[3][6] On his return to Ipswich, Crouch found himself back in the reserves, playing 27 games while also featuring for Town in a 1–0 friendly win against the New Zealand national team on 17 October 1979.
[2][7] Crouch left Ipswich in the summer of 1980 and was brought to Third Division side Colchester United by manager Bobby Roberts.
[1] Following nine consecutive league appearances through September and October 1980, Crouch found his opportunities limited, and played just once more for Colchester on 18 April 1981, when his side drew 0–0 with Gillingham at Priestfield.
On the back of his release from Colchester, Crouch moved into non-League football with Harwich & Parkeston and then Brantham Athletic, experiencing long spells with both clubs.
[1] After captaining the youth team, Ross was handed a professional one-year contract by Colchester manager Phil Parkinson in April 2004.