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Max Crocombe

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Max Crocombe
Crocombe playing for Salford City in 2017
Personal information
Full name Maxime Teremoana Crocombe[1]
Date of birth (1993-08-12) 12 August 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Burton Albion
Number 1
Youth career
2004–2009 Milton Keynes Dons
2010–2011 Oxford United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Buckingham Town 33 (1)
2010–2016 Oxford United 4 (0)
2011–2012 → Banbury United (loan) 1 (0)
2015 → Nuneaton Town (loan) 10 (0)
2015 → Barnet (loan) 5 (0)
2015–2016 → Southport (loan) 25 (0)
2016–2017 Carlisle United 0 (0)
2017–2019 Salford City 31 (0)
2019–2020 Brisbane Roar 6 (0)
2020–2021 Melbourne Victory 10 (0)
2021–2023 Grimsby Town 75 (0)
2023– Burton Albion 60 (0)
International career‡
2013 New Zealand U20 4 (0)
2015 New Zealand U23 4 (0)
2018– New Zealand 13 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  New Zealand
OFC Nations Cup
Winner 2024 Fiji/Vanuatu
OFC U-20 Championship
Winner 2013 Fiji
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 November 2024

Maxime Teremoana Crocombe (born 12 August 1993) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Burton Albion. He also represents the New Zealand national team.[2]

Crocombe moved to England at an early age and began his professional career with Oxford United who had signed him from non-League side Buckingham Town. He went on to play on loan with Banbury United, Nuneaton Town, Barnet and Southport before signing permanently with Carlisle United. In 2017 he moved to Salford City where he was part of the City side that won back to back promotions to the Football League. In 2019, he moved to play in the Australian A-League with spells at Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.

Early life

[edit]

Crocombe was born in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to England at a young age. He had spells with Milton Keynes Dons and Luton Town[2] before joining Buckingham Town.[3] Crocombe attended Oakgrove School in Milton Keynes along with Crystal Palace player Jeffrey Schlupp.[4]

Club career

[edit]

Buckingham Town

[edit]

In the summer of 2009, Crocombe signed for Buckingham Town at the age of 16. He made 33 senior first team appearances before being spotted by scouts of Oxford United.[3] Despite being a goalkeeper he scored one goal in his time at Buckingham Town after coming on as an outfield substitute in a 3–1 league defeat.[5]

Oxford United

[edit]

Crocombe joined Oxford United as a scholar under youth-team coach Chris Allen and signed his first professional contract in April 2012.[6] He almost made his debut shortly afterwards after injuries to Ryan Clarke and Wayne Brown, and the termination of Connor Ripley's loan,[7] however Oxford eventually signed Arsenal's Emiliano Martínez on loan[8] and Crocombe had to wait for his debut. Whilst at the club, he has been coached by Alan Hodgkinson and Wayne Brown.[9]

Crocombe's Football League debut came in a 1–1 draw with Burton Albion on 29 January 2013.[10] He kept his first clean sheet for the club in his second league appearance, a 1–0 away win over Dagenham & Redbridge in April 2013, which ended a five-match winless run.[11] He remained in goal for the rest of the league season, keeping three consecutive clean sheets with 3–0 wins against both Rochdale and Accrington Stanley.[12] In total, Crocombe made six appearances for club and country in his debut professional season, conceding just one goal. In June 2013, he signed a long-term contract with the club.[13] By the 2013–14 season he had established himself as deputy to Oxford's long-standing number 1, Ryan Clarke.

Crocombe appeared twice in the 2014–15 season, both times in the Football League Cup. In his second appearance he held Premier League side West Bromwich Albion to one goal in 120 minutes and saved their first two spot kicks in the penalty shoot-out.[14] At the end of the season, which included a productive loan spell at Nuneaton Town, the club triggered a 2-year option in his contract to extend his stay until the end of 2017.[15]

Loan to Nuneaton Town

[edit]

In February 2015, Crocombe signed on loan at Conference Premier side Nuneaton Town until the end of the season.[16] After impressing with a clean sheet on his debut, he was named in the Non-League Paper's Team of the Day.[17][18] He did not concede a goal in any of his first 6 games and was named man of the match twice in his short spell for the club.

Loan to Barnet

[edit]

Crocombe was loaned to Barnet on 18 September 2015, with the Bees without a senior keeper due to an injury and a suspension.[19]

Loan to Southport

[edit]

In October 2015 Crocombe was recalled from Barnet and sent on a three-month loan to Southport of the National League.[20] After a series of impressive performances in his first 3 months for the club he was named Southport's Player of the Month for both November 2015 and January 2016.

Carlisle United

[edit]

Crocombe left Oxford by mutual consent and signed a one-year deal with Carlisle United on 4 August 2016.[21]

Salford City

[edit]

In May 2017 he joined Salford City.[22] In October 2017 Crocombe was sent off during a match against Bradford Park Avenue for urinating at the side of a stand[23] A spectator made a formal complaint and the incident was later reported to the police. Crocombe subsequently posted an apology on Twitter and explained "I was in a very uncomfortable position and made an error of judgement that spoiled a great win".[24]

Brisbane Roar

[edit]

In July 2019, Crocombe joined Australian A-League side Brisbane Roar to challenge Jamie Young for the starting goalkeeper position.[25] In October 2020, Crocombe left Brisbane Roar.[26]

Melbourne Victory

[edit]

After leaving Brisbane Roar, Crocombe joined Melbourne Victory in October 2020.[27] Crocombe began the season as the Victory's starting goalkeeper, playing in the first 10 matches of the season, before being replaced as the starting goalkeeper by Matt Acton. He was released on 11 June 2021.[28]

Grimsby Town

[edit]

On 30 July 2021, Crocombe returned to England, penning a one-year deal with Grimsby Town.[29]

Initially being signed as a back-up keeper, Crocombe became Grimsby's first choice keeper in December at the expense of club veteran James McKeown.[30]

On 23 May 2022, with Grimsby trailing 1–0 to Notts County in the National League play-off eliminator, in the final minute of added on time Crocombe came up for a free kick and with the ball falling to him it bounced off his knees as he prepared to shoot before dropping to Gavan Holohan who scored the equaliser, with Crocombe claiming the assist. Grimsby went on to win the game 2–1 in extra time.[31]

Crocombe played in the 2022 National League play-off final as Grimsby beat Solihull Moors 2–1 at the London Stadium to return to the Football League.[32]

Crocombe was ever-present in goal for Grimsby's 2022–23 League Two season and cup campaigns, playing a total of 5,340 minutes, the fourth highest in world football that season.[33] He was part of the Grimsby team that reached the quarter finals of the 2022–23 FA Cup by beating League One clubs Plymouth Argyle, Cambridge United and Burton Albion in rounds one to three, Championship club Luton Town in a fourth round replay, and Premier League side Southampton in the fifth round.[34] In doing so they became the first team to beat five teams from higher divisions in the history of the FA Cup.[35] At the end of the 2022–23 season, Crocombe turned down a new contract and confirmed he would be leaving Grimsby.[36]

Burton Albion

[edit]

On 30 June 2023, Crocombe signed for League One club Burton Albion on a two-year deal.[37] Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, he was named Men's Player of the Season.[38]

International career

[edit]

Youth

[edit]

On 22 January 2013, Crocombe was called up to the provisional New Zealand under-20s squad for the 2013 OFC U-20 Championship in Fiji, the regional qualifying tournament for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[39] He was confirmed in the final squad of 20 on 20 February 2013 and made his debut in the 1–0 win over Vanuatu.[40][41] Crocombe kept clean sheets in both his appearances and was voted the best goalkeeper of the tournament, earning him the Golden Glove Award.[42]

He was confirmed in the New Zealand under-20 squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey[43] and was described as a key player for the team.[44] Crocombe played in two of New Zealand's games as the team exited the competition at the group stage.

In June 2015, Crocombe was included in the New Zealand under-23s squad for the Pacific Games, which was used as a qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[45] Crocombe kept 4 clean sheets in 4 games before New Zealand were disqualified from the tournament for fielding an ineligible player.[46]

Senior

[edit]

In March 2015, Crocombe was called up to the full New Zealand national team squad for a friendly against South Korea.[47] A year later, he was included in the senior squad for the 2016 OFC Nations Cup.[48] He made his full international debut for the All Whites in a friendly against Canada in March 2018.[49]

On 6 June 2023, after a spell away from the team, Crocombe was called up to the New Zealand squad for friendlies against Sweden and Qatar.[50] Crocombe started the game against Qatar which was abandoned at half time when the New Zealand players refused to play the second half after Michael Boxall was alleged to have been racially abused by one of the Qatari players, New Zealand had been leading 1–0.[51]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of end of 2023–24 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Buckingham Town 2009–10[52] UCL Division One 33 1 0 0 — 0 0 33 1
Oxford United 2011–12[53] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012–13[54] League Two 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2013–14[55] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014–15[56] League Two 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
2015–16[57] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 6 0
Banbury United (loan) 2011–12[58] SFL Premier Division 1 0 0 0 — 1[a] 0 2 0
Nuneaton Town (loan) 2014–15[52] Conference Premier 10 0 0 0 — 0 0 10 0
Barnet (loan) 2015–16[57] League Two 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Southport (loan) 2015–16[58] National League 25 0 1 0 — 3[b] 0 29 0
Carlisle United 2016–17[59] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 4[c] 0 4 0
Salford City 2017–18[58] National League North 31 0 0 0 — 0 0 31 0
2018–19[58] National League 0 0 0 0 — 4[b] 0 4 0
Total 31 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 35 0
Brisbane Roar 2019–20[58] A-League 6 0 0 0 — 3 0 9 0
Melbourne Victory 2020–21[58] A-League 10 0 0 0 — 0 0 10 0
Grimsby Town 2021–22[58] National League 29 0 1 0 — 0 0 30 0
2022–23[60] League Two 46 0 7 0 2 0 4 0 59 0
Total 75 0 8 0 2 0 4 0 89 0
Burton Albion 2023–24[61] League One 43 0 2 0 0 0 2[c] 0 47 0
2024–25[62] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 243 1 11 0 4 0 21 0 279 1
  1. ^ Appearance in the Southern League Cup
  2. ^ a b Appearances in FA Trophy
  3. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

[edit]

Salford City

Grimsby Town

New Zealand

New Zealand Under-20

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 66. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Player Profile". Oxford United F.C. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Former Town star turns pro". Buckingham Advertiser. 6 August 2012. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Oakgrove Alumni Football Success". Oakgrove School. Archived from the original on 21 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Buckingham Town 1 Northampton ON Chenecks 3". United Counties Football League. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Oxford United Youngsters Earn Professional Contracts". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ "Oxford United step up search for new keeper". oxfordtimes.co.uk. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Oxford United sign Arsenal keeper Damian Martinez on loan". BBC. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Oxford United goalkeeper Wayne Brown signs new contract". BBC Sport.
  10. ^ "Oxford United: Max Crocombe relaxed over debut against Burton". BBC Sport.
  11. ^ "Dagenham 0 United 1". Oxford United F.C.
  12. ^ "Accrington 0 – 3 United". Oxford United F.C.
  13. ^ "United Look to the Future". Oxford United F.C. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  14. ^ "West Brom 1–1 Oxford Utd". BBC Sport. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  15. ^ "Wright Rose and Crocombe agree new deals as Oxford United release retained list". BBC Sport. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  16. ^ OL. "New Keeper Signs". Nuneaton Town F.C. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  17. ^ "Team of the Day". The Football Paper Ltd. The Non-League Paper. 22 March 2015.
  18. ^ "1 – Max Crocombe Player Profile". Nuneaton Town FC Official Website. Nuneaton Town FC. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  19. ^ "Barnet sign goalkeeper Max Crocombe!". Barnet F.C. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Max Joins Southport on Loan". Oxford United F.C. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Keeper Max Crocombe signs for the Blues". Carlisle United F.C. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  22. ^ Giblin, Andy (30 May 2017). "Keeper Crocombe signs for Salford". Pitcher Hero Ltd. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  23. ^ "Max Crocombe: Salford City goalkeeper sent off for urinating". BBC Sport. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  24. ^ Zeqiri, Daniel (28 October 2017). "Salford City goalkeeper sent off for urinating says he was in an 'uncomfortable position'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  25. ^ Monteverde, Marco (18 July 2019). "Roar confirm signing of New Zealand international Max Crocombe". The West Australian.
  26. ^ "Crocombe departs BRFC". Brisbane Roar. 1 October 2020.
  27. ^ "Melbourne Victory signs shot-stopper Max Crocombe". Melbourne Victory. 1 October 2020.
  28. ^ "Players depart Victory first team". Melbourne Victory FC. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  29. ^ "Grimsby Town sign former Salford City goalkeeper Max Crocombe". Grimsbylive. 30 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Crocombe discusses McKeown relationship and Grimsby Town promotion hopes". Grimsbylive. 8 February 2022.
  31. ^ "Max Crocombe's 'striker' claims laughed off by Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst". Grimsbylive. 25 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Grimsby Town player ratings as McAtee and four others star in Solihull comeback". Grimsbylive. 5 June 2022.
  33. ^ "The 20 players who have played the most minutes in 2022–23 ft. Kane and Vinicius Junior". 3 October 2023.
  34. ^ "Grimsby stun Southampton to reach FA Cup last eight". BBC Sport.
  35. ^ "Grimsby join select group of fourth-tier heroes with fairytale FA Cup run". The Guardian. 16 March 2023.
  36. ^ "Crocombe Departs – Grimsby Town Football Club". 13 June 2023.
  37. ^ "BREWERS SIGN MAX CROCOMBE". burtonalbionfc.co.uk. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  38. ^ Powlson, Nigel (24 April 2024). "Players' Awards Night 2023/24 - All the Winners". Burton Albion FC. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  39. ^ "Crocombe Called Up". Oxford United F.C. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  40. ^ "ASB Premiership players bolster Junior All Whites". nzfootball.co.nz. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  41. ^ Oceania Football Confederation. "Vanuatu 0–1 New Zealand". Archived from the original on 22 February 2015.
  42. ^ Oceania Football Confederation. "Kiwi duo add to accolades". oceaniafootball.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013.
  43. ^ Pritchard, David (3 May 2013). "Crocombe makes Under-20 World Cup Squad". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  44. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup: New Zealand". FIFA. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
  45. ^ New Zealand Football. "U-23s named for Pacific Games". nzfootball.co.nz. New Zealand Football Official Website. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  46. ^ "Fiji Seize Chance After New Zealand Expelled". Stuff.co.nz. Stuff.co.nz. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  47. ^ "Hudson Refreshes All Whites squad". New Zealand Football. NZFootball.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  48. ^ Pritchard, David (12 May 2016). "Oxford United's Max Crocombe receives senior New Zealand call-up". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  49. ^ "All Whites Fall to Canada". The New Zealand Herald. 25 March 2018.
  50. ^ "Argyle striker Ben Waine gets New Zealand call-up". 6 June 2023.
  51. ^ "NZ abandon match vs. Qatar amid racism claims". 19 June 2023.
  52. ^ a b "Max Crocombe". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  53. ^ "Games played by Max Crocombe in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  54. ^ "Games played by Max Crocombe in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  55. ^ "Games played by Max Crocombe in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  56. ^ "Games played by Max Crocombe in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  57. ^ a b "Games played by Max Crocombe in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  58. ^ a b c d e f g Max Crocombe at Soccerway. Retrieved -3 October 2023.
  59. ^ "Games played by Max Crocombe in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  60. ^ "Games played by Max Crocombe in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  61. ^ "Games played by Max Crocombe in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  62. ^ "Games played by Max Crocombe in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  63. ^ Rindl, Josef (11 May 2019). "AFC Fylde 0–3 Salford City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  64. ^ "SALFORD CITY FC WIN PROMOTION TO VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE". Salford Star. 22 April 2018.
  65. ^ "Starting Lineups – Solihull Moors vs Grimsby". Sky Sports. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  66. ^ Powlson, Nigel (24 April 2024). "Players' Awards Night 2023/24 – All the Winners". Burton Albion FC. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  67. ^ "It's awards time! Here's who stood out at the OFC Men's Nations Cup 2024". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 30 June 2024 – via X.
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