Graham Cross

Graham Frederick Cross (born 15 November 1943) is a former professional footballer and cricketer. He is the record appearance holder for Leicester City, making 600 appearances for the club in all competitions (as Community Shield now considered a full appearance).

Graham Cross
Personal information
Full name Graham Frederick Cross
Date of birth (1943-11-15) 15 November 1943
Place of birth Leicester, England
Position(s) Defender, midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1976 Leicester City 498 (29)
1975–1976 → Chesterfield (loan) 12 (0)
1976–1977 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 (3)
1977–1979 Preston North End 45 (1)
1978–1979 Lincoln City 19 (0)
Total 620 (33)
International career
England U23
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career

Cross was born in Leicester. He spent most of his career playing for Leicester City originally as an inside forward, then later as a centre-half and occasionally a right half. At Leicester he holds the record for the most appearances for the club with 600 between 1961 and 1975.[1] He went on to join Brighton & Hove Albion and then Preston North End. He made the record number of appearances for the England Under 23 side but never made a full international appearance.

Cricket career

Cross also represented Leicestershire as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler between 1961 and 1977. In 83 first-class matches, he scored 2,079 runs (average 18.39), highest score 78 with eight fifties and 61 catches. He took 92 wickets (average 29.95), best bowling 4/28. In 51 List A matches, he scored 701 runs (average 20.61), highest score 57 not out with three fifties and 17 catches. He took 63 wickets (average 20.23), best bowling 4/11.[2]

Appearing irregularly because of his football commitments, Cross was nevertheless a good enough player to find a place in Ray Illingworth's successful county side of the mid '70s. He was a member of the Leicestershire team that won the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1975.[3] Cross's last appearance came when the side was stricken by illness in May 1977. A scratch side had to be assembled to play Hampshire at Grace Road in the B&H Cup. Showing his characteristic adaptability, he kept wicket for the only time during his career.

Honours

As a player

Leicester City

Leicestershire County Cricket Club

  • Benson and Hedges Cup: 1975

Records

  • Leicester City all-time leading appearance maker: 600 games
  • Leicester City all-time leading appearance maker in the first tier (Premier League and predecessors): 414 games
  • Leicester City all-time leading appearance maker in the FA Cup: 59 games
  • Leicester City all-time leading appearance maker in the League Cup: 40 games (Joint record)

References
  1. "Former Player Remembers: Graham Cross (Part One)". LCFC. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. "Former Player Remembers: Graham Cross (Part Two)". LCFC. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  3. "Middlesex v Leicestershire 1975". Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  4. "1971/72 Charity Shield". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2020.

Further reading

Wilson, Jonathan (2011). Brian Clough. Nobody Ever Says Thank You. London: Orion Books. p. 173. ISBN 9781409123170.

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