D'Arcy McCrea facts for kids
| Full name | Edward D'Arcy McCrea |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Ireland |
| Born | 7 February 1896 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 22 December 1940 (aged 44) Salford, England |
| Turned pro | 1919 (amateur tour) |
| Retired | 1928 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 68–25 (73.12%) |
| Career titles | 8 |
Edward D'Arcy McCrea (born February 7, 1896 – died December 22, 1940) was a talented tennis player from Ireland. He played in many important tournaments during his career, including the 1924 Summer Olympics. At the Olympics, he competed in the mixed doubles, men's singles, and men's doubles events. He was active in tennis from 1919 to 1928, reaching 10 singles finals and winning 8 titles.
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D'Arcy McCrea: Irish Tennis Star
Early Tennis Days
D'Arcy McCrea started his tennis journey in 1919. He won his very first tournament, the County Dublin Championships, by beating John King Maconchy in a four-set final. This was a great start to his career!
In 1920, he continued his winning streak. He won two more singles titles. He took home the trophy at the East of Ireland Championships, where he defeated Val Miley. He also won the County Dublin meeting again, this time against Jack Miley.
Competing and Traveling
In 1921, D'Arcy McCrea played in the Irish Championships. He made it all the way to the semi-finals, but he lost to Cecil Campbell. After that, he traveled to Scarborough in England. There, he competed in the North of England Championships. He reached the final, but he was defeated by Brian Norton, a strong player from South Africa.
The next year, in early 1922, McCrea traveled to Spain. He played in the Barcelona International tournament, which was held on clay courts. He performed well, reaching the semi-finals before losing to Manuel Alonso Areizaga.
He then returned to Ireland and won the East of Ireland Championships for the second time, defeating Bunny Ireland. Later that year, he played in the Derbyshire Championships in Buxton, England. He won this title by beating Britain's George Fletcher.
More Victories and Later Years
In 1923, D'Arcy McCrea successfully defended his title at the Derbyshire Championships in Buxton. He won it for the second time, this time against José Domingo from Portugal. He finished that season playing at the North of England Championships. He reached the final again, but he lost to Sydney Jacob, an Anglo-Indian tennis player.
After 1923, McCrea took a break from playing in many tournaments. He entered a period of semi-retirement.
In 1927, after a four-year break, he returned to play in two events. At the Irish Championships in Dublin, he played a long five-set semi-final match but lost to Pat Hughes. That same year, he won his final singles title at the Northern Championships in Manchester. He won a tough five-set match against Douglas Arthur Hodges to claim the title.
His final tournament was the 1928 Irish Lawn Tennis Championships. He reached the quarter-finals but was defeated by Alexander Pitt.
Life Outside Tennis
D'Arcy McCrea was not just a tennis player; he was also a very smart student. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin and graduated in 1920.
He continued his studies and became a Master of Surgery in 1922. In the same year, he became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. This is a special honor for surgeons.
McCrea then moved to Manchester, England. He worked at Salford Royal Hospital and also taught physiology (the study of how living things work) at the University of Manchester.
Sadly, D'Arcy McCrea passed away on December 22, 1940. This was during the Second World War, when many cities were being bombed. He died due to an event related to the war in Salford.
