The Irish Man Who Invented The Penalty Kick: William McCrum
The penalty kick, a moment of high tension and drama, has become one of football’s most iconic features. Yet, few know the story behind its invention or the man responsible for its introduction to the game. The idea of awarding a penalty for foul play inside the box was proposed in 1890 by William McCrum, an Irishman whose vision and determination changed football forever. At the time, the sport was grappling with issues of fairness, as cynical fouls and unsportsmanlike behaviour often went unpunished. McCrum, an amateur goalkeeper from County Armagh, believed a stricter deterrent was necessary to uphold the integrity of the sport.
His suggestion, however, was far from universally welcomed. Critics branded it the “death penalty” of football, accusing it of being unmanly and overly harsh. Despite the initial backlash, William McCrum’s proposal was adopted by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in 1891, and it has since evolved into a defining element of the game. Today, whether it’s a decisive spot-kick in a World Cup final or a routine penalty in a league fixture, William McCrum’s legacy lives on every time the referee points to the spot.
Who was William McCrum?
William McCrum was born in Ballynahone Beg, Co.Armagh in 1865. He was the son of the linen millionaire Robert Garmany McCrum. William started his studies at The Royal School in Co. Armagh before moving to Trinity College in Co. Dublin. In 1909, he was the High Sheriff of Armagh.
William was nicknamed in the community as “Master Willie,”. He was a locally renowned athlete. He spent a lot of time and energy coaching and was crucial in the founding of the Milford Cricket Club. All of his life, he was deeply interested in the Boy Scout Movement.
‘Willie’ liked to drive around town in his Rolls-Royce and was known for losing a fortune at the casinos of Monte Carlo. Generally, he was much better at losing money than making it“.
William’s grandson speaking to “The Guardian”
In the late 19th century, William McCrum played as a goalkeeper for his local team “Milford FC“. Milford FC took part in the very first Irish Championship.
“McCrum as a goalkeeper had a front-row view of the very worst aspects of the game at that point in time“
Catherine Healy, Historian in Residence at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Proposal Of The Penalty Kick – William McCrum
Due to being a goalkeeper, William McCrum could see every foul a defender would make on an attacker to prevent a scoring opportunity. William disapproved of the fouls so he wanted change. As William was on the Irish Football Association, he decided to propose the introduction of the penalty kick at a meeting in 1890.
When the proposal was brought forward in England, it was labelled as the “death penalty” and the “Irish man’s motion“.
“a standing insult to sportsmen to have to play under a rule which assumes that players intend to trip, hack and kick their opponents and behave like cads of the most unscrupulous kidney”
C.B. Fry, former captain of Corinthian FC speaking about William McCrum’s invention
In 1891, Airdrieonians FC were awarded the first penalty in a competitive match in Scotland. Later that year, the proposal was brought up at the Alexandra Hotel in Glasgow. After this meeting, the penalty kick was introduced as IFAB’s Law 14—as it remains today.
Later Life
William McCrum’s luck did not improve later in life. All he had inherited from his father had to be put up for auction following the 1929 stock market crisis. A few years later, he passed away penniless and by himself. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which oversees international football, formally recognises the location where William McCrum created the penalty kick in 1891.
As the focal point of a memorial park, a commemorative bust of the Victorian linen magnate, who played as a goalkeeper for the Milford team, was built in the community.
MLS Penalty Shootout
The highest level of soccer in the United States, Major League Soccer (MLS), tested out an entirely distinct type of shoot-out to settle games back in the mid-1990s. The “true shootout“, which was first implemented by Major League Soccer, gave players five seconds to defeat the opposing goalie from the starting position of 35 yards from the goal line.
To score, players may attempt to shoot from a distance or nearer to the goal, additionally, they could try to dribble around the goalie. They had a wide range of possibilities at their disposal. Goalkeepers could either hurry out of their zone or remain on their lines. A standard penalty from 12 yards would be given if the goalie fouled their opponent. In 1999, these “true shootouts” were stopped.
The Longest Penalty Shootout
In March 2022, Washington played Bedlington in the Memorial Cup’s opening round. The score was tied 3-3. Both clubs were non-league clubs from the North-East of England. Washington went on to defeat Bedlington 25-24 in penalties. This set a record for the longest-ever penalties.
Famous Penalty Shootouts.
2005, Liverpool vs AC Milan in the Champions League Final. The game finished 3-3, Liverpool went on to win the penalties 3-2.
2005, Arsenal vs Manchester United in the FA Cup. The match finished goalless. The Gunners won 5-4 in penalties.
2008, The Champions League Final between Manchester United and Chelsea in Moscow. The game ended 1-1. Manchester United won their third Champions League on penalties, 6-5.
2010, The 2010 World Cup Quarter Final between Uruguay and Ghana. The match ended a tie after 120 minutes. We saw Luis Suarez handle the ball off the goal line to prevent Ghana from scoring a winner. Sebastián Gallo scored the winning penalty to stop Ghana from becoming the first African Nation to reach the World Cup Semi-Final.
The Best Penalty Taker
Currently, Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest penalty-taker when it comes to stats. The Portuguese International has scored over 160 penalties in his career, more than Lionel Messi, Ibrahimović and Ronald Koeman. At this moment, Ronaldo has missed 29 penalties, including one in the 2008 Champions League Final that he won. In terms of conversion percentage though, there truly is nobody better than Matthew Le Tissier who scored 47 out of his 48 penalties, though he never came under the same pressure or high level experiences as Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi did.
Current Penalty Rules
The ball must be motionless and have a portion of it that touches or hangs above the penalty mark’s centre.
The players outside the goalkeeper and the penalty taker must be at least 9.15 metres from the point of penalty, either behind the line or inside the field playing area.
The defending goalie must have at least one foot in contact with the ground, either behind or in line with the goal line, at the moment the ball is kicked.
The Lasting Impact of William McCrum’s Vision
Over a century after its inception, the penalty kick remains one of the most defining elements of football. From Sunday league pitches to the grandest stages like the Champions League final, it encapsulates the thrill, pressure, and unpredictability that make the sport so captivating. William McCrum’s contribution may not have been fully appreciated in his time, but his forward-thinking idea continues to shape football’s identity. Each time a goalkeeper faces a striker from twelve yards, they unknowingly honour the legacy of an Irishman whose vision transformed the beautiful game forever.
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