Crompton Ellis Image 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1911

Description

Right half Ellis Crompton was born at Ramsbottom near Bury, Lancashire began his football career as an inside right or centre forward first with Hapton United in 1903 and then with Padiham in 1905 from where he was signed by First Division Blackburn Rovers, making his Football League debut against Birmingham in November 1906. In his five seasons at Ewood Park he was only an occasional starter but he did get goals, 9 of them in only 11 games in 1908-09, including a hat-trick against Sunderland in an 8-1 thrashing in March 1909.

In December 1910 he joined Tottenham Hotspur after 20 goals in 37 games for Rovers, but made only 10 appearances for Spurs without scoring before joining Southern League Exeter City in the 1912 close season, Crompton made his Grecians debut in a 4-0 defeat at West Ham United in September 1912, but went on to become the leading scorer that season (the totals are unclear but he scored at least 10 goals in at least 20 appearances). before joining Bristol Rovers, where he converted to a half back. After the intervention of the First World War he scored 10 goals in 43 games in their inaugural season in the Football League in 1920-21 playing in both positions. He then re-joined Exeter City in June 1921, by now themselves a Football League club, scoring 6 goals in 156 games for them through till late 1925, aged 39, whereafter he retired from the professional ranks continuing to play non league football with Barnstaple Town where he was player-coach, Llanelly and Barry Town into the early 1930’s.

He made a return to the Exeter City side though to play in his benefit match against Southampton in May 1927, but had to leave the field after 32 minutes with a knee injury.

NB There is a natural assumption that Ellis Crompton was related to Blackburn Rovers and England stalwart/captain Bob Crompton as they played five seasons together for Blackburn, but no evidence seems to suggest it and there is no particular physical similarity.