Aston Villa is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player and League Cup winner Alex Cropley, who has died at the age of 75.
The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Alex’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
Cropley was born on January 16, 1951 in Aldershot, where his father was a player, although his family moved to Edinburgh when he was young, and he grew up in the Scottish capital.
He started his professional career with Hibernian in 1968, playing well over 100 games for the Easter Road club and helping them to Scottish League Cup glory in 1972, when they beat Celtic in the final.
He was also capped twice by Scotland during his time with Hibs, before moving back south to sign for Arsenal in December 1974.
Unfortunately, his appearances for the Gunners were severely restricted after he twice broke his leg, and two years later he joined Villa for £125,000, making his debut at home to Leicester City on September 26, 1976.
During his first season at Villa Park, he helped Ron Saunders’ side to a 1977 League Cup triumph against Everton in the famous second replay of the final at Old Trafford.
Aston Villa 1977 League Cup winners
Aston Villa 1977 League Cup winners
(Alex Cropley - sitting on the front row, third from right)
But yet another broken leg, sustained against West Bromwich Albion in December the following season, ruled him out of action for 12 months.
He re-established himself as a regular member of the team by the end of the 1978/79 campaign but was unable to recapture the brilliant form he had displayed before his injury.
His misfortune meant he was limited to 83 Villa appearances and seven goals, yet he is still fondly recalled by supporters from that era as one of the most talented players ever to wear a claret-and-blue shirt.
But for injury, he might easily have been a member of the League Championship-winning squad of 1980/81.
After a brief spell on loan to Newcastle United, Cropley moved to Canada in March 1981 to play for Toronto Blizzard, returning in September that year to finish his career at Portsmouth.
Rest in Peace, Alex.
[AdvertAdvert](https://tickets.avfc.co.uk/en-GB/categories/home-tickets?utm_source=Web &utm_medium=Display&utm_content=&utm_campaign=Tickets_Europa_Bologna)