John Crow grew up in the Sydney suburb of Chullora. He was educated at Chullora Public and Strathfield South High Schools. John played his early junior rugby league in the Canterbury Bankstown District with Greenacre and St George Dragons.
In 1970, John joined the Enfield Federals Rugby League Club in the Western Suburbs district. Federals had a great reputation for producing great rugby league players and John and his team mates were no exception.
He was with Federals until 1976 and it was from there that John was selected in Wests President’s Cup team in 1975. He was then graded with Wests in the following year.
