Cripsey began his career at the professional tournaments in the 1982–83 season and reached the 1983 World Snooker Championship following a win over Dennis Hughes during the round of the last 48. In 1984-85 he reached the second round at the International Open and the UK Championship . He was then ranked 89th in the world rankings. In the 1985–86 season he twice reached the last 32, in the Classic and in the UK Championship, in Cliff Wilson and John Spencer he beat two players from the top 24 in the world rankings. In 1987, Bill Werbeniuk was defeated at the British Open in the last 32. By this point his ranking had risen to 48th place.