William McCrum (7 February 1865 – 21 December 1932) was a wealthy Irish linen manufacturer and sportsman, most famous for being the inventor in 1890 of the penalty kick in football. Life and family Born on 7 February 1865 in Ballynahone Beg townland, outside Milford, County Armagh, William was the son of the linen millionaire Robert Garmany McCrum, JP, DL (1829-1915) and his wife, Anne Eliza Riddall (1840-1869) from Limavady, County Londonderry. His father created the famous linen manufacturing firm of McCrum, Watson and Mercer and was the builder of the Victorian era model village of Milford. William studied at The Royal School, Armagh and then Trinity College, Dublin, where was university champion. He lived at Milford House with his father and later worked for the family business, including a time as London representative and one of the managing directors. William was not a success at running the family business and lacked the business acumen and innovation of his father. He was High Sheriff of Armagh in 1888. He played for many years as goalkeeper for Milford Football Club, including in the first season of the Irish Football League (1890–1891). Milford finished bottom of the league with 0 points from 14 games, having conceded 62 goals and scored only 10. "Master Willie" as he was known to the villagers also spent his spare time taking part in amateur theatrics in the Milford village hall, called the McCrum Institute. When not travelling the world, he spent a large proportion of his life living in Milford where he was a justice of the peace and representative of many sporting clubs and committees including Milford FC, Milford and Armagh cricket clubs, and Armagh Rugby Football Club. He played chess for Armagh and participated in individual and team competitions and also submitted games. Marriage William McCrum enjoyed gambling in Monte Carlo and having a good time. In one weekend alone he accumulated debts in six figures. His father paid the debt on this occasion. In 1891 he married Maude Mary Squires, daughter of W.W Squires of Montreal Canada. They had one son, Cecil (1892-1976), who was later Captain of HMS Hood. William was a shareholder in the family firm McCrum, Watson and Mercer and acted as a factory agent. In 1897, William and Maude were living at Hartford Place on the Mall in Armagh city when Maude was implicated in scandals involving gentlemen in