Alex Cropley
| Date of birth | 16 January 1951 |
| Place of birth | Aldershot, England |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Height | 1.73 m |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Died | 26 March 2026 |
With Aston Villa, League Cup winner 1977.
Despite his slender figure, Alex Cropley was a tough tackler in midfield but suffered a succession of injuries while at Arsenal.
In a career blighted by injury, he joined Newcastle United on loan from Aston Villa to regain fitness.
He was one of the rare English-born players to have represented for Scotland.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 01 Dec 1974 | 01 Sep 1978 | |
| Aston Villa | 01 Sep 1978 | 01 Sep 1981 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-75 | Arsenal | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1974-75 | Arsenal | League Division One | 7 | 1 |
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| 1975-76 | Arsenal | League Cup | 2 | 1 |
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| 1975-76 | Arsenal | League Division One | 20 | 4 |
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| 1976-77 | Arsenal | League Division One | 2 | 1 |
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| 1976-77 | Aston Villa | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1976-77 | Aston Villa | League Cup | 7 | ||||
| 1976-77 | Aston Villa | League Division One | 32 | 3 |
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| 1977-78 | Aston Villa | League Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1977-78 | Aston Villa | League Division One | 17 | 2 |
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| 1977-78 | Aston Villa | UEFA Cup | 5 | ||||
| 1978-79 | Aston Villa | League Division One | 15 | 2 |
2 |
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| 1979-80 | Aston Villa | League Division One | 1 | ||||
| 1979-80 | Newcastle United | League Division Two | 3 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 1976 | Aston Villa v Leicester City | W | 2-0 | League Division One | |
| 02 Oct 1976 | Stoke City v Aston Villa | L | 1-0 | League Division One | |
| 16 Oct 1976 | Sunderland v Aston Villa | W | 0-1 | League Division One | |
| 20 Oct 1976 | Aston Villa v Arsenal | W | 5-1 | League Division One | |
| 23 Oct 1976 | Aston Villa v Bristol City | W | 3-1 | League Division One | |
| 27 Oct 1976 | Aston Villa v Wrexham | W | 5-1 | League Cup | 4th round |
| 30 Oct 1976 | Liverpool v Aston Villa | L | 3-0 | League Division One | |
| 06 Nov 1976 | Aston Villa v Manchester United | W | 3-2 | League Division One | |
| 10 Nov 1976 | West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One | |
| 20 Nov 1976 | Aston Villa v Coventry City | D | 2-2 | League Division One | |
| 27 Nov 1976 | Norwich City v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One | |
| 01 Dec 1976 | Aston Villa v Millwall | W | 2-0 | League Cup | Quarter-final |
| 11 Dec 1976 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | W | 1-3 | League Division One | |
| 15 Dec 1976 | Aston Villa v Liverpool | W | 5-1 | League Division One | |
| 18 Dec 1976 | Aston Villa v Newcastle United | W | 2-1 | League Division One | |
| 01 Jan 1977 | Manchester United v Aston Villa | L | 2-0 | League Division One | |
| 08 Jan 1977 | Leicester City v Aston Villa | W | 0-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 22 Jan 1977 | West Ham United v Aston Villa | W | 0-1 | League Division One | |
| 01 Feb 1977 | Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | League Cup | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 05 Feb 1977 | Aston Villa v Everton | W | 2-0 | League Division One | |
| 12 Feb 1977 | Ipswich Town v Aston Villa | L | 1-0 | League Division One | |
| 16 Feb 1977 | Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers | D |
2-2 Agg: 2-2 |
League Cup | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 22 Feb 1977 | Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers | W | 3-0 | League Cup | Semi-final replay |
| 26 Feb 1977 | Aston Villa v Port Vale | W | 3-0 | FA Cup | 5th round |
| 12 Mar 1977 | Everton v Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | League Cup | Final |
| 02 Apr 1977 | Bristol City v Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | League Division One | |
| 05 Apr 1977 | Aston Villa v Middlesbrough | W | 1-0 | League Division One | |
| 09 Apr 1977 | Derby County v Aston Villa | L | 2-1 | League Division One | |
| 13 Apr 1977 | Aston Villa v Everton | W | 3-2 | League Cup | Final 2nd replay |
| 16 Apr 1977 | Coventry City v Aston Villa | W | 2-3 | League Division One | |
| 20 Apr 1977 | Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur | W | 2-1 | League Division One | |
| 23 Apr 1977 | Aston Villa v Norwich City | W | 1-0 | League Division One | |
| 25 Apr 1977 | Arsenal v Aston Villa | L | 3-0 | League Division One | |
| 30 Apr 1977 | Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa | L | 3-1 | League Division One | |
| 04 May 1977 | Aston Villa v Manchester City | D | 1-1 | League Division One | |
| 07 May 1977 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | W | 2-1 | League Division One | |
| 10 May 1977 | Birmingham City v Aston Villa | L | 2-1 | League Division One | |
| 14 May 1977 | Newcastle United v Aston Villa | L | 3-2 | League Division One | |
| 16 May 1977 | Aston Villa v Stoke City | W | 1-0 | League Division One | |
| 20 May 1977 | Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers | D | 1-1 | League Division One | |
| 23 May 1977 | Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion | W | 4-0 | League Division One | |
| 20 Aug 1977 | Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa | W | 1-2 | League Division One | |
| 24 Aug 1977 | Aston Villa v Manchester City | L | 1-4 | League Division One | |
| 27 Aug 1977 | Aston Villa v Everton | L | 1-2 | League Division One | |
| 31 Aug 1977 | Exeter City v Aston Villa | W | 1-3 | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 03 Sep 1977 | Bristol City v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One | |
| 10 Sep 1977 | Aston Villa v Arsenal | W | 1-0 | League Division One | |
| 14 Sep 1977 | Aston Villa v Fenerbahce | W | 4-0 | UEFA Cup | 1st round 1st leg |
| 17 Sep 1977 | Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa | L | 2-0 | League Division One | |
| 23 Sep 1977 | Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers | W | 2-0 | League Division One | |
| 28 Sep 1977 | Fenerbahce v Aston Villa | W |
0-2 Agg: 0-6 |
UEFA Cup | 1st round 2nd leg |
| 01 Oct 1977 | Aston Villa v Birmingham City | L | 0-1 | League Division One | |
| 05 Oct 1977 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One | |
| 08 Oct 1977 | Leicester City v Aston Villa | W | 0-2 | League Division One | |
| 15 Oct 1977 | Aston Villa v Norwich City | W | 3-0 | League Division One | |
| 19 Oct 1977 | Aston Villa v Górnik Zabrze | W | 2-0 | UEFA Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 22 Oct 1977 | West Ham United v Aston Villa | D | 2-2 | League Division One | |
| 26 Oct 1977 | Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers | W | 1-0 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 29 Oct 1977 | Aston Villa v Manchester United | W | 2-1 | League Division One | |
| 02 Nov 1977 | Górnik Zabrze v Aston Villa | D |
1-1 Agg: 1-3 |
UEFA Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 05 Nov 1977 | Liverpool v Aston Villa | W | 1-2 | League Division One | |
| 12 Nov 1977 | Aston Villa v Middlesbrough | L | 0-1 | League Division One | |
| 19 Nov 1977 | Chelsea v Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | League Division One | |
| 23 Nov 1977 | Aston Villa v Athletic Bilbao | W | 2-0 | UEFA Cup | 3rd round 1st leg |
| 29 Nov 1977 | Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa | L | 4-2 | League Cup | 4th round |
| 10 Dec 1977 | Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion | W | 3-0 | League Division One | |
| 09 Dec 1978 | Chelsea v Aston Villa | W | 0-1 | League Division One | |
| 31 Jan 1979 | Everton v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One | |
| 07 Mar 1979 | Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers | W | 3-0 | League Division One | |
| 10 Mar 1979 | Middlesbrough v Aston Villa | L | 2-0 | League Division One | |
| 04 Apr 1979 | Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa | L | 4-0 | League Division One | |
| 07 Apr 1979 | Coventry City v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One | |
| 11 Apr 1979 | Aston Villa v Derby County | D | 3-3 | League Division One | |
| 14 Apr 1979 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | L | 1-0 | League Division One | |
| 16 Apr 1979 | Aston Villa v Liverpool | W | 3-1 | League Division One | |
| 21 Apr 1979 | Norwich City v Aston Villa | W | 1-2 | League Division One | |
| 25 Apr 1979 | Aston Villa v Arsenal | W | 5-1 | League Division One | |
| 28 Apr 1979 | Aston Villa v Chelsea | W | 2-1 | League Division One | |
| 02 May 1979 | Aston Villa v Ipswich Town | D | 2-2 | League Division One | |
| 05 May 1979 | Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | League Division One | |
| 08 May 1979 | Liverpool v Aston Villa | L | 3-0 | League Division One | |
| 11 May 1979 | Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion | L | 0-1 | League Division One | |
| 15 May 1979 | Manchester City v Aston Villa | W | 2-3 | League Division One | |
| 22 Aug 1979 | Aston Villa v Brighton and Hove Albion | W | 2-1 | League Division One | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-72 | Scotland | UEFA European Championship | 2 | ||||
| 1971-72 | Scotland | Under-23 | 1 | ||||
| 1972-73 | Scotland | Under-23 | 1 | ||||
| 1973-74 | Scotland | Under-23 | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 1971 | Scotland v Portugal | W | 2-1 | UEFA European Championship | Group 5 |
| 10 Nov 1971 | Scotland v Belgium | W | 1-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 5 |
| 26 Jan 1972 | Scotland v Wales | W | 2-0 | Under-23 | |
| 13 Feb 1973 | Scotland v England | L | 1-2 | Under-23 | |
| 27 Feb 1974 | Scotland v Wales | W | 3-0 | Under-23 | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.