Cropper Reg Image 1 Mansfield Town 1932

Description

Brimington, Derbyhire born inside right Reg Cropper began his football career with Staveley Town and spent 1925-26 on the books of nearby Notts County, without making The Magpies’ first eleven. He signed for Third Division (South) club Norwich City in the 1926 close season, making his Football League debut at Millwall that August, and scoring his first goal on his home debut in a win over Bristol Rovers a week later. He scored 15 goals in his debut season for The Canaries, comfortably finishing as the club’s leading goalscorer during a campaign when they generally struggled, but despite this he struggled for first team opportunities the next season, and stepped down into non league football with Guildford City in the summer of 1928 after 18 goals in 53 appearances for Norwich City.

He returned to Football League action with Tranmere Rovers, joining them in the summer of 1929, for whom he scored 4 goals in 18 appearances before a return to Guildford City in 1930. He then joined Crystal Palace a year later, playing 3 matches at centre forward either side of the 1932 New Year and scoring once for them in a Boxing Day defeat at Swindon. He then joined Mansfield Town later in 1932 and scored once in 7 matches during their 1932-33 campaign, finishing his career with non league Hollingwood Rangers who he joined in 1933 before his eventual retirement.

NB the photograph was taken before the FA Cup tie between Walsall and Mansfield Town at Fellows Park on 26th November 1932. Walsall won the match 4-1.