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.

His cavalier overlapping style and his accurate passing earned him a cap for Scotland as a teenager.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 ] How they find a way to play again depends at least as much on their mind as their body. Britt Tajet- Foxell was for many years the principal physiotherapist to the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden. She came to realise that recovery from serious injury among dancers was not principally about physical conditioning, it was often nearly all mental. Tajet- Foxell added cognitive psychology to her armoury and is now a consultant to an elite group of athletes through the British Olympic Association, as well as to several international footballers. Aldridge, who has grown in confidence with the bat this season, went to 50 off 88 balls, but was then bowled by James, having hit five fours. By then Somerset had posted 447-6 and their lead had grown to 424. Aston Villa – Burridge, Gidman, Robson, Phillips, Nicholl, Mortimer, Deehan, Little, Gray, Cropley, Carrodus. Tommy Preston started the 1955 season deputising for the ill Lawrie Reilly and would rarely, barring injuries be out of the side during the next ten years.

Latterly Tommy was to be found at Easter Road on match days as a guest of the club. He died on 16 April 2015, aged 82. Jawad, Hyder (17 December 2006). "Villa's 45-minute blitz of the champions". Birmingham Post. Trinity Mirror Midlands . Retrieved 8 February 2013.

Current items with a signature of Alex Cropley

So on Wednesday 13th March, a crowd of 54,749 gathered to witness the last game in the saga.In contrast to the dour matches that had preceded it, this replay ended up being a classic. Everton dominated proceedings in the first half and it came as no surprise when in the 38th minute Ken Mc Naught nodded the ball down for Bob Latchford, Villa’s nemesis to score the opening goal. For the first time in the tie, Everton were in the lead. However, Everton knew one goal would not be enough as Latchford himself said: “Villa were too good a side not to respond”. Somerset had shown great fight and grit on the third evening to give Somerset hope of saving a draw, having been bowled out for 167 with a first-innings lead of 295. Jimmy McColl served the club as a player, assistant trainer, trainer, reserve team manager and finally odd job man around the ground. Everton –Lawson, Robinson, Darracott, Lyons, Mc Naught, King, Hamilton, Dobson, Latchford, Pearson, Goodlass

Tom Abell and James Rew did bat out the first 137 balls of the morning, putting on 56 with great skill. Davey then cleaned up Jake Ball and Paterson to spark joyous celebrations among the home supporters. Somerset's largest runs victoriesAston Villa – Burridge, Gidman, Robson, Phillips, Nicholl, Mortimer, Deehan, Little, Graydon, Cropley, Cowans. Things did not improve after lunch with George Bartlett lbw to Porter with the first ball on resumption, having previously survived some close calls while stepping across his stumps. Other highlights include beating Hearts 7-0 at Tynecastle, overcoming a 2-1 deficit to beat Sporting Lisbon and beating Celtic 5-3 in the Drybrough Cup final. That came as Goldsworthy marked his first County Championship appearance of the season with 122, his second first-class century. Harmer arrived at his customary River End in the 13th over and challenged Tom Kohler-Cadmore to take him on down the ground after an enterprising 32 off 39 balls in his fourth over. It was to his detriment as Ben Allison swallowed a simple catch at long on.

Three weeks later at Tynecastle on New Year’s Day his exciting play helped his side to a famous 7-0 victory. Somerset's batters, headed by Tom Lammonby and Tom Abell's half-centuries, took advantage of a heavy-rolled pitch to bed in, show fine grit, and bolster their chances of saving a draw. Paul Walter showed a few moments of intent in his 25 before a drive with little footwork was well caught at gully, while Feroze Khushi fended a ball which stopped in the pitch to first slip. Somerset had batted stoically in the hope of batting out 151 overs, or reaching 466 to win, but they were eventually bowled out for 269 with two sessions to spare.Lammonby had looped the third ball of this innings to point before Abell was brilliantly caught at second slip. Essex only won two Championship matches at home last season and have recently gone unbeaten at Chelmsford between September 2018 and September 2022. His move from Parkhead to Easter Road in 1922 saw him part of the celebrated side that contested the 1923 and 1924 Scottish Cup Finals and he later became the first Hibs player to score 100 league goals for the club.He died in Edinburgh on 7 March 1978 aged 86. He would die for the shirt – what a man to have in your trench. In today’s money he’d be worth millions.” With only a day left, Kent have so far secured just one bowling bonus point in their battle for Division One survival.