Cropley was born in
Aldershot, Hampshire. His father is
Jack Cropley, who was playing for
Aldershot at the time. Cropley junior, who grew up in Edinburgh, began his career with
Hibernian, where he featured in the famed team of the early 1970s known as "
Turnbull's Tornadoes". While with Hibs, he won the
Scottish League Cup of
1972, in a 2–1 victory over
Celtic in the
final. Despite being born in the south of England, Cropley was eligible for
Scotland and he was selected for matches played against
Belgium and
Portugal in
1971. He made his debut for the Gunners against
Carlisle United on 7 December 1974. Cropley then broke his leg in a match away to
Middlesbrough in January 1975 and broke it again soon after his comeback. He returned to make 22 appearances in the
1975–76 season, but could not secure a regular place in Arsenal's first team. He then linked up with
Aston Villa in September 1976, having played 30 league games with five goals scored altogether for Arsenal. He thereafter yet again suffered another a broken leg, in a game versus local rivals West Bromwich Albion on 10 December 1977. Cropley then had a spell on loan at
Newcastle United from January to June 1980, returning to Villa in July of that year. Cropley left
Villa Park in March 1981 to feature a month later for club
Toronto Blizzard in the
North American Soccer League. He then left Blizzard in October 1981 and to link up in the following month for
Portsmouth. He then ended his days as a professional footballer in 1982 due to persistent and serious injuries at the relatively young age of 31. ==Personal life and death==