Gary Crosby is pictured above playing for Nottingham Forest on Saturday 1st. October 1988.
(Part 1) 1987 -1989.
Little Gary Crosby joined Nottingham Forest in December 1987 on the
recommendation of a man who has gone on to prove himself as no mean
judge of a footballer - Martin O'Neill. Crosby was playing under O'Neill
at non-league Grantham Town when the former Forest star advised Brian
Clough that here was a man who could play at a higher level. Clough
liked what he saw and the waif-like winger was on his way to the City
Ground. Crosby did not have to wait long for his debut as he made an
appearance as a substitute for youngster Lee Glover in a 2-2 draw at
home to Charlton Athletic in January 1988.
He went on to feature in 13
of the remaining 17 League games including a dazzling performance in
Forest's 2-1 win at home to Liverpool where the twinkle-toed winger tore
Liverpool youngster Gary Ablett to shreds. Crosby scored his first goal
for the club in a 3-2 win against Chelsea at the City Ground on and
also netted the only goal of the game in Forest's victory at Birmingham
City in the FA Cup fifth round. Crosby held his place for the
quarter-final meeting with Arsenal as Forest pulled of a splendid 2-1
victory at Highbury and he also played in a 2-1 semi-final defeat
against Liverpool at Hillsborough.
That Liverpool game was played in
front of a crowd of 51, 627 which was rather more than he had been used
to in his Grantham days! The following season Crosby was struck down
with a serious knee injury during the home game with Coventry City in
November and sadly for the diminutive wide-man he was to miss out on
Forest's twin Wembley date. (David Scranage).
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Gary Crosby is here seen playing for Nottingham Forest on Sunday, January 26, 1992.
Photograph George Herringshaw. ©
(Part 2) 1989 - 1994.
Gary Crosby was very much a regular during the 1989/90
season, starting 34 of 38 League games and scoring five goals in the
bargain. One of the goals was particularly memorable as it came in
Forest's 2-1 victory against fierce rivals Derby County at the City
Ground. The tricky winger also bagged three goals on the road to Wembley
as Forest retained the Littlewoods Cup with a 1-0 win against Oldham
Athletic. This time there was to be no Wembley heartbreak for Crosby as
he played the full 90 minutes on the Forest right flank.
The following
season saw Crosby, and Forest, taking a particular liking for Norwich
City with the wide-man scoring in Forest's 6-2 romp at Carrow Road and
also in the return game as the Reds strolled to a 5-0 win at the City
Ground. He was back at Wembley again but this time it was a huge
disappointment as Forest were beaten 2-1 a.e.t. by Tottenham Hotspur in
the FA Cup final. Crosby had netted twice en route to Wembley including
once in a 4-0 semi-final win against West Ham United at Villa Park.
His
other goal came in a remarkable tie against Crystal Palace as the Reds
eventually triumphed 3-0 in a second replay. Forest had their annual
trip to Wembley for the 1992 Rumbelows Cup Final, with Gary once again
featuring, but they went down 1-0 to Manchester United in a rather
disappointing game. Things took a turn for the worst for both club and
player thereafter and Forest were relegated at the end of the 1992-93
season with Crosby scoring his last goal for the Reds in a 1-0 win at
home to Queens Park Rangers. A new manger meant new ideas and Crosby
managed just a handful of appearances under new boss Frank Clark before
moving on to Huddersfield Town in September 1994. (David Scranage)
1987–1994 Nottingham Forest 152 (12)
1993 Grimsby Town (loan) 3 (0)
1994–1997 Huddersfield Town 44 (6)
1997–1998 Rushden and Diamonds 4 (0)
1998 Lincoln United ? (?)
1998–2005 Burton Albion 3 (0)
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