Alfred Ernest Crawley (11 July 1867[4][5] – 21 October 1924) was an English schoolmaster, sexologist, anthropologist, sports journalist and exponent of ball games.

Ernest Crawley was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, the eldest child of Rev.

[5] He was educated at Sedbergh School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in classics in 1890.

Though lawn tennis was Crawley's favourite sport, "he was also fond of golf, figure-skating, fives, and revolver shooting".

Crawley wrote on sport for publications including The Observer,[7] The Times,[5] and Fry's Magazine.