Jordan Cropper

Jordan Cropper

Personal information
Full name	Jordan Geoffrey Cropper
Date of birth	(2000-05-12) 12 May 2000 (age 24)
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

Early career

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

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

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

On 28 October 2023, Cropper re-signed for Barnet. ^[20]

Career statistics

As of end of 2023-24 season

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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

1. Appearances in National League playoffs
2. Appearances in EFL Trophy
3. One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League playoffs
4. Three appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in Middlesex Senior Cup, one appearance in National League playoffs

Style of play

Cropper specialises at long throw ins which played a big part of Grimsby's promotion back to the Football League in 2022. ^[22]

Honours

Grimsby Town

• National League play-off winners: 2022

References

1. @traviscomery (December 26, 2016). "Proud of my bro @jordancropper_7 to make his @IlkestonFC first team debut at 16 today! 👊🏽❤️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
2. "Meet new Long Eaton United manager Steve Welsh". www.longeatonutd.co.uk.
3. Scholes, Tony (April 18, 2019). "Cropper puts pen to paper on first pro deal".
4. "Burnley U18s 3 Sheffield Wednesday U18s 1". Burnley Football Club.
5. "Cropper Signs Pro Deal". Burnley Football Club.
6. "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.
7. "Cropper Joins The Spireites". Burnley Football Club.
8. ""I'm happy to be back" - Jordan Cropper rejoins Chesterfield on season loan from Burnley". www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk.
9. "Burnley recall Jordan Cropper from loan spell at Chesterfield". www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk.
10. "Jordan Cropper opens up on injury hell as Grimsby Town debutant hits milestone". Grimsbylive. March 28, 2022 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
11. "New Deals For Under-23s". Burnley Football Club.
12. "Cropper Signs Until End Of The Season - Grimsby Town Football Club". gtfc.co.uk. March 25, 2022.
13. "Grimsby Town handed injury boost as Paul Hurst hints at squad rotation". Grimsbylive. April 14, 2022 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
14. "Grimsby end Wrexham's play-off dreams in thriller". BBC Sport.
15. "Grimsby Town complete remarkable fairytale as Solihull comeback earns promotion". Grimsbylive. June 5, 2022 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
16. "Cropper Stays! - Grimsby Town Football Club". gtfc.co.uk. June 28, 2022.
17. "Jordan Cropper signs for the Bees". barnetfc.com. March 11, 2023.
18. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65439157 ^{[ bare URL ]}
19. https://gtfc.co.uk/mariners-retained-list-confirmed/ ^{[ bare URL ]}
20. "Jordan Cropper signs for the Bees". barnetfc.com. October 28, 2023.
21. https://uk.soccerway.com/players/jordan-cropper/529541/ ^{[ bare URL ]}
22. "Paul Hurst hands new deal to Grimsby Town play-off hero Jordan Cropper". Grimsbylive. 28 June 2022.