Max Crocombe

Maxime Teremoana Crocombe (born 12 August 1993) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Burton Albion.

He also represents the New Zealand national team.

Crocombe moved to England at an early age and began his professional career with Oxford United who had signed him from Non-League side Buckingham Town.

He went on to play on loan with Banbury United, Nuneaton Town, Barnet and Southport before signing permanently with Carlisle United.

In the summer of 2009, Crocombe signed for Buckingham Town at the age of 16.

He made 33 senior first team appearances before being spotted by scouts of Oxford United.

Despite being a goalkeeper he scored one goal in his time at Buckingham Town after coming on as an outfield substitute in a 3–1 league defeat.

Crocombe joined Oxford United as a scholar under youth-team coach Chris Allen and signed his first professional contract in April 2012.

He almost made his debut shortly afterwards after injuries to Ryan Clarke and Wayne Brown, and the termination of Connor Ripley's loan, however Oxford eventually signed Arsenal's Emiliano Martínez on loan and Crocombe had to wait for his debut.

Whilst at the club, he has been coached by Alan Hodgkinson and Wayne Brown.

Crocombe's Football League debut came in a 1–1 draw with Burton Albion on 29 January 2013.

He kept his first clean sheet for the club in his second league appearance, a 1–0 away win over Dagenham & Redbridge in April 2013, which ended a five-match winless run.

He remained in goal for the rest of the league season, keeping three consecutive clean sheets with 3–0 wins against both Rochdale and Accrington Stanley.

In total, Crocombe made six appearances for club and country in his debut professional season, conceding just one goal.

In June 2013, he signed a long-term contract with the club.

By the 2013–14 season he had established himself as deputy to Oxford's long-standing number 1, Ryan Clarke.

Crocombe appeared twice in the 2014–15 season, both times in the Football League Cup.

In his second appearance he held Premier League side West Bromwich Albion to one goal in 120 minutes and saved their first two spot kicks in the penalty shoot-out.

In February 2015, Crocombe signed on loan at Conference Premier side Nuneaton Town until the end of the season.

After impressing with a clean sheet on his debut, he was named in the Non-League Paper's Team of the Day.

He did not concede a goal in any of his first 6 games and was named man of the match twice in his short spell for the club.

Crocombe was loaned to Barnet on 18 September 2015, with the Bees without a senior keeper due to an injury and a suspension.

In October 2015 Crocombe was recalled from Barnet and sent on a three-month loan to Southport of the National League.

After a series of impressive performances in his first 3 months for the club he was named Southport's Player of the Month for both November 2015 and January 2016.

Crocombe left Oxford by mutual consent and signed a one-year deal with Carlisle United on 4 August 2016.

In 2017 he moved to Salford City where he was part of the City side that won back to back promotions to the Football League.

At the end of the season, which included a productive loan spell at Nuneaton Town, the club triggered a 2-year option in his contract to extend his stay until the end of 2017.

In May 2017 he joined Salford City.

In October 2017 Crocombe was sent off during a match against Bradford Park Avenue for urinating at the side of a stand A spectator made a formal complaint and the incident was later reported to the police.

Crocombe subsequently posted an apology on Twitter and explained "I was in a very uncomfortable position and made an error of judgement that spoiled a great win".

In 2019, he moved to play in the Australian A-League with spells at Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.

Crocombe was born in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to England at a young age.

He had spells with Milton Keynes Dons and Luton Town before joining Buckingham Town.

Crocombe attended Oakgrove School in Milton Keynes along with Crystal Palace player Jeffrey Schlupp.

In July 2019, Crocombe joined Australian A-League side Brisbane Roar to challenge Jamie Young for the starting goalkeeper position.

In October 2020, Crocombe left Brisbane Roar.

After leaving Brisbane Roar, Crocombe joined Melbourne Victory in October 2020.

Crocombe began the season as the Victory's starting goalkeeper, playing in the first 10 matches of the season, before being replaced as the starting goalkeeper by Matt Acton.

He was released on 11 June 2021.

On 30 July 2021, Crocombe returned to England, penning a one-year deal with Grimsby Town.