of the side and Dave also struggled with a nagging back problem but he made 42 appearances (one as a substitute) during the 1978/79 season. He scored a total of three goals, including a volley from the edge of the area in a 3-1 win over Dorchester on 12.3.79. At the end of the season Dave left the club and he joined Canterbury in the summer of 1979.
During the 1979/80 campaign Dave scored 11 goals in 44 Southern League appearances for City.
He then signed for Hastings in October 1980 and scored twice in a 3-1 win over Margate at Hartsdown on 4.11.80. He also spent the 1981/82 season with United.
Dave then returned to Ashford in the summer of 1983 and scored twice in 15 Southern League appearances before retiring at the end of the 1983/84 season.
He was a car mechanic by trade and Dave was the first player to win three Kent Senior Cup winners medals with three different clubs - Maidstone, Tonbridge and Dover. His brother Steve had a spell with Tonbridge in the late 1970's.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1978/79 (MFC) |
41 (58) |
1 |
3 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (19TH OF 22) |
4QR |
3R |
1R |
2R |
|
| Margate moved to new Southern League Southern Division following reorganisation of Southern League. | |||||||||