George Bartlett, unbeaten on 109 overnight, fell for 134, just three short of his career-best score, while Kasey Aldridge weighed in with 50. Essex tend to pin their hopes on Harmer in these situations, especially after his first-innings five-for. He was introduced in the seventh over. Somerset had shown great fight and grit on the third evening to give Somerset hope of saving a draw, having been bowled out for 167 with a first-innings lead of 295. I was being pursued by Chelsea and Arsenal. Dave Sexton, then the Chelsea coach, came to [former Hibs chairman] Tom Hart's house and asked me to sign. But I told him I couldn't, as I knew of Arsenal's interest. They'd been after me for months. Eddie Turnbull didn't want me to sign for Arsenal. Gordon Clark, the Arsenal scout, who had watched me for months, could not get Eddie to budge.

Tom Westley had earned opening bowlers Sam Cook and Jamie Porter 20 minutes to bowl at Somerset before the lunch break by declaring on 462-9. Fisher, James (15 August 2015). Aston Villa Greatest Games. Durrington: Pitch Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78531-037-9. OCLC 933444712. Gordon Lee’s first League game in charge of Everton had been a 2-0 defeat away to Aston Villa on the 5th February 1977, which meant that they had won both the League encounters. On the day of the final Aston Villa were in fourth place in the table but with games in hand on the clubs above. Everton were in fifteenth position. Although Aston Villa were clearly the bookmaker’s favourites, being quoted at 11/10 by most, Everton under Lee had started to improve, winning five games on the bounce and progressing to the last eight of the F.A. Cup. Left-handed Rew drove at the off-spinner with the edge brilliantly taken at first slip by a full-stretched Sir Alastair Cook. Everton’s devastated players slumped to the floor, many shaking their heads trying to understand what had just happened. Everton fans stayed to applaud their team and then left the stadium in despair. The Aston Villa team joined their fans in an orgy of celebration as they received the cup. A banner displayed in the Villa read “Little Goals Mean a Lot”. It summed up the final.He would die for the shirt – what a man to have in your trench. In today’s money he’d be worth millions.”

Aldridge, who has grown in confidence with the bat this season, went to 50 off 88 balls, but was then bowled by James, having hit five fours. By then Somerset had posted 447-6 and their lead had grown to 424. Bartlett and Rew, who set out on 17, batted confidently through the opening hour, taking few risks and eliminating the errors that had cost Somerset dear in their first innings. Kent were then presented with the sight of James Rew, the highest scorer in the Championship top flight this season, walking to the crease. Things did not improve after lunch with George Bartlett lbw to Porter with the first ball on resumption, having previously survived some close calls while stepping across his stumps. Cropley, Alex; Wright, Tom (2013). Crops: The Alex Cropley Story. Luath Press Ltd. ISBN 978-1908373977.

Traded items with a signature of Alex Cropley

Alexander James Cropley (born 16 January 1951) is a retired footballer who played as a midfielder for Hibernian, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Portsmouth. Born in England, he was capped for the Scotland national team. [3] Career [ edit ] Kohler-Cadmore clubbed four sixes in his 28 from 11 before being caught in the deep off Simon Harmer but Somerset were 106-2 off eight overs. He moved on to Aston Villa two years later, lifting the League Cup in 1977, but another leg break meant he fell out of the side and briefly headed out on loan to Newcastle United. Latterly Tommy was to be found at Easter Road on match days as a guest of the club. He died on 16 April 2015, aged 82. Jeffrey, Jim (2005). The Men Who Made Hibernian F.C. since 1946. Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-3091-2.

Cropley was diagnosed as suffering from dementia in December 2020. [16] He also has an older son, Ross, who played for Aston Villa She said: “He was the most charming, fabulous guy. When you think of some of the footballers nowadays who are puffed up and spend money like there’s no tomorrow...” Andy Umeed also contributed 49 as Somerset added 190 to their overnight 214-2 in an extended morning comprising 32.4 overs. One of the most dramatic features of the past sporting year has been the new look on the faces of three of England's most mercurial sporting heroes: Michael Owen , Jonny Wilkinson and Andrew Flintoff . As younger, uninhibited, uninjured men, each of the three had that sense of fearlessness about their eyes, born of supreme natural talent; they shared an absolute faith in the possibilities of their bodies. Now, having each lost seasons and victories and trophies to pain and boredom, there is something more broken about their look.

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Abell's fifty came in 124 balls but Tom Kohler-Cadmore was lbw to Harmer to the last ball of the day having put on 55 with his captain. After hitting his fifth six Smeed holed out to Walter off Sams for 36 off 16 to make it 64-1 at the start of the sixth over but the onslaught continued. The twice-capped Scotland international would later move to Canada, where he featured in the North American Soccer League for Toronto Blizzard before ending his career at Portsmouth in 1982.