Crucial-sounding team in dock area (8)
I believe the answer is:
quayside
'dock area' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'crucial-sounding team' is the wordplay.
'crucial' becomes 'key' (I've seen this in another clue).
'sounding' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'team' becomes 'side' (both can mean a sports team).
'key' is a homophone of 'quay'.
'quay'+'side'='QUAYSIDE'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for quayside that I've seen before include "Where the boats moor" , "Landing" , "where loads are lightened" , "Area adjoining a wharf" , "Area near a wharf" .)