[2] A wing half, he signed for Aston Villa from non-league club Bilston Town for a fee of £750 in 1955.
[4] Less than a year later, in February 1958, Crowther was hastily signed by United for £18,000 in the wake of the Munich air disaster.
[5] Having already played for Villa in the competition that year, Crowther would normally have been cup-tied, but United's squad had been ravaged by Munich and were therefore given special dispensation by the Football Association to field him.
[6] His time at Old Trafford was short-lived, however, and in December that year he joined Chelsea for £10,000;[7] coincidentally, his debut for the Pensioners was against United.
[citation needed] Crowther stayed with the west London side for two seasons, making 58 appearances in all competitions,[8] before having brief spells with Brighton & Hove Albion, where his contract was terminated apparently because of the player's refusal to appear for the club's third team,[5] and non-league sides Hednesford Town[2] and Rugby Town.