Crowe was born in Abercynon, South Wales but moved to Handsworth, Birmingham with his family when he was two years old.
As manager, Crowe was unable to prevent Villa being relegated when he took charge towards the end of the 1969–70 season.
The following season he led his Third Division team to the League Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur, which Villa lost.
In their two home playoff games, "The Lads" success forced the club to add temporary seating to accommodate their fans, and the team played before two crowds in excess of 30,000, totals unheard of in American soccer at the time.
Although his later teams never captured the success of that first year, he left an indelible mark on soccer in the Pacific Northwest by introducing thousands of Portland area residents to the joys of the game.