Crawford started his career as an amateur when joining his two brothers at Filey Town in February 1922. He moved to Scarborough Penguins in 1923, then to Scarborough before returning to Filey Town for two seasons in 1929, where he set a localleague record by scoring141 goals in 73 matches. His first professional contract was at Halifax Town in 1931. He then signed for Liverpool where he scored 4 goals in 8 matches. In 1933, he joinedClapton Orient, where he ended his playing career. He played his last 6 years with an undiagnosed broken ankle.