Boston United have announced the signing of right-back Jordan Cropper ahead of next season, as per the club’s official website.
The 25-year-old is fresh off his second promotion from the fifth tier after being part of Barnet’s title-winning squad this season in addition to winning the playoffs with Grimsby Town in 2022.
Cropper’s Career To Date
Cropper made his senior debut playing as a striker for Ilkeston aged just 16. He was picked up by Burnley in the summer of 2017, but he never made a senior appearance for the Clarets.
The Englishman got his first taste of professional football, this time as a right-back, with Chesterfield as he headed to Derbyshire on loan in January 2020.
After eight impressive appearances for the Spireites, he rejoined the team in the summer of 2020, once again on loan.
The defender suffered from hamstring problems which saw him miss a considerable amount of football in 2021 before being signed by Grimsby Town in March 2022.
He played a vital role for the Mariners as they secured promotion from the National League via the playoffs, his long throw catching many teams by surprise.
The Nottingham-born man struggled for minutes upon Grimsby’s return to the EFL which saw him loaned out to Barnet in March 2023. Again, he played an important, if brief, role in a promotion-chasing National League team.
Cropper joined the Bees on a permanent deal in October 2023, playing 25 National League games as the North London-based side secured a second-placed finish in the 2023/24 season.
This season, the right-back made 30 league appearances for the Bees as they won the National League for a record-breaking fourth time. But, almost all of these appearances came from the bench as he played just 391 minutes in total.
A Sign Of Boston United’s Ambition
Boston United have shown great ambition as a club over the last few months.
When Graham Coughlan was appointed as manager, the Pilgrims were almost cut adrift near the bottom of the National League. But the Irishman guided his team to 19th place after winning 17 of his 33 games in charge.
In March, when his side were very much in the midst of a relegation battle, Boston United chairman Danny Newton released a strong statement saying that the club would be going full-time regardless of what league they were in next season.
Newton made an even bolder comment, saying ‘We do not wish to just ‘stay’ in the National League [next season] – we wish to compete’
A Big Loss For Barnet?
Cropper was one of three players who the Bees listed as having ‘Ongoing Discussions Over A New Contract’ at the end of the season.
Consistent minor injuries over his spell in North London have meant that he has struggled to nail down a regular starting space.
This season, there were points where Danny Collinge and Joe Grimwood, two centre-backs by trade, were preferred by Dean Brennan at right wing-back instead of Cropper.
The 25-year-old started just one league game all campaign, mainly being used as an impact substitute in place of Idris Kanu, who has just signed a new contract with the Bees.
Writer’s View
Cropper’s time at Barnet had come to an end and he has secured himself an excellent move.
The right-back was clearly not trusted by Brennan in the fifth tier, never mind the EFL, where he has never consistently played before.
His fitness remains his biggest question mark. The Englishman has never played over 1,000 minutes in a season in his career, something that will have to change imminently if he wants to continue his success in senior football.
But, Boston United should provide a great home for Cropper. Graham Coughlan is an excellent manager and the Pilgrims could be dark horses in the National League next season.
