*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.
Des Cross
Appearances: 104 Goals: 8
Clean Sheets: 25
Date / Year of birth: 1926
Position: Goalkeeper / Striker
Season of first appearance: 1949/50
Season of last appearance: 1954/55
Also played for: Bristol Rovers (0), Gloucester City and Bridgwater Town
6' 1" tall goalkeeper born in Swindon who began his career with Bristol Rovers where he played in the reserves during the 1947/48 season.
Des then moved on to Southern League club Gloucester for the 1948/49 campaign and in its report on a 1-0 defeat at Dartford on 25.9.48 the Western Daily Press said Des gave "a masterly exhibition" of goalkeeping. On 13.11.48 he was carried shoulder-high from the pitch after a great display in a 3-2 win at Bath in FA Cup and on 23.3.49 Des cracked a wrist in two places during a 3-2 defeat at Gravesend & Northfleet but played the full 90 minutes.
In July 1949 he joined Margate and Des signed for the club as new player-manager Jock Basford had played with him for Gloucester during the previous season. Des made his debut in a 2-1 win over Betteshanger at Hartsdown Park on 20.8.49 - the opening day of the 1949/50 campaign. He went on to enjoy an excellent season and made a total of 38 appearances, missing only two games. Des impressed with his shot-stopping, as well as with his clean handling and long throw-outs. Probably his best performance of the campaign came in a 2-2 draw with Folkestone at Hartsdown Park on 7.1.50 - the local press said that several saves he made were "miracles".
Des continued to be Margate's first-choice keeper during the 1950/51 season and made a total of 32 appearances. He also managed to score eight goals. That was due to him being switched to centre-forward for a spell during the campaign. Manager Almer Hall decided to give Des a chance up front as he was tall and the fastest sprinter at the club and the gamble certainly paid dividends. He scored twice in his first game as a striker - a 3-0 win at Betteshanger in November 1950 - and hit the target at least once in each of the four games he had as an outfield player. The highlight for Des came when he hit a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Sheppey at Hartsdown Park in December 1950.
Despite his success as a striker Des soon returned to his familiar goalkeeping role but during the 1951/52 season he was in and out of the side. He made 16 appearances but Ron Johnson was often preferred to him and Des spent several spells in the reserves.
During the 1952/53 campaign Peter Peters became Margate's first-choice keeper and Des spent virtually the whole season in the reserves. However he finally got a first team chance in April 1953 when Peters was injured and made a total of ten appearances before the end of the campaign.
During the 1953/54 season Des made only two first team appearances but continued to be the first-choice keeper for the reserves.
He stayed with the club for the 1954/55 campaign too and made six first team appearances during January 1955 when Peters was dropped to the reserves due to poor form. Des spent the rest of the season in the reserves and again played for them as an outfield player once or twice with Lennie Long taking his place in goal. However he was released by the club at the end of the campaign having slipped to being the third choice keeper behind Peters and Long.
In October 1955 Des returned to play a couple of games in goal for the reserves before departing once more.
He later returned to Gloucester and then finished his career with Bridgwater Town. In May 1964 Des was living in the Bristol area and worked for an airline company. He was also a fine cricketer and played for Margate.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1949/50 (MFC) |
38 (40) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (6TH OF 17) |
EPR |
1R |
2R |
SF |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1950/51 (MFC) |
32 (41) |
N/A |
8 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (6TH OF 17) |
EPR |
1R |
2R |
RU |
|
Played in Kent
Senior Shield Final (12.05.51 - lost 2-0 to Folkestone Town). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1951/52 (MFC) |
16 (38) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (4TH OF 17) |
1QR |
2R |
1R |
N/A |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1952/53 (MFC) |
10 (43) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (11TH OF 17) |
PR |
2R |
RU |
JW |
|
Played in Kent
League Cup Final (06.05.53 - lost 2-0 to Tunbridge Wells). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1953/54 (MFC) |
2 (40) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2ND OF 16) |
2QR |
1R |
W |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1954/55 (MFC) |
6 (46) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (5TH OF 17) |
2QR |
2R |
RU |
RU |
|