My first recollection of Crossan was in January 1964 when he ripped City apart playing for Sunderland .
A few years earlier, he received a life ban from Football for trying to force a move from Derry City to English football. This ban was partially lifted on appeal but he could not play in England and went to Sparta Rotterdam and Standard Liége. Eventually the moronic ban was lifted and Crossan moved to Sunderland.
Simon Burnton: Banned for 'life' in 1959, the former Northern Ireland forward can consider himself the most harshly treated footballer of all time
www.theguardian.com
Meanwhile City were toiling in Division Two and losing money. A director suggested that this could not continue and that players would be sold. Back then the family spent Christmas in Shropshire. I decided to get a supporters bus to watch Wolves play on Boxing Day. I arrived at the match to hear Wolves announce their new signing of David Wagstaffe from City (my favourite player at the time).
City had obviously timed the sale for the Christmas Holiday to limit the backlash. For whatever reason, City went on to sign Crossan in January as a replacement. He soon became a firm fan’s favourite and was a crucial player in the promotion season and the first year in the First Division.
But for the injuries he suffered in a car crash, Crossan could well have been a key figure in City’s title win in 1967-68. Instead he moved to Middlesbrough.
