Crops: The Alex Cropley Story

Product Information

Two years later, in 1974, Hibs could hold on to Cropley no longer. In a UEFA Cup tie in October 1973 against Leeds United at Elland Road he had bossed one of English football's finest midfields over 90 minutes and plenty of clubs wanted the then 22-year-old. Turnbull, though, proved bloody-minded.

He had added just three runs to his tally, taking it to 1,080, by the time lunch was taken but rain began falling during the interval and then became heavier, raining for much of the afternoon before umpires Tom Lungley and Martin Saggers finally abandoned play. Somerset began the day on 268-4, knowing that the second new ball was just an over away. However, any hopes Nottinghamshire had of using it to re-establish their first-day advantage soon disappeared. At Villa, he featured in a memorable win against the great Liverpool side of the period. Cropley also appeared in the League Cup Final of 1977 against Everton. The final needed to be replayed after the game ended in a draw. The second final saw the two teams once again finish the game tied altogether. In the eventual third final, with the game going to extra time, Villa won by a 3–2 margin over the Toffees and in so doing Cropley victoriously lifted the Cup. [7] [8] He thereafter yet again suffered another a broken leg, in a game versus local rivals West Bromwich Albion on 10 December 1977. [9] Cropley then had a spell on loan at Newcastle United from January to June 1980, returning to Villa in July of that year. Cropley left Villa Park in March 1981 to feature a month later for club Toronto Blizzard in the North American Soccer League. He then left Blizzard in October 1981 and to link up in the following month for Portsmouth. He then ended his days as a professional footballer in 1982 due to persistent and serious injuries at the relatively young age of 31. [2] Personal life [ edit ] Gordon Lee’s first League game in charge of Everton had been a 2-0 defeat away to Aston Villa on the 5th February 1977, which meant that they had won both the League encounters. On the day of the final Aston Villa were in fourth place in the table but with games in hand on the clubs above. Everton were in fifteenth position. Although Aston Villa were clearly the bookmaker’s favourites, being quoted at 11/10 by most, Everton under Lee had started to improve, winning five games on the bounce and progressing to the last eight of the F.A. Cup.Walter and Das steadied the ship to reach 52-3 at the end of the six-over powerplay and Walter's fourth six took him to 40 from 20 deliveries in the 10th over. He was so humble. I asked him, ‘did you actually realise how good you were?’. He replied, ‘not really, all I wanted to do was play football’.” Earlier, Essex returned on day two searching for a fourth batting point. They eventually missed out by three runs despite needing 40 runs in 14 overs. Henry, whose bowling on the second morning had changed the course of the game, took a rest having taken 2-19 from eight overs and his replacement, Aldridge, soon had Mullaney caught behind for 23. Abell's fifty came in 124 balls but Tom Kohler-Cadmore was lbw to Harmer to the last ball of the day having put on 55 with his captain.

Everton’s devastated players slumped to the floor, many shaking their heads trying to understand what had just happened. Everton fans stayed to applaud their team and then left the stadium in despair. The Aston Villa team joined their fans in an orgy of celebration as they received the cup. A banner displayed in the Villa read “Little Goals Mean a Lot”. It summed up the final. Jawad, Hyder (17 December 2006). "Villa's 45-minute blitz of the champions". Birmingham Post. Trinity Mirror Midlands . Retrieved 8 February 2013. a b c "Profile". arsenal.com. Arsenal FC. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016 . Retrieved 8 February 2013. He moved on to Aston Villa two years later, lifting the League Cup in 1977, but another leg break meant he fell out of the side and briefly headed out on loan to Newcastle United. This depression has a chemical cause, too. All athletes are addicted to a greater or lesser degree to endorphins, the morphine-like chemicals that help them to combat pain and stress. Take away their training regime and this absence becomes a kind of cold turkey. They are suddenly bereft. 'It's like being the child who is ill when all the other boys are out in the street,' Caulfield says.a b "Profile: Jordan Cropley". haddingtonathletic.co.uk. Haddington Athletic FC. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013 . Retrieved 8 February 2013. Capped several times at both under-23 and inter-league level he made his full Scotland debut in a friendly against the reigning World Champions Brazil including the great Pele, in a friendly at Hampden in 1966 and did his reputation no harm. She said: “He was the most charming, fabulous guy. When you think of some of the footballers nowadays who are puffed up and spend money like there’s no tomorrow...” He would die for the shirt – what a man to have in your trench. In today’s money he’d be worth millions.”