The Londonderry-born Crossan was forced to seek employment on the continent in order to continue his career and was one of the few British players who played in Europe during the mid-Sixties.
He signed for Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam and adapted to the European style of football that involved more technique and intelligence, which actually suited his game.
He honed his not inconsiderable skills to such a standard that Belgian champions Standard Liege bought him to bolster their European Cup bid.
He earned rave reviews for Liege when they played in the competition and when the ban was lifted in 1962, he moved back to the UK with Sunderland who paid £27,000 for his services.
He became a Roker Park favourite in the process after scoring 22 league goals and helping them win promotion to Division One.
In January 1965, George Poyser brought the 27-year-old to Maine Road for £40,000 to add a bit of invention to his ailing side and he made his debut in a 2-0 home defeat to Derby County.
City side finished eleventh in the Second Division that year with Crossan making 16 league appearances and scoring three goals.
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The silky skilled playmaker was then instilled as captain by new manager Joe Mercer and, largely inspired by the cunning and vision of Crossan, who played 49 times and scored an impressive 16 goals, City raced to the championship and promotion back to the First Division.
A hugely popular player, Crossan’s humour and relaxed attitude undoubtedly helped form the famous team spirit that would help City sweep all in their path within a few short years.
Despite not being the most physically imposing of players, he could mix it with the best of them and when a team-mate was scythed down by the legendary Welsh man-mountain John Charles at Cardiff in March 1965, it was Crossan who returned the compliment – and then some!
Nobody pushed Crossan around and he’d stand up for anyone who he thought wouldn’t do it for themselves, further endearing himself to the City public.
The embryonic Mercer side was starting to take shape and suddenly the Blues had a plethora of talented flair players including Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee and Neil Young to choose from.
Crossan needed to be at his best for the tougher demands of the top flight but a pre-season car crash resulted in a knee injury that Crossan tried, foolishly, to cover-up.
He also had a grumbling appendix, which was affecting his form. His decision to carry on playing backfired and at times it seemed to some sections of the City fans he wasn’t giving his all for the club. The reason was, of course, he was incapable of performing to his usual standards because of his various ailments.
He was dropped for the visit of Manchester United in 1967 after a series of below par displays had resulted in some City fans jeering him.
Crossan, philosophical as ever said: “I heard the jeers, but that’s football. You are king one day, a peasant the next!” It would be the beginning of the end for his City career, though he was re-instated for the remainder of the season.
Despite City held their own during the 1966/67 campaign, Crossan’s place was no longer guaranteed. He still played 45 times and scored 9 goals for the Blues but with the signing of Tony Coleman who played a similar role, Crossan’s days at Maine Road were clearly numbered.
In August 1967, his mesmeric skills made their way to Middlesbrough for £30,000 where he eventually finished his career.
Johnny Crossan played 24 times for his country and earned 10 caps whilst at Maine Road. A favourite amongst old and young alike, he was undoubtedly ahead of his time in terms of his technical skill.
