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Gary
Crosby burst onto the Eton Park scene alongside friend and former
team mate Nigel Clough, when the two men took over the managerial
ropes in October 1998. Gary joined as player/assistant manager, a
role he was to retain until his sudden departure in January 2005.
Gary quit
the Brewers to concentrate on his business interests outside of
football, but it always seemed that the door may still be ajar for a
return to Burton Albion should he have a change of heart, and in the
summer of 2006 he did.
A
Lincolnshire lad, Gary began his career with Lincoln City, but was
released after it was decided that he was too small for the physical
aspects of league football. He dropped into non-league to play
firstly for Lincoln United and then Grantham Town. He was re-signed
by Lincoln City, but after only 7 appearances was back at Grantham,
now managed by Martin O'Neill.
O'Neill
recognised the potential that Gary had and immediately recommended
him to Brian Clough at Forest, where he was to meet up with Nigel
for the first time. He played in the highly successful Forest side
of the early nineties, going on to win a League Cup winners medal in
1990 and a runners up medal in the FA Cup in 1991. He was never a
prolific goalscorer, but his wing play certainly created many for
his team mates. However, one goal that Gary did score will always be
remembered and will be a question in pub quizzes for years to come.
During a match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City in
1990, Crosby managed to head the ball out of the hands of keeper
Andy Dibble and rolled the ball into the empty net. Amazingly the
goal was allowed to stand, but the act of sportsmanship (or in
Gary's case probably cheating) has now been outlawed in the game.
Gary
spent time on loan at Grimsby whilst at Forest and was eventually
transferred to Huddersfield. His league career was cut short through
injuries and he ended up back at Lincoln United before joining up
with Nigel Clough again at Burton.
As part
of the double act at Eton Park he was responsible for lifting the
Brewers to their highest ever league standing in their history. His
contribution is probably not fully recognised by the supporters, but
it seemed to be a bit of a 'good cop, bad cop' partnership with the
manager. While Nigel, when not playing, was a calm figure on the
touchline, Gary in contrast was very animated and vocal. He could
always be heard sharing his views and words of advice with players,
officials and supporters alike. He never held back, which led one
former Albion player to tell CTMD 'I had more chance of getting a
red card for hitting Crosby on the touchline, than for anything I
did on the pitch'.
Gary's
contributions as a player were few and far between, mostly reserved
for minor cup competitions and fleeting appearances from the bench.
Perhaps his biggest contribution on the field was his appearance as
a substitute in the FA Cup at Torquay. His goal line clearance in
the second half, preserved Burton's lead and set up a live TV clash
against Hartlepool United in the second round.
His final
playing appearance was in October 2004 in the Birmingham Senior Cup away at
Sutton Coldfield Town.
Gary
clung onto the coat tails of Nigel Clough until the end, leaving in
January 2009 to take up the role of assistant manager to Clough at
Derby County
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GARY
CROSBY
