Career
He was last employed as the manager of Gateshead in 2015. Born in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, Crosby played his football for Aldershot, making 258 appearances between 1971 and 1980 and netting 21 goals. In an exchange deal involving Ian MacDonald he moved to York City and was a vital part of their 1984, record breaking, 4th division champions team
He also had loan spells at Wrexham and Cheltenham Town.
He became an assistant manager to Denis Smith at York City, and followed Smith when he became manager at Sunderland in 1988. When Smith was sacked in 1991, Crosby took over as a caretaker manager until a replacement could be foundation
After sympathetic calls from fans, Crosby was formally offered the manager"s post. Sunderland lost the final 2–0 to Liverpool.
Despite reaching the Cup Final, Crosby failed to inspire Sunderland in the league, and he was sacked in February 1993 to be replaced by Terry Butcher.
Crosby has also briefly managed Oxford United where he was also an assistant, worked as an assistant manager at West Bromwich Albion, and as an assistant to Jim Smith at Derby County. In July 2004 Steve McClaren appointed Crosby as reserve team manager at Middlesbrough. When McClaren was appointed as England manager in the summer of 2006, new Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate appointed Crosby as assistant manager.
He was released by Middlesbrough in June 2009, following their relegation to the Championship.
In September 2009, Crosby took on a coaching role at Northampton Town. Following the sacking of Ian Sampson on 2 March 2011 he took on the temporary running of the club until a full-time replacement was foundation
On 30 May 2011, it was announced Crosby would make a return to Oxford United in the role of Head of Youth Development. Crosby was appointed chief scout at Birmingham City in July 2012 as part of Lee Clark"s backroom staff
He briefly served as joint caretaker manager with Richard Beale after Clark was sacked in October 2014 – equalling the club"s record league defeat by losing 8–0 to Bournemouth – and left the club following the appointment of new manager Gary Rowett.
On 21 November 2014, he linked up with Clark once again at Blackpool, assuming the role of Head of Recruitment. Crosby was appointed manager of Gateshead, of the National League, on a one-year rolling contract on 5 June 2015, but was sacked by the club in November of the same year.
