Former Aston Villa legend Alex Cropley discovered driving a taxi in Edinburgh
July 25 2012
Alex Cropley driving his cab in Edinburgh and right, in his Aston Villa playing days
It was the moment devoted Aston Villa fan Brian Sigston had waited a lifetime for.
There in the driving seat of the Edinburgh taxi was Holte End legend Alex Cropley, the fearless fans’ favourite who marshalled Villa’s midfield from 1976 to 1980.
Brian’s quest to meet his idol is Birmingham’s own twist on the movie Looking For Eric, the tale of one man’s hunt for Manchester United legend Cantona.
Cropley was dubbed ‘Braveheart’ by the Villa faithful. He paid a high price for that do-or-die approach to the game, suffering two broken legs, fractured ankle and undergoing two cartilage operations.
Brian, brought up in Newtown but now living in Northampton, has partner Jo Elijah to thank for finding Cropley
After a fruitless search, Jo found a football blog which revealed the Scottish player is now driving a black cab north of the border. It was then simply a matter of ringing the many Edinburgh taxi firms.
Cropley. who played in Villa’s 1977 League Cup final victory, was everything 66-year-old Brian expected him to be: modest, kind and courteous.
“I was like a stammering kid. I couldn’t believe I was speaking to my all-time hero," said Brian.
"He was so humble. I asked him, ‘did you actually realise how good you were?’. He replied, ‘not really, all I wanted to do was play football’.”
Jo, 52, was also bowled over by the 61-year-old star whose career was cruelly cut short by injury.
She said: “He was the most charming, fabulous guy. When you think of some of the footballers nowadays who are puffed up and spend money like there’s no tomorrow...”
Brian, a former semi-pro with Paget Rangers, styled himself on Cropley.
“He’s always been my favourite player of all-time,” said the former decorator. “The bravery of the man when he went for a tackle. He went in no-holds barred at the risk of his own career.
“He would die for the shirt – what a man to have in your trench. In today’s money he’d be worth millions.”
The pair chatted over coffee at a department store. And Cropley, who also played for Arsenal, Newcastle and Edinburgh side Hibernian, signed memorabilia, including his testimonial match programme, for his super-fan.
What’s more, they’ve chatted over the phone since that meeting.
Brian added: “During our conversation, the love he had for Villa and the supporters was very evident.
“He said that from day one, he was made very welcome and felt like he’d definitely made the right move.”
Brian now wants the former Scottish international honoured by his old club.
“I am hoping that there is some kind of Hall of Fame at Villa Park because this man’s name should be right up there.
“He should be honoured not only for his exceptional skills but also because, as a professional footballer, he paid the ultimate price with a broken leg for the cause.”
Source; http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... -31465960/