Garth Crooks

Garth Anthony Crooks, (born 10 March 1958) is an English football pundit and former professional player. He played from 1976 to 1990, for Stoke City, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Charlton Athletic.

Club career Crooks was born in Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, and is of Jamaican descent. He progressed through the youth ranks at Stoke City signing professional contract forms in March 1976.

He was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 1980 for a fee of £650,000. He scored on his debut against Nottingham Forest, and formed a successful striking partnership with Steve Archibald. With Crooks leading the line, Spurs won the FA Cup in 1981 and 1982, and the 1984 UEFA Cup final against Anderlecht. Crooks is frequently credited as the first black player to score in an FA Cup final for his equalising goal in a 3–2 win over Manchester City in 1981, though this was pre-dated by Mike Trebilcock in 1966. Crooks later went on loan to Manchester United and had spells at West Bromwich Albion and Charlton Athletic before a knee injury forced his retirement in 1990. Charlton were relegated from the First Division, just as the West Bromwich Albion side he had played in four seasons earlier had been.

International career Crooks represented England at international level, making four appearances for the England under-21s, for whom he scored three goals.

Media career Crooks first worked in the media as a guest presenter on 25 March 1982's Top of the Pops on BBC1 (with Peter Powell), before working as a match analyst at the 1982 and 1990 World Cups. He later worked as a Match of the Days reporter at the England camp at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup.

Away from football, he hosted the BBC Two political late-night programme Despatch Box in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1992, Crooks was pranked in the "Mr. Blobby" segment of Noel's House Party.

Career statistics

Honours Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup: 1980–81, 1981–82 UEFA Cup: 1983–84