Birmingham-born Cross stayed local in his early playing days, starting his career with West Brom before moving on to play for Walsall. He arrived at Leicester in January 1988 and was a £65,000 signing by David Pleat, bought to support Mike Newell in the City attack. His debut came in the same month, away at Reading, and Cross went on to play over 60 times for the club, adding 16 goals to his name.
He was a tenacious striker who could also hold the ball-up well, qualities Pleat believed could complement Newell - so much so that Cross was preferred to Jimmy Quinn during his second stint at the club. However, despite being a favourite of Pleat, Cross moved on to Port Vale a year-and-a-half later. He experienced promotion and defeat at Vale Park but a long-term injury cut into his five-year spell there.
After his time at Vale, Cross went on to feature for a number of lower league clubs including Hereford United, Solihull Borough and Redditch United.
