Sunday 13th February 2011
by Karen Johnson and Paul Fisher
His career in football has spanned over 20 years and 21 managers and now Mark Crossley, aka Norm, is about to publish the inside story of his journey on and off the pitch.
 His autobiography 'Big Norm, the Mark Crossley story' is out on Sept 1st and he can’t wait for it to be hitting the shelves. The book, which Mark is self publishing, can be pre-ordered now - and the first thousand will not only receive signed copies but will also get their names printed in the 'dedicated to' column by way of thanks.
It wasn't something that he was expecting to do - Mark told The Chesterfield Post how it all came about, saying, "I got approached by a guy who works for the Nottingham Evening Post and who asked about whether I had given any thought to writing a book. He knew about my career and me and knew I'd been popular at Forest. After giving it some thought I thought "why not", lets do it".
It's not your run of the mill autobiography though - Mark has very definite ideas about what it tells the reader and what they will get from it, "I didn't want one like some of the ones I'd read, about winning trophies - I get bored reading them and put them down, I wanted something a bit more on the comedy side of things, something that shows my character, what I'm like. I have a lot of stories to tell. I want people to read this book and say, "Oh, does that REALLY happen?"
Mark has played for 21 managers in his career, the most notable being the legend that is Brian Clough. His last 6 years in management co-incided with the first 6 of Mark's career and he admits that he learned a lot from him, "He was one of he best in the world, he was like a father figure to me, I was going through a bad time when I played for him, he helped me through it. I saw the film based in his time at Forest and, yeah some of it is true, but if you did what he asked he would do right by you - be on your side. He was a lovely man who treated you like one of his own."
He influenced 'Norm' in more than one way too, as he recounts with a laugh, "He turned up to watch me play for The Forest Colts who I played for after returning from a YTS contract at Watford cos I was homesick. He came up to me and told me that if I wanted to play for him I had to get a haircut. This was a Friday - I'd had my haircut by Monday!"
Mark started his football career with Hoyland Common Falcons, a club in Barnsley, which his dad formed 24 years ago and which is now a thriving community football club. He didn't bargain on a career in goal though and started as a Centre Half, playing that position till he was 15 before "realising that I couldn't run!" and, after he stepped in when the school Goalkeeper got injured, has never looked back.
Ironically, his professional career started at Chesterfield at 15, during the John Duncan, Kev Randall era before heading to Watford and Manager Graham Taylor.
Homesick, he returned and enrolled on an Interior Design Course at school but carried on playing at weekends in Sheffield. Scouted by Forest, and seen by Clough himself he got a scholarship and after a year earned his place in the first team at 19.
He has fond memories of all the managers he worked with, the only one he admits he didn’t see eye to eye with is David Platt, "In the book, I've explained my side of the story", adding with a laugh, "though he'd possibly say something different!" He recalls some of the characters he's played with too, notably Jimmy Bullard and Dean Windass who he says he had much in common with character wise.
International duty with Wales came about at the age of 27, under Bobby Gould and Mark writes in the book about how Welsh football was revamped after Gould's departure and the arrival of Mark Hughes.
Though he has great memories of his time in the Wales camp he is vocal about the qualifying rules for players, "I don't agree with the 'grandparents rule' - I could have played for Scotland too, it literally was a toss of the coin - but to play for Wales was a huge honour, the England one was never going to happen, so if someone offers you the opportunity you take it. I gave my all, played against Argentina and Germany and it gave me great experience. I wouldn't change it, but, in an England v Wales game, I'd want England to win".
Asked to name the club that was pivotal to his career, Mark was unequivocal - Forest, It's where I played for many years, where I had my testimonial and I played under Cloughie. One day maybe I'll go back there.
Now though, Mark is experiencing life on the other side, and loving every second of it at Chesterfield. He says he's changed, "When you step over the line into coaching or management you have to change and see the game from the other side of the fence.
"I now have that Father Figure role, mentoring players and sitting down with them. We want the best for them and it's completely different. I'm loving learning under John (Sheridan) and Tommy (Wright) and hope to go into the hot seat myself one day.
"Some try and discourage goalies from being managers but I think I can read the game from a different view, goalies see the whole game - I know what defenders don't like to do - I've been behind enough - and I'd like to think I know what strikers like to do."
One of his roles at Chesterfield is to oversee and to take responsibility for the Reserves. An opportunity he relishes, "John's been great and put a lot of faith in me. When I'm in the dressing room it's me, not John and, although he listens to what I have to say, he doesn't interfere."
Norm had been offered a coaching role at QPR but turned it down to link up with John and Tommy at Oldham as part of the management team there after leaving Sheffield Wednesday (he'd been offered a deal there to play another year after 20 games but only played 19 and then was never played again).
It was a chance he says, "To sit in the office and see how it works, you'd be surprised at what goes on - talking to agents. We're a good team, we know each other's strengths and weaknesses and there are no labels - we're a team within a team - the friendship helps too. If something comes to mind I can just pick up the phone.
"I'm very proud of Chesterfield. It will be the next to last chapter in the book, but I'm not going to write it till the end of the season. I started playing here and I finished playing here, now it's my first proper job as coach.
"I'll speak about that and also the transformation here, it's been great - we've been backed all the way by Dave Allen and Barrie Hubbard. We haven't asked for much but, what we have asked for, we've been given.
"Self-belief is important now, mental strength - we've got a psychologist in this year to work with the squad so hopefully we won't fall at the final hurdle. That's important.
"One of the things I'm most proud of here is my work with Tommy Lee, he's now the best keeper in league 2. I'm proud of what I've done with him, improved his communication and distribution and it's given me confidence too.
"You need to be a strong character to be a Goalie, you're either the Hero or the villain of the game."
So ... what does the future hold for Mark Crossley?
Management without a doubt, "I've passed all my badges and I'd like the hot seat one day, but for now I'm going to keep learning, and developing."
He also has his eye on future talent coming up "Josh Barrington in our youth team is a good lad, there's already clubs interested in him, there's no doubt about it he's gonna be a good keeper."
Something tells me the last chapter of the book may yet be the most exciting to write.
Profits from the book will go to a Children's Charity which is yet to be decided.
To pre-order your limited edition of 'Norm's' book for £17.99 + £2 p&p, either:
send a cheque, made payable to Mark Crossley at:
Mark Crossley, 270 West Street, Hoyland, Barnsley S74 8DJ
or send a PayPal payment to bignorms_bookj@live.co.uk
or find out more at www.bignorm.co.uk
For more information and other CFC news, go to www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk
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