From Pitch to Procurement: Former Professional Footballer Mark Crossley Visits Howcroft Group HQ as Company Ambassador
Howcroft Group, one of the UK's leading independent industrial MRO suppliers, was delighted to welcome its official Company Ambassador, former professional footballer Mark Crossley, to its headquarters today.
The visit provided a fantastic opportunity for Crossley to catch up with longtime friend and Howcroft Managing Director, Allan Howcroft, to review the company's incredible growth trajectory, tour the facility, and see first-hand how the business continues to anchor itself in the principles of quality, value, and service.
Meet Our Ambassador: About Mark Crossley
Before stepping into corporate ambassadorship, Mark Crossley built a legendary career at the absolute pinnacle of British football. As an elite professional goalkeeper spanning over two decades, Mark made more than 300 appearances for Nottingham Forest under the iconic Brian Clough, playing in both FA Cup and League Cup Finals.
A full Wales International, Mark's illustrious career in the top flights also saw him feature prominently for Middlesbrough, Fulham, and Sheffield Wednesday, earning a reputation for incredible resilience, sharp reflexes, and commanding leadership from the back. Notably, he holds the legendary distinction of being the only goalkeeper to ever save a penalty from Premier League maestro Matt Le Tissier.
Mark's elite sporting journey epitomises the core values of endurance, razor-sharp focus, and performing under ultimate pressure—the exact traits that make him a perfect fit to champion Howcroft Group's mission for industrial reliability and team-driven operational excellence across the UK.
Deep Roots and Shared Values
The partnership between Crossley and Howcroft Group is built on a foundation of long-standing friendship and a mutual understanding of what it takes to build a winning team. During his visit, Mark spent time exploring the customer trade counter and the main office floor, meeting the hard-working team that coordinates the movement of over £2.5M in secured MRO stock.
Reflecting on the company's origins, Mark stood by the Howcroft history wall — which proudly chronicles how Allan started the entire enterprise with just £1,000 of his final employed salary, an old white Vauxhall Astra estate, and a Nokia 3210. It's a story of building something extraordinary from almost nothing; a philosophy Mark knows well from his years playing under management legends like Brian Clough.
"Seeing what Allan and the team have built here from such humble beginnings is incredibly inspiring. The grit, work ethic, and teamwork required to scale a business to this level is nothing short of magnificent and not to dissimilar to what the team and I created at Nottingham Forest under the iconic Brian Clough. I am incredibly proud to represent Howcroft Group as Company Ambassador."
— Mark Crossley, Company Ambassador
Visit Gallery
Hands-On in the Warehouse
Never one to stay on the sidelines, Crossley went straight into the heart of the action — Howcroft's massive warehousing facilities. He spent time inspecting the premium power transmission and bearing lines, getting hands-on with heavy stock allocations from premier manufacturing partners including ISB, FAG & Megadyne.
"It's always a pleasure to have Mark on site. He isn't just an ambassador in name; he truly embodies our team spirit and understands our mission to deliver uptime to UK industry. Having his energy around the business keeps everyone motivated as we continue to expand our corporate and industrial footprint."
— Allan Howcroft, Managing Director
As Howcroft Group charges through 2026 with record dispatches and enhanced predictive uptime services, the collaboration with Mark Crossley stands as a testament to the power of strong relationships, community values, and a relentless drive for excellence.
Want to work with Howcroft Group?
Discover our full range of industrial MRO solutions and get in touch with our expert team.