Robert Crompton, the Blackburn Rovers' famous right back, may not be the finest player in the position recorded in football history, but critical opinion is fairly unanimous that in the present year of grace he stands head and shoulders above all possible rivals. A year ago a series of accidents interrupted his triumphal career, but since the opening of the 1905-6 season he has been in wonderful form, and has added by his work before foreign crowds to the laurels already heavy upon him.

"Bob" Crompton is a Blackburn "lad" who was born in 1879, and has therefore, being one of the abstemious, clean-living sort, some years more of first-class football to look forward to. He had his first lesson in football with the Moss Street Board School team — a side which has for years been either the winner or the runner-up for the local Schools' Cup. When he left school, as an apprentice plumber he played in a Sunday-school League team, and there he was "spotted" by John Lewis and R. Birtwistle, of the Rovers' Club, who found it rather difficult to persuade the big heavy youth to throw in his lot with
them.

Crompton was by near of making a name as a swimmer and waterpolo player, and as he would not think of sacrificing his amateur status in that sport, he had to be signed as an amateur. And as an unpaid player he remained for two seasons in the Rovers' ranks.

Crompton played as right back with the reserve team, but he had really been booked as a budding centre half, and towards the close of his first season (1896-7) he got a trial in the place of Tom Booth, now of Everton. He was not a pronounced success there, but when at the opening of the next season Glover (who afterwards went to Birmingham) was badly hurt, "Bob" became the partner at back of the famous Tom Brandon, and he has never been shifted. In 1899 he was made captain of the team, which office he held until the present year, when, at his own desire, he retired in favour of Evans, the goalkeeper. During those five years he played for England against Scotland in 1902-3-4, and would have played in 1905 but for an injury sustained in a match against Aston Villa just before the selections were made; against Ireland in 1902 and 1904; and against Wales in 1903-4. He also represented the Football League in 1902-3-4, it being generally recognised during that period that he had no compeer.

Physically Bob Crompton is one of the finest examples of the native-born professional player. Standing 5 ft. 9 in., and weighing 12 st. 7 lbs., he is splendidly developed, and a fine figure in shirt and knickers. Weight and size such as his would seem to qualify him pre-eminently as a "bashing" back, but his nature and training are all against this style of play — indeed it is a frequent cause of complaint with the fiercer section of the club's supporters that he does not use his weight against opponents more frequently. He can charge with effect, however, on occasions, but he is something more than a mere rusher. He studies his opponents' tactics closely, and develops an anticipation of their moves which almost amounts to intuition. His kicking is naturally powerful — probably his punts are the biggest things in League football.

Perhaps he balloons the ball rather too much for the perfect back, and when attacking his feeding passes often have too much powder behind them, but as a rule he kicks in all positions in clean and good style, and with either foot, although his right foot does the best work. He is not a back who can be played upon with impunity or advantage, for he always watches the ball in preference to the man, and it takes a very strong charge indeed to knock him off his quarry.

When under heavy pressure Crompton comes out in his best colours, and one of his finest displays was given in November last at Owlerton, where, with his centre half missing, he and Cowell defied the might of Sheffield Wednesday for sixty minutes, and preserved the lead gained at the beginning of the game. Possibly the hypercritical may think that at such times he is too prone to fall back into goal and thus hamper the custodian, and there is no doubt that, owing to this habit, goals have several times been scored against his side. It has to be remembered as an excuse that he began his League football under the tutelage of Tom Brandon, who in his later days was extremely fond of a stay-at-home policy, which he justified by almost miraculous resourcefulness with head and foot.

In his early playing days Crompton put on a good deal of flesh in the summer, and it took him several weeks to fine down and arrive at his best form. Latterly, however, he has kept himself in condition with cricket and cycling, so that he has been able to start the season at concert pitch. He is not much more speedy than the average back, however, and concerning that a funny tale is told of his running in an Inter-League match at Newcastle. Here he was opposed by Alec Smith, of Glasgow Rangers, one of the fastest men of his day, and he surprised everybody by beating the latter in a fifty yards sprint, and finishing with a very effective shoulder charge. Congratulated after the match upon the speed he had shown, he confessed that all the time he was running neck and neck with Smith he had hold of the latter's breeches!

Prior to the present season Crompton somewhat frequently came under the ban of the referee for offences within the penalty area, much to his surprise and distress, for a more honest and sportsmanlike player doesn't breathe. These penalties were probably not all undeserved, but there were not a few occasions on which he suffered innocently. In an Inter-League match an Irish referee, who pleaded it was the practice in his country, penalised him when the ball was kicked against his hand. At Sunderland he was dropped upon for simply charging Hogg off the ball; at Manchester he was punished for hands when the "offence" had been committed by the goalkeeper; and at Trent Bridge, when he and Humphreys were racing for the ball, and the latter knocked it down, the referee mistakenly attributed the foul to the Rover. Such accidents happen to all players at times, but two years ago it seemed as though a cruel fate was treading in the footsteps of the Rovers' captain.

In conclusion, Crompton is one of a number of prominent Blackburn men who have found it possible to play professional football and follow their trades at the same time. The result is that, besides possessing the affection of the football public, he has been able to accumulate a snug little competence, and is now accustomed to drive down to his training at Ewood Park in his own motor-car.