Jordan Cropper
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jordan Geoffrey Cropper | ||
| Date of birth | 12 May 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Nottingham, England | ||
| Position(s) | Right back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Barnet | ||
| Number | 32 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2016–2017 | Ilkeston | ||
| 2017–2020 | Burnley | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2017 | Ilkeston | 1 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Burnley | 0 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Chesterfield (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2020–2021 | → Chesterfield (loan) | 12 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | Grimsby Town | 10 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Barnet (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2023– | Barnet | 25 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:09, 2 May 2024 (UTC) | |||
Jordan Geoffrey Cropper (born 12 May 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League club Barnet.
He initially played for non-league side Ilkeston before joining the Burnley youth academy. He signed his first professional contract in 2019 and spent two spells on loan with Chesterfield. He joined Grimsby Town on a permanent deal and despite only playing a small number of games his long throws assisted the winning goal in the both 2022 National League play-off semi final over Wrexham and the subsequent final against Solihull Moors. He has also spent time on loan with Barnet.
Career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Born in Nottingham, Cropper came through the youth ranks at Derbyshire-based non-league side Ilkeston initially playing as a striker, making his first team debut at the age of 16 in a Northern Premier League game against Mickleover Sports on Boxing Day 2016.[1]
Burnley
[edit]In March 2017 he joined Premier League side Burnley as an academy player.[2][3] In September 2017 he scored a hattrick for the under-18's in a game against Sheffield Wednesday.[4]
In April 2019, Cropper signed his first professional contract.[5] On 10 January 2020, Cropper joined Chesterfield on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.[6][7]
On 20 August 2020, Chesterfield announced they had re-signed Cropper on a season-long loan,[8] although Burnley recalled him on 13 January 2021.[9]
Cropper underwent surgery on his hamstring, that was initially expected to see him miss 4 to 5 months but ended up being absent for 9 months.[10] At the end of the 2020–21 season, Cropper was released by Burnley.[11]
Grimsby Town
[edit]On 25 March 2022, following a trial at the club Cropper joined National League side Grimsby Town on an initial two-month deal until the end of the season. Manager Paul Hurst mentioned “He is a player that has had an injury and is the reason why he has been in on trial. He hasn't managed to secure something at other clubs but I am happy to have him on board."[12]
Following an injury to regular right-back Michee Efete, Cropper had an extended run in the first team during the final months of the season.[13] On 28 May, Grimsby defeated Wrexham 4-5 away from home in the play-off semi final. A long throw in by Cropper connected with Luke Waterfall who headed home the winner in the 119th minute after the game had gone to extra time.[14] In the final at the London Stadium, Cropper again assisted the winner in extra time with another long throw in that resulted in Jordan Maguire-Drew scoring at the back post to send Grimsby back to the Football League at the first time of asking.[15] Cropper signed a new one-year contract with the Mariners ahead of their first season back in the Football League.[16]
In March 2023, he joined Barnet on loan.[17] For a second consecutive season Cropper was involved in the National League play-offs as he was part of the Barnet side that was defeated 2-1 by Boreham Wood.[18]
On 9 May 2023, it was announced that Cropper would not be retained for the 2023–24 season and would be leaving the club when his contract expires on 30 June.[19]
Barnet
[edit]On 28 October 2023, Cropper re-signed for Barnet.[20]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of end of 2023-24 season
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ilkeston | 2016–17[21] | NPL Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Chesterfield (loan) | 2019–20[21] | National League | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| Chesterfield (loan) | 2020–21[21] | National League | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | |
| Grimsby Town | 2021–22[21] | National League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[21] | EFL League Two | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Barnet (loan) | 2022–23[21] | National League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Barnet | 2023–24[21] | National League | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 5[d] | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| Career total | 63 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 81 | 3 | ||
- ^ Appearances in National League playoffs
- ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
- ^ One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League playoffs
- ^ Three appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in Middlesex Senior Cup, one appearance in National League playoffs
Style of play
[edit]Cropper specialises at long throw ins which played a big part of Grimsby's promotion back to the Football League in 2022.[22]
Honours
[edit]Grimsby Town
- National League play-off winners: 2022
References
[edit]- ^ @traviscomery (December 26, 2016). "Proud of my bro @jordancropper_7 to make his @IlkestonFC first team debut at 16 today! 👊🏽❤️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Meet new Long Eaton United manager Steve Welsh". www.longeatonutd.co.uk.
- ^ Scholes, Tony (April 18, 2019). "Cropper puts pen to paper on first pro deal".
- ^ "Burnley U18s 3 Sheffield Wednesday U18s 1". Burnley Football Club.
- ^ "Cropper Signs Pro Deal". Burnley Football Club.
- ^ "Striker-turned-defender and long-throw specialist: Everything you need to know about Chesterfield's new signing Jordan Cropper from Premier League Burnley". www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk.
- ^ "Cropper Joins The Spireites". Burnley Football Club.
- ^ ""I'm happy to be back" - Jordan Cropper rejoins Chesterfield on season loan from Burnley". www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk.
- ^ "Burnley recall Jordan Cropper from loan spell at Chesterfield". www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk.
- ^ "Jordan Cropper opens up on injury hell as Grimsby Town debutant hits milestone". Grimsbylive. March 28, 2022 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "New Deals For Under-23s". Burnley Football Club.
- ^ "Cropper Signs Until End Of The Season - Grimsby Town Football Club". gtfc.co.uk. March 25, 2022.
- ^ "Grimsby Town handed injury boost as Paul Hurst hints at squad rotation". Grimsbylive. April 14, 2022 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Grimsby end Wrexham's play-off dreams in thriller". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Grimsby Town complete remarkable fairytale as Solihull comeback earns promotion". Grimsbylive. June 5, 2022 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Cropper Stays! - Grimsby Town Football Club". gtfc.co.uk. June 28, 2022.
- ^ "Jordan Cropper signs for the Bees". barnetfc.com. March 11, 2023.
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65439157 [bare URL]
- ^ https://gtfc.co.uk/mariners-retained-list-confirmed/ [bare URL]
- ^ "Jordan Cropper signs for the Bees". barnetfc.com. October 28, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g https://uk.soccerway.com/players/jordan-cropper/529541/ [bare URL]
- ^ "Paul Hurst hands new deal to Grimsby Town play-off hero Jordan Cropper". Grimsbylive. 28 June 2022.