The Alex Cropley Story

[dave shelley]

I've told you lot, it's the Taj Mahal!  Phillistines!

[peter w]

The Taj Mahal is in Palestine?

[dave shelley]

Of course it is.  Everyone knows that.

[Chris Jameson]

The only photo I've ever had taken with a footballer was with Alex Cropley, it was whilst he was on crutches following THAT tackle and it was outside Villa Park after a match.

[Crops10]

I have a photo of Dad when he had his crutches, and he was opening all the cards he had received from fans and players, i have a lot of them at my Nan's old house, i will search a few out and put them up on here!

[Legion]

That would be great. Thank you.

[Holte Sweet]

Just stumbled across this thread and it brought back a lot of memories. I was in the Trinity Rd upper for that game and whenever the topic of horror tackles comes up it is always that one that comes to mind.

I recall Ron Saunders walking off with the stretcher and thinking it must be bad.

I loved watching Alex play . He seemed to win tackles he had no right to win and he always lifted the crowd with his never say die attitude.

I always thought but for that tackle he would have been an integral part  of the championship winning team.

In my opinion he was one of the Villa greats whether the club formally acknowledge it or not.

[Jon Crofts]

Thread resurrection alert.

One of my absolute favourite players along with Keith Leonard. Somehow I stumbled into this article today from 2008, I checked this thread and a few others and couldn’t see it shared anywhere. I was in the Trinity Road that day with my Dad, you’ll never forget that sound.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jan/06/features.sport20

[Pat McMahon]

Thread resurrection alert.

One of my absolute favourite players along with Keith Leonard. Somehow I stumbled into this article today from 2008, I checked this thread and a few others and couldn’t see it shared anywhere. I was in the Trinity Road that day with my Dad, you’ll never forget that sound.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jan/06/features.sport20

A really good read, thanks, and not just re Alex Cropley.

I think Barry Davies was commenting on MOTD that day and he said shortly before half time that the game was so toxic that the ref should blow early for half time.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Sad to hear today Alex has been diagnosed with dementia. Stay strong, fella.

[castlefields_villan]

Sad to hear today Alex has been diagnosed with dementia. Stay strong, fella.

Very, very sad - oddly enough, before I even read about this morning, I was only thinking "Is it really 43 years ago today since that game ?"

Us longterm supporters, that were there that day, won't ever forget you Alex - our thoughts are with you.

[JD]

Sad to hear today Alex has been diagnosed with dementia. Stay strong, fella.

Sad to hear that Mark.   

[Woofles The Wonder Dog]

Skill matched by fearless bite. A great Villa player who, in my mind, blazed the trail for Cowans.

[Exeter 77]

Skill matched by fearless bite. A great Villa player who, in my mind, blazed the trail for Cowans.

That's how I see it as well.

[dcdavecollett]

It's sad to say this but Alex's shocking injury helped give Sid a run of games that otherwise he might not have had.

Just imagine taking off a superb, creative player who tackled about three times his weight and replacing him with another one!!