| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1890-06-25)25 June 1890[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Dromore, County Down, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft10+1⁄2 in (1.79 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender / Wing half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Dromore United | ?–1910 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1910–1920 | Distillery | ? | (?) |
| 1920–1926 | Crystal Palace | 175 | (1) |
| 1926–? | Portadown | ? | (?) |
| International career | |||
| 1920–1922 | Ireland (IFA) | 4 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Robert McCracken (25 June 1890 – unknown), also known as Roy McCracken,[1] was a Northern Irish professional footballer who played as a defender or as a wing half. He was a cousin of Billy McCracken who also had a career as a professional footballer.[1]
McCracken was born in Dromore, County Down, at that time part of a united Ireland, but subsequently within the province of Northern Ireland, part of the UK. He began his youth career with local club Dromore United. In 1910,[1] he joined Distillery. He made 118 appearances in all competitions between then and 1920. His career was interrupted by service in World War I but he returned to play for the club thereafter.
In 1920,[3] he signed for Crystal Palace then playing in the Football League Third Division in its inaugural season. Although he sustained a broken leg in December,[4] he made 18 league appearances in 1920–21 as Palace won the title and promotion to the Football League Second Division.[5] That season, he also made his debut for the Ireland (IFA) national team.[1]
McCracken returned from injury to play in Palace's first season in the second division,[4] making 35 appearances in the league, scoring once.[6] Over the subsequent three seasons, he made 40, 37 and 25 league appearances respectively, but without scoring.[7] In 1925, Palace were relegated but McCracken remained with the club for one further season, making 20 appearances,[8] before returning to Ireland in 1926 to play for Portadown.[3]
