The Sydney Roosters are saddened to hear of the passing of Player No. 517 Gavin Crofton over the weekend. Crofton, a front row forward, is one of just 199 players to have played five or more seasons of first grade for the Roosters.
Crofton was born in Cairns in North Queensland and arrived at the Roosters in 1961 from Port Moresby, where he was living at the time. He went on to play 21 first grade games over those five seasons, culminating in the 1967 semi final loss to eventual grand finalists, Canterbury-Bankstown.
Following the 1964 season Crofton left the Roosters before returning to the Club in 1967. In 1965 Crofton was captain-coach of Cootamundra, a season in which they defeated Gundagai to claim the historic Maher Cup before beating challenges from Young, Temora and Harden-Murrumburrah. They eventually lost the Cup to Tumut in late July of that season.
The condolences of the Sydney Roosters are with the family and friends of Gavin.
