Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Max Crocombe (Millwall | England)

880 replies · 200,606 views
13 Sep 11:56 · edited 13 Sep 13:49 · History
Crocs on the pine
Edit - a 1-1 draw
16 Sep 21:14 · edited 16 Sep 21:15 · History
Crocs in goal as Millwall exit the League Cup. Lose pen shootout 4-2

Was 1-1 at the end of NT. Be interesting to hear how Crocombe went

He wasn’t terrible against the Socceroos but he didn’t compare well to Izzo who was saving basically everything. 

Really hope Paulsen starts against Poland. I mean he’s based there now and playing

With Millwall’s LC campaign over who knows when Crocs will next get a club game 
16 Sep 21:44
I’m not sure he actually played did he?
16 Sep 22:11
Yeah looks like Benda was in net? Fotmob doesn't have Crocs on the bench either
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

16 Sep 22:53 · edited 16 Sep 23:37 · History
Yipe looks like Benda was in goal and another keeper on the bench. Palace match report.

I looked initially at Flashscore which does have Crocs in goal.

Anyway my point re AP playing Poland still stands maybe even more so now.
16 Sep 23:21
Crocombe was originally selected to play, but he picked up a knock in the pre-game warm up so was replaced
18 Sep 07:47 · edited 21 Sep 00:39 · History
Enjoyed watching the Grimsby Town TV series "All Town Aren't We?" last weekend.
It features Crocombe and covers their 2021-22 promotion season.
It's available in Australia and NZ on the Doc Play streaming service here:
(two week free trial available if you're not a member)
All Town Aren't We - DocPlay
Three 30 - 40 minute episodes.
Covers the promotion season when Grimsby won the National League play-off final and gained promoton to League 2.
Crocombe is in goal throughout all three episodes but he doesn't feature much in episode one. But, boy, does he feature in episodes two and three with his exploits!
I wasn't following Grimsby's exploits with Crocombe until they made the FA Cup quarter-final the following season.
But these three episodes are great in covering Town's rollercoaster ride from good early season form to a crisis mid-season when the wheels start to fall off and key players get injured, to renewed form later in the season.
Gets you hooked on their journey with match footage, player and coaching staff interviews and fan interviews.
Exciting and emotional stuff:
Three extra-time play-off wins vs. Notts County, Wrexham and Solihull (in the final at the London Stadium with half of Grimsby there).
Plenty of extended highlights of the play-off games.
With Notts County ahead 1-0 in injury time, Crocombe pushes forward into the box for a free kick - gets a touch and the assist for the eqaulizing goal which sends the game into extra-time.
Some amusing interviewswith Wrexham's Hollywood owners as they graciously accept defeat.
Crocombe pulls off some great saves in the play-offs too.
Definitely one of the great play-off finals
All Town Aren't We
2023 · M · 3 Episodes · Sports
Grimsby Town FC, once a high-flying football club with a proud history, is now on the brink of relegation from the Football League. The impending threat of semi-professional football looms on for not just the club, but an entire community. Witness one of the most breathtaking sporting stories of all time play out at Grimsby Town FC.



Big Pete 65, Christchurch

22 Sep 00:01
Can't find an injury update on Crocs, and whether he's fit enough to be in contention for the Watford game tonight. That's after apparently getting injured in the warmup prior Millwall verus Palace in the League Cup.

But do see that Danish international and Millwall no 1 GK Lukas Jensen is now back training at The Den. Early days. but Crocombe's agent might want to get busy trying to find Crocs a loan deal somewhere soon, where he would likely be a starter




22 Sep 21:18
Crocs on the pine as Millwall beat Watford 1-0. Irankunda a full game for the Hornets 
28 Sep 14:10
coochiee
Crocs on the pine as Millwall beat Watford 1-0. Irankunda a full game for the Hornets 

Can’t say Im happy that our No.1 is hardly playing at all in a WC year. This might be what ends up given Paulsen the top job in North America next year (much like what happened in ‘82).
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites

01 Oct 21:24
Crocs on the pine as Millwall get spanked 0-4

Benda a lowly 5.4 Flashscore rating 
02 Oct 01:49
Considering the fact that searching Benda’s name on Twitter presents us with tweets like “if Benda starts for us again I’m necking bleach”, I think it’s safe to say Crocombe is the preferred option for most fans. Apparently had a dreadful performance and fans have had enough
04 Oct 13:22 · edited 04 Oct 21:58 · History
Unfortunately Benda still in goal for Millwall.
Millwall win 3-0
18 Oct 10:45 · edited 18 Oct 10:46 · History
Crocs starts!
Championship debut.
18 Oct 12:33
And Millwall are up 2-0 at half-time.
18 Oct 12:34
awesome. excellent keeper. hope he nails it

360footballnews.com

18 Oct 13:38
Millwall win 2-1 at Loftus Road.
20 Oct 08:50
If he can get on the park one more time this season he out does Marinoviks ill-fated Championship foree. 
Fantastic stuff given it was only a few seasons ago he was toiling away in the Conference.
20 Oct 17:21
He pulled off a great save withing the first 2 minutes against QPR and his team went on to win 2-1. He did several other crucial saves later in the game.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

20 Oct 23:21 · edited 20 Oct 23:58 · History
https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/10/21/praise-for-all-whites-keeper-max-crocombe-after-his-championship-debut/

New Zealand international goalkeeper Max Crocombe has earned plaudits for his patience and hunger to play from Millwall manager Alex Neil.

Crocombe (32) made his Millwall debut in the English Championship, in their 2-1 weekend win at London rivals Queens Park Rangers.

“I thought he did [well],” Neil told NewAtDen after the game.

“His kicking was good to start with at the start of the game.

“He made a really good save down at his right-hand side, from Harvey Vale, a shot from the edge of the box. Then we go up that side, and Will [Smallbone] has his shot. I thought that settled him down really quite quickly.

“To be fair to Max, he’s been biding his time; he’s been hungry to play.

“He was due to play the Crystal Palace game. He then missed out because he hurt his toe, so that was a bit of a blow for him. Then today he managed to get his chance, and he performed well.”

Crocombe went into Millwall’s starting line-up after first choice ‘keeper Steven Benda was injured in the lead-up to the match.
20 Oct 23:35 · edited 21 Oct 06:10 · History
LG
He pulled off a great save withing the first 2 minutes against QPR and his team went on to win 2-1. He did several other crucial saves later in the game.

Highlights. Yes a good early save down low. That would have helped settle the nerves on Championship debut.

Hopefully he can hang onto the no 1 GK spot as long as possible now. Danish international Jensen is back training after his injury, so Crocs could return to the bench by Christmas or before.

Just enjoy it why you can I guess. Who knows how many games he will get at this level?? This period maybe it, or maybe a door opens at another Championship club if he does well the next few weeks at the Den. Lots of unknowns, but good on him for having a crack at a higher level, when the safe option would have been staying no 1 at Burton Albion in League One.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vomAuPaV3Fk
21 Oct 06:05
He’s slowly built up his case. Now he’s starting to make his case at Championship level. Marinovic really got in his own head. Hopefully Crocs can keep his cool. 

But even if he only gets a few more appearances this season, there’ll be a bunch of clubs that were tracking him and now see that he’s ready for a gig in the Championship. Like Duncan at Victory. 


21 Oct 18:49
In goal against Stoke. 
21 Oct 20:56
First clean sheet in the Championship!


21 Oct 20:59
Yipe Millwall win 2-0, so Crocs is 2 wins from 2 games

Benda not on the pine so guessing he is still injured 
21 Oct 21:54
Millwall up to third in the league now. On a roll with Max in the team!

Auckland will rise once more

22 Oct 11:31 · edited 22 Oct 11:31 · History
Niche Cache

Steven Benda picked up a knock in training and was ruled out of the trip to face Queen’s Park Rangers. That’s since been confirmed as a groin injury and he’s expected to be out for three weeks (manager Alex Neill said they’re aiming for the international break in mid-November). By then it might not matter because he could have lost his spot completely based on what we’ve seen from Max Crocombe in his long overdue first pair of Championship matches.

There was already a groundswell among Millwall fans to see Max Crocombe given a chance, particularly after the handful of games where Steven Benda errors cost them goals, and it’s safe to say that his very composed debut has turned that inkling into a widespread belief...


Short highlights verus Stoke.
One sharp save

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mpIDds6Zho&t=2s
22 Oct 20:48
He is giving Baze his answer to the challenge Paulsen is making to his position
25 Oct 13:31
Crocs in goal
25 Oct 16:08
Another win and clean sheet with Crocombe in goal! Loving this ‘keeper duel’ for the number one spot. 

For some reason out of left field I’m reminded of the lawn bowler Millie Khan iirc who got silver in the 1990 Commonwealth games. Probably because of her temperament and that she and these lads are all really nice. 

I recall her never getting flustered or trying to knock another bowl out. If they went close, she’d draw it closer. A purist shot maker. 

We’ve seen Alex doing well for his club and for the All Whites, and now Crocombe debuting in the Championship with 3 wins including 2 clean sheets in 3 games. 

Fantastic boys. Keep it up! 


25 Oct 23:25
Crocs in the EPL next season?!
Millwall up to 3rd. 

He's certainly gone ahead of the injured Benda, though when fully fit Jensen probably comes back in.