 Crawley was played a left back and was renowned for his excellent crossing ability, his childhood hero was a local player called Jimmy Cooney, who Crawley says "had the best left foot he's ever seen".Crawley's trademark celebration was shouting "get in there ya lad ya ".Born in Dundalk, County Louth, Crawley began his senior career on the books at Manchester City for a short spell before returning to his hometown club Dundalk in 1997.