Older fans amongst us will be saddened to learn that Laurie Craker has recently passed away, Laurie player something like 98 games for us in the early/mid 70's. See below an article from a Slough newspaper! All at Slough Town Football Club were saddened to learn of the passing of former assistant manager Laurie Craker on 16th May. Laurie was assistant to Dave Russell, joining the Rebels at the start of the 1993/94 season after a successful spell with Russell at Marlow. As a player, Laurie turned out for a host of local clubs, including Watford, Hayes, Staines Town, Chesham United and Maidenhead United, where he was installed as captain. He was then offered the manager role at Windsor & Eton in 1984. Laurie later managed Chalfont St Peter and in 1990 was appointed as coach to Dave Russell at Marlow, where he had a great deal of success. His side reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup and defeated Wycombe Wanderers to win the Berks & Bucks FA Senior Cup. Season 1992/93 was even more remarkable for The Blues, as they reached the Third Round Proper, with a home tie against Tottenham Hotspur. After his time at Slough, Laurie had spells at Flackwell Heath and Kingstonian before assisting Martin Stone at Burnham, winning promotion from the Southern League Division One Central.
Tough tacking midfielder - broke his leg at Crystal Palace and was never quite the same after that. Him and Roger Joslyn in midfield was tough pairing!
Cancer sadly and no real age at all. From Hayes & Yeading: Laurie Craker was a blond-haired, hard-tackling midfielder. He lived at High Wycombe and worked with his father in the thatching trade. He started in football as an apprentice with Chelsea and spent four years there before going to South Africa for 9 months. On his return he joined Watford and played 98 first-team games in 3½ seasons. Towards the end he spent 3 months on loan to Dartford. He was dogged by injuries and illness at Vicarage Road, sustaining a broken leg, followed by jaundice which kept him out for 12 months. He joined Hayes in August 1977, at the age of 24, but enjoyed better health in a run of four seasons, which saw him make 182+2 appearances and score 8 goals. During this time he was selected for an FA XI. Surprisingly released in August 1981, he went to Staines, followed by Chesham United, Maidenhead and Chalfont. He was later manager of Chesham, Windsor, Chalfont St Peter, whom he helped win Isthmian Division 2 South, Walton & Hersham and Flackwell Heath in February 2004.
Yes, I remember him well. Not one of my favourites but 98 appearances is not to be sniffed at. Sad news.
Remember him at Slough and as Burnham’s assistant for the most glorious season in their history! Sadly a bit too young to remember him at Watford.
I was at the game when he broke his leg. It was such a nasty one that the Palace player nearest to him vomited. Due to an injury crisis, he was playing fullback that day. In the ambulance, trying to cheer him up, the paramedic asked how Watford were getting on. His answer was, ‘well, we’ve just run out of full backs.’ Yes, he was tough.
