Career
Crouch began his career with Ipswich, where he progressed through the youth team He earned a professional contract in 1978, but failed to make a first-team appearance for the Suffolk club He was loaned out to Lincoln City in 1979, where he made his professional debut, going on to make seven appearances.
He went on to make ten further league appearances for the U"s, but he was released at the end of the season.
He would later go on to represent non-League clubs Harwich & Parkeston, Brantham Athletic and Mistily. Crouch, born in Ardleigh, Essex, began his career with Ipswich Town in 1976, joining up with the youth team at the age of 17.
He made 17 reserve team appearances for the club during the 1976-1977 season and made 33 appearances in the 1977-1978 season. Crouch signed his first professional deal with Ipswich in November 1978, making a further 34 reserve team appearances that season in addition to appearing alongside first-team regulars in Trevor Whymark"s testimonial match on 5 February 1979 against Norwich City in a team managed by Bobby Robson.
In August 1979, Crouch was loaned out to Fourth Division side Lincoln City.
He made his Football League debut on 18 August 1979 in Lincoln"s 1–0 home defeat by Peterborough United. He went on to make seven appearances for the Imps, playing his seventh and final match on 18 September, a 3–0 defeat at Walsall. Crouch left Ipswich in the summer of 1980 and was brought to Third Division side Colchester United by manager Bobby Roberts.
He had a memorable debut for the club on 9 August 1980 when he became the first U"s player to be sent off on their debut.
He had retaliated to a challenge by Gillingham"s Steve Bruce in their League Cup first round first-leg 2–0 defeat at Layer Road. Following nine consecutive league appearances through September and October 1980, Crouch found his opportunities limited, and played just once more for Colchester on 18 April 1981, when his side drew 0–0 with Gillingham at Priestfield.
He was released by the club at the end of the season. On the back of his release from Colchester, Crouch moved into non-League football with Harwich & Parkeston and then Brantham Athletic, experiencing long spells with both clubs.
He later finished his career with Mistley in the Essex and Suffolk Border League.
