William Cottier Crebbin (8 March 1869 – 9 December 1924) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in both the Victorian Football Association (VFA) and the Victorian Football League (VFL).Holmesby & Main (2014), p.190.
Family The son of Thomas Cottier Crebbin (1829-1911),Deaths: Crebbin, The Ballarat Star, (Wednesday, 26 July 1911), p. 2. and Ellen Crebbin (1844-1922), née McLean,Funeral Notice: Crebbin, The Ballarat Star, (Friday, 24 November 1922), p 4. William Cottier Crebbin was born at Ballarat East, Victoria on 8 March 1869.Births deaths and Marriages Victoria Births Registration no.6442/1869.
He married Margaret Elizabeth Maude White (1873-1958) in June 1895.Births deaths and Marriages Victoria Marriages Registration no.2707/1895.NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Deaths Registration no.2288/1958.
Football "I never saw anyone so ticklish as Bill Crebbin, the Essendon centre man. He would jump out of his skin if you touched him in the ribs. One day, on the old East Melbourne ground, Bill was waiting just outside the pack when [former North Melbourne footballer] Joe Shaw, the umpire, was about to bounce the ball. One of his own side tickled Crebbin. He jumped forward, more than a yard, head down, and butted the umpire, knocking him over. Crebbin apologised profusely, but it took a lot of explanation to mollify Shaw." R.W.E. Wilmot, 9 September 1939.Wilmot, R.W.E., "Unlucky Tickle", The Argus, (Saturday, 9 September 1939), p. 10.
Death He died at Cremorne, New South Wales on 9 December 1924.Deaths: Crebbin, The Argus, (Friday, 12 December 1924), p.1.Billy Crebbin Dead: Noted Essendon Footballer, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Wednesday, 10 December 1924), p.5.Death of Mr. W.C. Crebbin, The Australasian, (Saturday, 13 December 1924), p. 32.Death of "Billy" Crebbin, The (Hobart) Mercury, (Monday, 15 December 1924), p.10.'Old Timer', "Billy Crebbin's Passing", The Referee, (Wednesday, 7 January 1925), p.15.
Football card In 2018 an Australian rules football card featuring Essendon player Bill Crebbin published by the American Tobacco Company in 1894 sold for $10,110 on EBay in Australia.
Notes
References Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2014), The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: Every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.), Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. Pennings, Mark (2016), Origins of Australian Football: Victoria's early History: Volume 4: Tough Times: Victorian Football loses its Way, 1891 to 1896, Brunswick, Victoria: Grumpy Monks Publishing.
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