I spent 11 years fighting to break into Arsenal’s Invincibles team but I found out I was for sale watching TV on holiday
FORMER Arsenal full-back Jason Crowe has recalled the time he found out he was being let go from the club – while watching TV on holiday.
Crowe, now 45, joined Arsenal‘s youth set-up in 1994 and signed his first professional contract at the beginning of the 1996-97 season.
He made his first team debut in a League Cup match against Birmingham in 1997 but was sent off after just 33 seconds following a foul on Martin O’Connor.
The full-back then struggled to establish his place in the squad, with Lee Dixon preferred on the right.
He went on to make just three appearances for Arsenal before being let go by Arsene Wenger in 1999.
But his departure was far from straightforward.
Crowe told The Portsmouth News: “I was on holiday with friends in Cyprus when I found out about my transfer listing by Arsenal. I saw it on television.
“Honestly that’s how I found out!
“I was competing with Lee Dixon and Remi Garde at right-back.
“Arsene really liked his French players too, he looked after them.”
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After leaving Arsenal, Crowe joined Portsmouth in a £1million transfer.
He spent four years at Fratton Park and was loaned out once to Brentford.
Crowe also played for Grimsby Town, Northampton Town, Leeds United, Leyton Orient and Corby Town before retiring in 2013.
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