Sam Robinson pays a warm personal tribute on the passing of former Glentoran Chairman John Crossen.
I came across a short film clip about a week ago. It has just been released as part of BBC Northern Ireland’s BBC Rewind series, an online archive facility which allows the viewer to transport themselves back in time through thousands of hours of BBC film footage. As would be the case with most people I know, the first name that I typed into the search engine was that of our beloved football club Glentoran.
Instantly, appeared over one hundred reels of memory jogging television interviews with so, so, many iconic characters from the Oval, figures that I remembered from the halcyon days of Glentoran, men who steered the club through some of the most colourful and eventful periods of our history. Suddenly, there was Tom McNeice back in 1978, once again reacting angrily to Warren Feeney’s criticism about Glentoran not investing money in new players, Johnston Nelson telling a BBC reporter about plans for Glentoran’s centenary year in 1982 and, in amongst a myriad of technicolour memories nestled a two minute clip of John Crossen, resplendent in Glentoran blazer and tie, barely able to contain his delight that the club of which he was chairman, had secured the biggest sponsorship deal in local football history with the Smithwick’s brewery. John’s sudden appearance elicited me to say out loud to myself, “Ahh, there’s big John.”
So, it is with more than a little incredulity that I find myself writing this piece about the sad news of John’s passing some six days later.
John Crossen was elected on to the board of directors of Glentoran Football Club in 1976. I found the match programme which heralded his appointment that season. Bobby McGregor (the Glentoran manager at the time) wrote in his programme notes, The two new directors, John Crossen and Raymond Hall are two young men with fresh ideas and their inclusion on the board can do nothing but good for the future of Glentoran. How true and prophetic those words turned out to be.
John first walked in to the Glentoran boardroom at a time when the side were dominating the domestic game (in his first season the team lifted the Irish League, the Ulster Cup, and the City Cup) and were also exceling in Europe. A memorable 3-2 victory over Basle of Switzerland in the UEFA Cup, was swiftly followed the next season by another football odyssey against Valur of Iceland which in turn set us up for the game of our generation against the Italian multi-millionaires of Juventus.
John was to bear witness to all these incredible European nights, travelling extensively with his football club all over the continent. I have wonderful pictures of “Big John” and his fellow directors strolling casually through the cellars and vineyards of the Villa Marone Cinzano plant in Turin before our game against Juventus in the Stadio Communale, and at the airport on the way to Iceland, France and to so many other amazing games of football.
John’s hard work and diligence saw him replace Johnston Nelson as club Chairman in the early eighties, a role he would continue to hold for over a decade. During his tenure John Crossen would become pivotal in delivering many aspects of a footballing life which we take for granted nowadays. Shirt sponsorship, ground improvements, and in his role as President of the Irish League, a major overhaul of all the floodlighting systems across the country.
John was Vice Chairman during the “Unbeatables” season of 1980-81, In his time as Chair, he guided the club through Glentoran’s centenary year in 1982 and unforgettable Irish Cup final victories over Linfield in 1983 and 1985.
Illness in later years did not prevent John from playing a full and active role in the day-to-day workings of a club he adored, and I have nothing but wonderful memories of my time spent with him on the Côte d’Azur when Glentoran played Olympique de Marseille in 1992.
When I lived in Dundonald, I regularly met him in the aisles of the local supermarket, an occurrence I looked forward to immensely. His love of Glentoran never diminished, nor did his smile or his laughter when we talked about the slings and arrows of following the Cock n Hens.
I have never met anyone in or around the club who had nothing but fondness and affection for “Big John” or a genuine appreciation for the service he had given us through the years. He was both a gentleman and a Glenman to the end and will remain both loved and revered for the manner in which he engaged with his fellow supporters.
My own deepest sympathies along the with everyone associated with Glentoran Football Club are extended to his wife Eleanor, daughters Julia and Joanne and the rest of the family circle and this the saddest of times.
Thanks for all the fantastic memories John.
Rest in Peace
Sam.