| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gerard Michael Crossley | ||
| Date of birth | 5 February 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Belfast, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rosario | |||
| 1994–1996 | Celtic Boys Club | ||
| 1996–1999 | Celtic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2000 | Hamilton Academical | 17 | (1) |
| 2000–2001 | Galway United | 43 | (2) |
| 2001 | Shelbourne | 1 | (0) |
| 2002–2005 | Cliftonville | 26 | (3) |
| 2006–2007 | Larne | 8 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1995 | Northern Ireland U15 | ||
| Republic of Ireland U16 | |||
| Republic of Ireland U18 | |||
| 1999 | Republic of Ireland U20 | ||
| 2000 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gerard Michael Crossley (born 5 February 1980) is an Irish football coach and former player.
Crossley joined Celtic at youth level and made a first team debut in May 1996, as a substitute in Celtic's 3–0 defeat by a Republic of Ireland XI in Mick McCarthy's testimonial match at Lansdowne Road, Dublin. [1] [2]
In November 1998 Crossley was an unused substitute in Celtic's 4–2 defeat by FC Zürich at Letzigrund in the 1998–99 UEFA Cup second round. [3] He was among 11 young players to be released by the club in May 1999. [4]
Crossley spent preseason training with Derby County, then signed a one-month contract with Grimsby Town on 4 August 1999. [5] In October 1999 Crossley returned to Scotland to join Hamilton Academical. He made 17 appearances in the 1999–2000 Scottish Second Division, scoring one goal. [6] [7]
In April 2000 the Hamilton players voted to strike over unpaid wages, failing to fulfil a fixture at Stenhousemuir which incurred a 15-point deduction and ensured relegation to the Scottish Football League Third Division. [8] Crossley left the club in a subsequent player "exodus". [9]
In July 2000 Crossley agreed a two-year contract with Galway United of the League of Ireland Premier Division. Coach Don O'Riordan enthused: "Ger's a player of immense calibre". [10]
Crossley was ruled out for at least six months with a back injury in June 2003. [11] In July 2004 Crossley broke his leg in a pre-season game while attempting to come back after missing 18 months with the previous injury. [12]
In 1995 while attending De La Salle College, Belfast, Crossley made 11 appearances for the Northern Ireland national schoolboy team, including at the Victory Shield. [13]
Crossley switched to playing for the Republic of Ireland and featured at the 1996 UEFA European Under-16 Championship. He became a valued player in Brian Kerr's national youth teams which won the 1998 edition of the UEFA European Under-18 Championship and finished third in 1999. [14] [15]
He also played at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria and won one cap for the Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team in April 2000.
In May 1998 Crossley was selected by Mick McCarthy in the senior Republic of Ireland squad for a home friendly against Mexico, [16] but did not participate in the match. He did make a substitute appearance for Ireland in Paul McGrath's testimonial against a Jack Charlton XI on 16 May 1998. [17]
When Marty Tabb was named the new manager of Donegal Celtic in June 2010, he appointed Crossley and Frankie Wilson to his coaching team. [18] All three departed when Tabb was sacked 74 days later. [19]
Crossley served as Wilson's assistant manager at Bangor from September 2010 and the pair guided the County Down club to the Steel & Sons Cup in December 2011. When both left by mutual consent in January 2013, the club also released their playing registrations. [20]
In 2022 Crossley was the coach of St Oliver Plunkett FC's women's team. [21]
Crossley's brother Jim was murdered by his partner in a domestic violence incident in 2022. [22]
The 12 players who've left are : Chris Reid, Darren Henderson, Steve McCormick, Ian McAulay, Jose Quitongo, Dean Muir, Gerry Crossley, Eddie Cunnington, Bill Davidson, Martin Bonnar, Michael Martin and Ian Ferguson.