He notably played in the Premier League for Manchester City and spent 6 years there during a turbulent period of relegations and promotions, including the 1999 Division 2 playoff final against Gillingham.
[3]As a club trainee, Crooks signed his first professional contract on 1 August 1994 (aged 16 years, 6 months, 18 days).
[1] By September 1996 he was being included in the first team squad for games by caretaker manager Asa Hartford as one of three promising youngsters.
Crooks was in the Manchester City team that won that 1999 Division 2 play off final at Wembley Stadium against Gillingham in dramatic fashion, albeit substituted on 85 minutes for Gareth Taylor.
[5] Crooks didn't make his debut until the start of the 2001–02 season, being delayed for several months as he had operations on an injured medial collateral ligament.
[1][4][9][10] As a free agent, Crooks began pre-season training with League Two side Rochdale, before signing a 12-month contract on 3 August 2006, linking up with his former Barnsley manager Steve Parkin.
[1] Crooks left Rochdale by mutual consent on 26 March 2008 due to limited opportunities, having made just 5 starts during that season, with no appearances since December 2007.
[4] Icelander Gudjon Thordarson, his manager at Barnsley and Notts County, referred to Crooks as 'The Beast' due to his combativeness.
[8] In February 2009, Crooks was described by The Times as a "versatile defender and midfielder who ... had his most productive season in helping Manchester City win promotion in 1999".