Norman Creek

Creek was born in Darlington, County Durham, and first played representative football for Darlington Grammar School. During the First World War he served as a second lieutenant in a Territorial Force battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, until being seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 8 December 1917 to serve as a flying officer (observer). He was subsequently awarded the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 10 May 1918. His citation read:

Second Lieutenant Frederick Norman Smith Creek, Durham Light Infantry and Royal Flying Corps. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried out several successful reconnaissances of enemy aerodromes and railways, and obtained valuable information often under the most difficult weather conditions. On one occasion he took several photographs of an enemy aerodrome though he was attacked by an enemy machine and subjected to anti-aircraft fire. He displayed the greatest skill and determination." On 1 August 1919 Creek was awarded a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force with the rank of lieutenant. However, he was transferred to the unemployed list on 12 September 1919, and his permanent commission cancelled on the 16th. He then went up to Cambridge University where he won his first "Blue" in 1920. Injury prevented him playing in 1921, but he earned his second blue the following year. He first began playing for Corinthian in 1919 and remained associated with the club until the 1930s. He signed amateur forms with…