Club Chairman leads tributes to John Crane

We were sad to hear over the weekend that our former Club Doctor, John Crane, has passed away.

John served Arsenal Football Club for more than 30 years, being appointed Club Doctor in the mid-1970s and working under five managers before his retirement in 2002.
 
Doctor Crane also worked for many years with the England national team and was involved at four World Cups during his time with the Football Association - Mexico ’86, Italy ’90, France ’98 and Japan/South Korea 2002.

John was a popular figure at the Arsenal Training Ground and was a regular supporter at our matches at Emirates Stadium with his wife Penny.

Arsenal's Chairman, Peter Hill-Wood, led the tributes to John. He said: “We are extremely saddened to hear of Doctor Crane’s death. John worked with us for many years and was a great servant to the Club.

"He was a fantastic doctor and was a very popular figure at the Training Ground. John will be sadly missed by everyone at the Club and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Arsenal's physiotherapist, Colin Lewin, said: "As well as being a good doctor he was also a lovely man who was respected and liked by the players and staff without exception.

"He helped me enormously in his time here and was never short of a funny story about his time with Arsenal and England. He will be missed by everybody."

Former Arsenal physio Gary Lewin said: "We knew him as England's No 1 but I owe him everything in my career.

"Not only was he a great doctor but he was a great person and a great friend. He will be missed by everyone who knew him."

The current Club Doctor, Ian Beasley, who is leaving Emirates Stadium to join the Football Association, also paid tribute to his predecessor at Arsenal.

"I thought of John Crane as an absolute legend," he said. "Always polite, sensible and straightforward. No-one ever had a bad word to say about him. 

"I was privileged to follow on from him as Arsenal's medical officer."
 
Everyone at the Club would like to send their condolences to John’s wife Penny, his family and friends at this sad time.

[Monday, January 26, 2009]

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