Dene Cropper
Encyclopedia
Dene Cropper is a former professional footballer who now competes in the semi-professional game.Career
Cropper was a produce of the youth setup at Sheffield Wednesday
and signed professional terms with The Owls in August 2000, a few months prior to the clubs relegation from the Premier League. He would only make the reserve team that season, and although he was offered a new deal he left the club on free transfer in the summer of 2002.
During the 2001–02 season Cropper signed on loan for Worksop Town
, He notched up a decent scoring rate for them, netting ten goals in twenty games.
became Lincoln City
manager Keith Alexander
's first signings of his second spell in charge at Sincil Bank
. He made his Football league debut in the club's 1-1 opening day draw at Kidderminster Harriers
on 10 August 2002, though this was marred when, seven minutes from time, referee Phil Crossley deemed his challenge on Abdou Sall
unfair and, following an earlier booking for dissent, dismissed him for two bookings. His home debut, three days later, was a far happier affair as he notched his first goal for the club in a 2-0 victory over Rochdale
. Cropper had a good season with Lincoln, but failed to score as many goals as his play deseved in a season which saw him and his team lose out in the playoff finals at the Millennium Stadium
.
The following season, Cropper found himself overlooked, and was finding himself on the bench on a regular basis due to long lay offs with injury and the performances of the club's other forwards. In February 2004 he signed on loan with Non-League club Gainsborough Trinity
, in a month that saw him net once in five appearances at The Northolme
. He returned to Lincoln after his month and was subject to another loan offer, this time from Scarborough
, but he rejected the chance to play for Scarborough in favour of a permanent switch to local rivals Boston United
. Cropper played five times for Boston and scored once but suffered a serious knee injury towards the end of the season which prompted his release from the club.
Upon returning to the game Cropper turned down a move to King's Lynn
before re-joining former club Worksop Town. He made a move to Matlock Town
in September 2005 for an undisclosed fee.
External links
Cropper was a produce of the youth setup at Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
and signed professional terms with The Owls in August 2000, a few months prior to the clubs relegation from the Premier League. He would only make the reserve team that season, and although he was offered a new deal he left the club on free transfer in the summer of 2002.
During the 2001–02 season Cropper signed on loan for Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
, He notched up a decent scoring rate for them, netting ten goals in twenty games.
Lincoln City
On 10 May 2002, Cropper along with Ben FutcherBen Futcher
Benjamin Paul "Ben" Futcher is an English professional footballer currently playing for Mansfield Town on loan from Bury. He notably played for Lincoln City between 2002 and 2005 where he played in two play-off finals...
became Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
manager Keith Alexander
Keith Alexander (footballer)
Keith Alexander was a Saint Lucian footballer and manager. Born in Nottingham, England, he was the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town at the time of his death, in a career that included international appearances for Saint Lucia. Alexander played for a whole host of lower league football...
's first signings of his second spell in charge at Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
. He made his Football league debut in the club's 1-1 opening day draw at Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
on 10 August 2002, though this was marred when, seven minutes from time, referee Phil Crossley deemed his challenge on Abdou Sall
Abdou Sall
Abdou Ahmed Sall is a Senegalese footballer, who currently plays for Altona 93.-Career:He played for Forest Green Rovers of the Nationwide Conference in the 2005-6 season...
unfair and, following an earlier booking for dissent, dismissed him for two bookings. His home debut, three days later, was a far happier affair as he notched his first goal for the club in a 2-0 victory over Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. Cropper had a good season with Lincoln, but failed to score as many goals as his play deseved in a season which saw him and his team lose out in the playoff finals at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
.
The following season, Cropper found himself overlooked, and was finding himself on the bench on a regular basis due to long lay offs with injury and the performances of the club's other forwards. In February 2004 he signed on loan with Non-League club Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
, in a month that saw him net once in five appearances at The Northolme
The Northolme
The Northolme is a multi-use stadium in Gainsborough, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Gainsborough Trinity F.C....
. He returned to Lincoln after his month and was subject to another loan offer, this time from Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
, but he rejected the chance to play for Scarborough in favour of a permanent switch to local rivals Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
. Cropper played five times for Boston and scored once but suffered a serious knee injury towards the end of the season which prompted his release from the club.
Upon returning to the game Cropper turned down a move to King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
before re-joining former club Worksop Town. He made a move to Matlock Town
Matlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
in September 2005 for an undisclosed fee.
External links