Alex Cribley

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Alex Cribley
Personal information
Full name Alexander Cribley [1]
Date of birth (1957-04-01) 1 April 1957 (age 68)
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) [2]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1978–1980 Liverpool 0 (0)
1980–1988 Wigan Athletic 272 (16)
Managerial career
1995 Wigan Athletic
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander Cribley (born 1 April 1957) is an English former footballer who played as a central defender. He spent the majority of his playing career at Wigan Athletic, and made over 250 appearances for the club. He was part of the staff at Wigan, working as a physiotherapist. He was part of the team that won the Associate Members' Cup in 1985.

Contents

Playing career

Cribley began his career at Liverpool, but was released without making a first-team appearance. [3] He was offered a trial by Wigan Athletic in October 1980, and was given a chance to play for the first team following an injury to Neil Davids. [4] He made his debut against AFC Bournemouth in November 1980, and went on to make 30 league appearances during his first season at the club. He then helped the club win promotion to the Third Division in the 1981–82 season. [5] In April 1983, Cribley scored his first goal for Wigan in a 3–1 win against Wrexham. [6]

Cribley played in Wigan's 3–1 victory over Brentford in the final of the 1984–85 Associate Members' Cup. [7] In 1986, he was appointed as Wigan Athletic's captain, [8] and also became the club's regular penalty taker, scoring 10 times from the spot during the 1986–87 season.

In October 1987, Cribley played his final game for the club against Sunderland, in which he suffered a serious ankle injury. Following medical advice, he eventually announced his retirement the following summer. [9] [10] During his eight seasons playing for the club, he made over 300 appearances in all competitions, scoring 18 goals. [5]

Post-playing

After ending his playing career, Cribley remained on the coaching staff at Wigan, eventually becoming the club's physiotherapist. He was granted a testimonial game by Wigan, which was played against Everton in May 1990. [11]

In October 1995, he briefly served as caretaker manager for Wigan, following the departure of Graham Barrow.

Cribley left the club in 2015, ending a 35-year association with Wigan Athletic. [12]

References

  1. ↑ "Alex Cribley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  2. ↑ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 392. ISBN   978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. ↑ "Reds' trio all set for move" . Liverpool Echo. 23 June 1980. p. 16 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "Cribley Trials" . Liverpool Daily Post. 31 October 1980. p. 18 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. 1 2 "Latics Matchpack 11 - Icon-Tic". Wigan Athletic. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Wrexham hit by backlash" . Liverpool Daily Post. 5 April 1983. p. 28 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ "FREIGHT ROVER 85 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?". wiganathletic.com. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  8. ↑ "Latics to roll out success barrel" . Wigan Evening Post. 4 August 1986 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ↑ "The tackle etched on Alex's memory" . Wigan Observer. 18 October 1990. p. 52 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ↑ "Been There Done That" . Wigan Observer. 17 June 2003. p. 64 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ "Everton (H) - Friendly - Sunday 6th May 1990". Wigan Athletic Heritage Project. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Farrimond, Greg; Kendrick, Paul (10 July 2015). "Wigan Athletic part company with Alex Cribley" . Wigan Evening Post – via NewsBank.
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