Former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley has opened up on making his professional debut against Liverpool— only to be playing Sunday league soccer a few days later.
In the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, Gary Neville and the panel spoke to Crossley about his career. He played 432 senior games in his career and has since moved into coaching.
"I made my debut against Liverpool through a little bit of luck, really," Crossley said. "The first team keeper, Steve Sutton, had gone down with a virus — it was a night game, so he couldn’t play.
"Hans Segers was on loan at Wimbledon, and then we got a couple more [goalkeepers] a little older than me that probably weren’t good enough.
"I was coming through the reserves well. So, I’ve played against Liverpool.
"The following Saturday, we had Newcastle away but had now trained all week. I thought I was going to play, but he kept me in, and we won the game. The following Saturday, I kept my place, and we beat Coventry in the FA Cup.
"After the game against Coventry, I felt that I had finished my time in the first team, and I turned to the lads and thanked them for the best 10 days of my life.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Fanatics Official Sports Apparel — Liverpool
"As I was about to leave, Brian Clough asked to see him at his house the following morning, at 9am, and that I had to bring my boots and gloves.
"Long story short, his son, Simon Clough, was the manager of a team in the Derbyshire Sunday League. And they hadn’t had a goalkeeper.
"So, I’ve gone to his house with my boots and gloves not knowing what’s happening. His wife, Barbara, answers the door, ‘Come on in, Brian’s upstairs.’
"So, Brian Clough comes in the kitchen, and he says, ‘Thank you for agreeing to play for Simon’s team this morning. They haven’t got a goalkeeper, and I thought you’d do.
"So, I ended up playing for his son's Sunday league team — Coventry the day before — playing as a ringer. I hardly ever touched the ball. It was just a bring you back to earth type of thing.
"And the team got fined a record fine for playing a ringer, which was me. They got points taken off them.
"They got fined 50 quid — and Cloughie took the 50 quid out of my wages! He made me pay the fine."