{{short description|English footballer (born 2000)}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Jordan Cropper | image = File:Jordan Cropper 29032025.jpg | upright = 0.9 | caption = Cropper in 2025 | full_name = Jordan Geoffrey Cropper | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|5|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Nottingham, England | height = | position = Right back | currentclub = Boston United | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2016–2017 | youthclubs1 = Ilkeston | youthyears2 = 2017–2020 | youthclubs2 = Burnley | years1 = 2016–2017 | clubs1 = Ilkeston | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2020–2021 | clubs2 = Burnley | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2020 | clubs3 = → Chesterfield (loan) | caps3 = 8 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2020–2021 | clubs4 = → Chesterfield (loan) | caps4 = 12 | goals4 = 2 | years5 = 2022–2023 | clubs5 = Grimsby Town | caps5 = 10 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2023 | clubs6 = → Barnet (loan) | caps6 = 7 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2023–2025 | clubs7 = Barnet | caps7 = 54 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2025– | clubs8 = Boston United | caps8 = 0 | goals8 = 0 | club-update = 22:20, 9 May 2025 (UTC) }} '''Jordan Geoffrey Cropper''' (born 12 May 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Boston United.
Cropper 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.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=traviscomery|number=813453873377636352|title= Proud of my bro @jordancropper_7 to make his @IlkestonFC first team debut at 16 today! 👊🏽❤️}}</ref>
===Burnley=== In March 2017 he joined Premier League side Burnley as an academy player.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.longeatonutd.co.uk/news/meet-new-long-eaton-united-manager-steve-welsh-1885735.html|title=Meet new Long Eaton United manager Steve Welsh|website=www.longeatonutd.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uptheclarets.com/cropper-puts-pen-to-paper-on-first-pro-deal|title=Cropper puts pen to paper on first pro deal|first=Tony|last=Scholes|date=April 18, 2019}}</ref> In September 2017 he scored a hattrick for the under-18's in a game against Sheffield Wednesday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/burnley-u18s-3-sheffield-wednesday-u18s-1|title=Burnley U18s 3 Sheffield Wednesday U18s 1|website=Burnley Football Club}}</ref>
In April 2019, Cropper signed his first professional contract.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/cropper-signs-pro-deal|title=Cropper Signs Pro Deal|website=Burnley Football Club}}</ref> On 10 January 2020, Cropper joined Chesterfield on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/striker-turned-defender-and-long-throw-specialist-everything-you-need-know-about-chesterfields-new-signing-jordan-cropper-premier-league-burnley-1361487|title=Striker-turned-defender and long-throw specialist: Everything you need to know about Chesterfield's new signing Jordan Cropper from Premier League Burnley|website=www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk |date=10 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/cropper-joins-the-spireites|title=Cropper Joins The Spireites|website=Burnley Football Club}}</ref>
On 20 August 2020, Chesterfield announced they had re-signed Cropper on a season-long loan,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/im-happy-be-back-jordan-cropper-rejoins-chesterfield-season-loan-burnley-2948658|title="I'm happy to be back" - Jordan Cropper rejoins Chesterfield on season loan from Burnley|website=www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk |date=20 August 2020 }}</ref> although Burnley recalled him on 13 January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/burnley-recall-jordan-cropper-loan-spell-chesterfield-3094363|title=Burnley recall Jordan Cropper from loan spell at Chesterfield|website=www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk |date=13 January 2021 }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/cropper-burnley-injury-grimsby-town-6866172|title=Jordan Cropper opens up on injury hell as Grimsby Town debutant hits milestone|newspaper=Grimsbylive |date=March 28, 2022|via=www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk}}</ref> At the end of the 2020–21 season, Cropper was released by Burnley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/new-deals-for-under-23s|title=New Deals For Under-23s|website=Burnley Football Club}}</ref>
===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."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gtfc.co.uk/cropper-signs-until-end-of-the-season/|title=Cropper Signs Until End Of The Season - Grimsby Town Football Club|date=March 25, 2022|website=gtfc.co.uk}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/grimsby-town-fitness-boost-rotation-6954349|title=Grimsby Town handed injury boost as Paul Hurst hints at squad rotation|newspaper=Grimsbylive |date=April 14, 2022|via=www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61560268|title=Grimsby end Wrexham's play-off dreams in thriller|work=BBC Sport }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/grimsby-town-promoted-league-two-7168076|title=Grimsby Town complete remarkable fairytale as Solihull comeback earns promotion|newspaper=Grimsbylive |date=June 5, 2022|via=www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk}}</ref> Cropper signed a new one-year contract with the Mariners ahead of their first season back in the Football League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gtfc.co.uk/cropper-stays/|title=Cropper Stays! - Grimsby Town Football Club|date=June 28, 2022|website=gtfc.co.uk}}</ref>
In March 2023, he joined Barnet on loan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.barnetfc.com/jordan-cropper-signs-for-the-bees/|title=Jordan Cropper signs for the Bees|date=March 11, 2023|website=barnetfc.com}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65439157|title=Barnet 1-2 Boreham Wood|work=BBC Sport |date=May 2, 2023}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gtfc.co.uk/mariners-retained-list-confirmed/|title=Mariners retained list confirmed - Grimsby Town Football Club|date=May 9, 2023}}</ref>
===Barnet=== On 28 October 2023, Cropper re-signed for Barnet.,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.barnetfc.com/jordan-cropper-signs-for-barnet-fc|title=Jordan Cropper signs for the Bees|date=October 28, 2023|website=barnetfc.com}}</ref> for whom he won the National League title with in the 2024/25 season. Including his loan spell, Cropper played 75 times for the Bees.
=== Boston United === Cropper joined Boston United for the 2025-26 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonunited.co.uk/news/promotionwinning-cropper-signs-for-the-pilgrims-2920249.html|title=Promotion-winning Cropper signs for the Pilgrims|website=www.bostonunited.co.uk}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paul-hurst-shows-faith-new-7266181 | title=Paul Hurst hands new deal to Grimsby Town play-off hero Jordan Cropper | newspaper=Grimsbylive | date=28 June 2022 }}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|end of 2024-25 season}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- ! rowspan=2 | Club ! rowspan=2 | Season ! colspan=3 | League ! colspan=2 | FA Cup ! colspan=2 | EFL Cup ! colspan=2 | Other ! colspan=2 | Total |- ! Division ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals |- |rowspan="1"|Ilkeston |2016–17<ref name="sw">{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/jordan-cropper/529541/|title=Summary - Jordan Cropper - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com}}</ref> |NPL Premier Division |1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||1||0 |- |rowspan="1"|Chesterfield (loan) |2019–20<ref name="sw"/> |National League |8||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||8||1 |- |rowspan="1"|Chesterfield (loan) |2020–21<ref name="sw"/> |National League |12||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||12||2 |- |rowspan="3"|Grimsby Town |2021–22<ref name="sw"/> |National League |8||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|Appearances in National League playoffs}}||0||11||0 |- |2022–23<ref name="sw"/> |EFL League Two |2||0||1||0||2||0||2{{efn|name=FLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}||0||7||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !10!!0!!1!!0!!2!!0!!5!!0!!18!!0 |- |rowspan="1"|Barnet (loan) |2022–23<ref name="sw"/> |National League |7||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League playoffs}}||0||9||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Barnet |2023–24<ref name="sw"/> |National League |25||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||5{{efn|Three appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in Middlesex Senior Cup, one appearance in National League playoffs}}||0||33||0 |- |2024–25<ref name="sw"/> |National League |29||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=FAT|Appearances in FA Trophy}}||0||33||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !54!!0!!5!!0!!0!!0!!7!!0!!66!!0 |- !colspan=3|Career total !92||3||6||0||2||0||14||0||114||3 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== '''Grimsby Town''' *National League play-offs: 2022{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}
'''Barnet''' *National League: 2024–25<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=2111 |title=National League: 2024/25: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=5 May 2025}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=344&teamTabs=stats&season_id=157 |title=Barnet: Squad details: 2024/25 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=5 May 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Boston United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cropper, Jordan}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Nottingham Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Ilkeston F.C. players Category:Burnley F.C. players Category:Chesterfield F.C. players Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players Category:Barnet F.C. players Category:Boston United F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Northern Premier League players Category:21st-century English sportsmen