Chris Crossley arrived from Cowes to impress, during the last two months of the 1930-31 season, on the Reserves’ left-wing. Having scored twice in a Combination fixture at Fratton Park, he returned, within the fortnight, in the most unusual circumstances: 15 senior Saints players refused terms and refused to play. Thereby elevated, for the only time, to the first team, Crossley had a steady game in a surprise 2-2 draw in the Rowland Cup against a strong Pompey eleven. His appearances for the Reserves were, however, limited, the following season, to a single outing and he departed at the season’s end.

After brief spells at Totton and a few Western league games for Salisbury, he became employed as a draughtsman for the Ordnance Survey and turned out for their football team.