Former international football player and current goalkeeping coach, Mark Crossley has played for a variety of England’s top-flight teams including Nottingham Forest and Manchester United. At Nottingham Forest he played under legendary manager Brian Clough who he frequently talks about in his after dinners. Mark made eight appearances for the Welsh national team where he displayed his incredible skill and ability as a goalkeeper to the entire world. Having also ventured into a managing career, Crossley has what it takes to deliver speeches surrounding leadership, effective teamwork skills and achieving peak performance.
Mark Crossley is a former Wales international football goalkeeper, who played for Chesterfield in League Two as a Player and Coach. He is the only goalkeeper to stop a Matthew Le Tissier penalty kick.
Beginnings
Mark Crossley started his football career in 1987 as a trainee with Nottingham Forest FC. He had a loan spell at Manchester United during the 1989-90 season but was never selected for the first team, although he played several games for the reserves.He was a huge favourite with the fans, despite being prone to occasional mistakes, and made just under 400 appearances in thirteen years with the club, becoming first-choice ‘keeper at the start of the 1990-91 season. He has a great ability to save penalty kicks as he remains one of the only three goalkeepers to save a penalty in the FA Cup Final, against Gary Lineker in 1991.He was granted a testimonial match during the 1999–2000 season by Nottingham Forest, which was played in front of 15,000 supporters. He was finally released from Forest, against his will, in 2000 as the club’s financial troubles required them to reduce the wage bill.Mark joined Middlesbrough on a free transfer to provide competition as well as cover for the number one spot at the club. He made only 23 appearances in three years for Middlesbrough. Frustrated by not playing many games at Middlesbrough, Mark joined Fulham for £500,000 in 2003 and made his debut against Wigan Athletic.He was mainly the second-choice goalkeeper during his time at the club, although he did have more opportunities to play in the first team during the 2005–06 season due to the sale of former number 1 goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.Former team mate and Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws made Mark his first signing in November 2006, bringing him in on loan. Mark impressed, with a string of fine performances and the loan deal was extended to the end of the season. After being released by Fulham at the end of the 2006–07 season, Mark signed for League One side Oldham Athletic. He also took a coaching role at the club. He played most of the games available, despite being injured for 6 games in March.Mark signed a one year extension to his current contract, he was contracted at Latics until the end of the 2008–09 season. After the final game of the season, the club reported that he and an assistant coach had parted with the club. In the summer of 2009 he joined Chesterfield as player and coach as part of John Sheridan’s new coaching team.Mark was a regular in the Welsh international squad, but served as understudy to Neville Southall, and then Paul Jones. He started only eight games. His most memorable moment with the national team was Wales’ 4–0 win over Scotland.
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