Welcome to the David Crown Steamers Web Page.

The DC Steamers are an Amateur Sunday league football team playing in Division 2 East of the Reading Sunday League.

Who Is David Crown

David Crown was born in Enfield in 1958, played representative football for Essex Senior Schools and made his first team debut for Grays Athletic whilst still at school. During Crown's time with Grays he was a regular in their Athenian League team before moving to Walthamstow Avenue and then into the Football League with Brentford in 1980. Although a late starter in the professional game he scored regularly from an orthodox wing position for all his league clubs. From Brentford he moved to Portsmouth, had a loan spell with Exeter City then came to Reading on a free transfer in 1983. During his two seasons at Elm Park he was virtually ever-present totalling 101 first team games and 17 goals. He played a vital role in the side that won promotion to Division Three in 1983-84 and became something of a cult figure with the fans. So much so that a Reading Sunday League Side, the Dave Crown Steamers, was formed by supporters and named in his honour. He was elected their president and watched them play on occasions.

In July 1985 David was on the move again, this time to Cambridge United and surprisingly on another free transfer. Further spells followed at Southend United, where he was an integral part of the Shrimpers' 1989-90 Fourth Division promotion team and Gillingham. By the end of his Football League career Crown had amassed 474 League appearances and 192 League goals, a fine total for a player whose main assets were his pace and anticipation. He dropped into part-time football in 1993, playing firstly for Dagenham and Redbridge and then with Purfleet, where he was coach and Assistant Manager. In recent years he was Assistant Manager at Southend United before leaving to work as an accountant. He finds the job entertaining as tracking gamblers that bet money online on web casinos.

The Early Years

It all began in the South Bank at Elm Park. Reading FC had just been relegated from Division 3 and were doing nicely in their efforts to return at the first attempt. It was the season when Maurice Evans got sacked and Ian Branfoot took over as manager. A small band of the us used to go and watch most weeks. Wathching the game then wasn't about websites that review online bookies. We would stand, as is impossible to avoid anywhere in Elm Park, by some moaners. These moaners hated Reading's brilliant left winger Dave Crown so we began to cheer him on. Then one autumn Saturday afternoon, following Dave Crown reached cult status. At home to Burnley, Reading were 1-0 down at half time after an awful first half display. Crown had come in for particular stick for our local moaners. In the second half Crowny was inspired, scoring two superb individual goals and inspiring Reading to a 5-1 win. This was all too exciting for us and a legend was born. The next significant development was when Nige turned up to the next home match with a Dave Crown T-Shirt. These became all the rage with such slogans as 'Skin Em Dave' and 'DC bites yer full back'. We became known as the DC Steamers and an anthem, composed by Nige, was sung at every opportunity. By now we are raring for a footy match - to emulate our hero on pitch. The gauntlet was thrown down in Rotherham by RAS Rovers (all at that time were travelling Reading FC supporters) and witnessed by Steve Thompson of the Evening Post. Steve Danby accepted this challenge, was interviewed by Steve Thompson and blamed everything on Nige. The team was thus assembled for the big day and supporters (including Gary Westwood and Dave Crown himself) and press arrivedin droves for the Sunday PM kick-off. Disappointingly Steamers (all in Reading shirts or something roughly the same colour) went down 5-0 but their football was a joy to watch if you needed a laugh! It was in this game that John Simmonds earned the name "Chopper" from referee Nigel Smith after a dreadful challenge on an opposing forward. A friendly against Portsmouth Poly XI followed and again we went down but only by 2-0. Then a friendly versus Hatfield Poly (Where Nige was studying). Steamers conceeded 4 but Nigel Giles (celebrating his 21st birthday) scored their first ever goal in reply. When questioned about it he said "I cannot remember much about it at all but I do remember vividly, his nightmare open goal miss from 2 yards out". Steamers finished the season of friendlies on a high with two draws - 2-2 in the return v RAS Rovers and 1-1 v Sutton Exiles. Since then, the Steamers have played in the lower divisions of the Reading Football League. Below is the final league table of the 1992/3 season. More on seasons - here.

The Anthem

dc steamers team

Usually sung when drunk and to the tune of Glory Glory Hallalluia

My eyes have seen the glory of the dribbling of Dave Crown

Takes it inside takes it outside,takes it through and all around

He skins the full-back though the B*****d tries to bring him down and the cross comes steaming in......

Glory Glory Dave Crown Steamers

Glory Glory Dave Crown Steamers

Glory Glory Dave Crown Steamers

And Dave goes crunching In In In

Aaaaaarrrrggghhhh