William Cropper

William Cropper (* December 27 1862 in Brimington, Derbyshire, † January 13, 1889 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire at that time, today North East Lincolnshire ) was an English sportsman. The football and cricket players Cropper was. Due to the tragic circumstances of his early death to a celebrity of the late Victorian era

Life

William Cropper was born 1862 in Brimington Derbyshire. He earned his living in an iron factory, but was also athletic talented and played both cricket and football. In a total of 60 first-class cricket matches he represented mainly 1882-1888 Derbyshire County Cricket Club and Derby County Football 1886 once. His idiosyncratic style as a starting bowler ( pitcher ) in cricket earned him the nickname " Kangaroo ". In 1888, Cropper played football for the Staveley FC who scored at the time of the most famous football clubs in Derbyshire.

On January 12, 1889, during an away match Staveley at Grimsby Town, Cropper collided with his opponent Dan Boyle. The result was a severe blow by Boyles knee in Croppers abdomen, whereupon Cropper had to leave the pitch. He died a day later from his injuries and was buried in his birthplace of Brimington.

Croppers sudden death was considered in the following period as a shock to the sports world and made him known beyond the borders of Derbyshire addition.