Hibs legend Alex Cropley has died aged 75.
The son of former Aldershot favourite Jack Cropley, he spent six seasons with Hibs and was a Scottish League Cup winner, and twice Drybrough Cup winner with the ‘Turnbull Tornadoe’s’ in the early 70s.
He also scored in the ‘Greatest game in History’ on New Year’s Day 1973.
Alex could have won more honours but suffered a broken ankle in a challenge by Alex Ferguson in a game against Falkirk which kept him out of the 1972 Scottish Cup final against Celtic.
Along with Bob Wilson of Arsenal, he became the first players born in England to represent the full Scottish side when they were selected to play against Portugal in the European Championship qualifier at Hampden in October 1971.
Kenny Dalglish also made his debut that night from the bench.
Nicknamed Sodjer a Easter Road, he joined Arsenal for £150,000 in December 1974 and despite the Gunners having won the double two years earlier, he always maintained that the Hibs side he left had better players.
At Highbury, he suffered two broken legs and scored five goals in 30 First Division games before joining Aston Villa for £125,000 in September 1976.
At Villa he won the League Cup in 1977 and later joined Newcastle before moving to Canada, where he featured in the North American Soccer League for Toronto Blizzard. He ended his playing career at Portsmouth in 1982 and later became a taxi driver and running Cropley’s Bar in Portobello,
In 2013 his biography ‘Crops: The Alex Cropley Story’ written with club historian Tom Wright was launched at an emotional evening inside the Famous Five Stand and many of his team mates attended along with a number of fans from the Arsenal Supporters Association.
In 2017 he was inducted into the Hibernian FC Hall of Fame.
In 2020 Alex was sadly diagnosed with dementia.
The news was announced on social media by Dawn Astle, founder of the Jeff Astle foundation which campaigns to raise awareness of and fund research into the causes and effect of brain injuries in elite sport.
Her post read: “I am very saddened to say that former Hibs, Arsenal, and Aston Villa player Alex Cropley has been diagnosed with dementia. My thoughts are with Alex, Liz and all the family.”
Hibernan FC posted the following message online: “Everyone at Hibernian FC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hibs legend Alex Cropley, at the age of 75.
“A member of the Hibs Hall of Fame, Alex made 199 appearances for the Club and was an instrumental part of the iconic ‘Turnbull’s Tornadoes’ side that won the League Cup in 1972.
“Cropley scored 49 goals for Hibs, including the fourth in our 0-7 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle on New Year’s Day 1973. Rest in peace, Alex”
