And there they stayed, resolutely mediocre at best and surviving a number of re-elections, until the formation of the Fourth Division saw them placed there in 1958. In 1962-63 the Railwaymen achieved their first ever promotion when they finished third. They were relegated again the next season.

In 1967-68 they finished fourth and went up to the Third Division again. As before they only survived there a single season. In the Seventies and early Eighties they had to seek re-election on seven occasions in twelve years. It was a dismal failure of a club that appointed a certain Dario Gradi as its 24th manager in June 1983. It was to take them another 24 years before they would need another.

They have had their ups and downs since that appointment but Gradi eventually got them as high as Division One/The Championship for eight seasons, broken by one season's relegation in 2002-03. Gradi is respected throughout the game for his defiance of gravity at an unfashionable club that had done virtually nothing in its entire previous history. At the end of the Nineties he was awarded the MBE.

Over the summer of 2007, having reached the ripe old age of 66, Dario announced that he was beginning the process of stepping away from the job. He would take the title of Technical Director, with First Team Coach Steve Holland being given increased responsibility. This was a slightly confusing state of affairs, with the general motive being for Holland to eventually assume full control of matters as Dario gradually let go of his baby. Initially Gradi still dealt with the player contracts and the post-match interviews, whilst Holland took the coaching sessions and was the man in the dugout. The plan was for Holland to be gradually given greater responsibilities, but exactly when one would cease to be and the other become manager wasn't clear. Crewe did not name a 'manager' on their website, and so the set-up appeared to be pretty much a continental style 'Director of Football' and 'First Team Coach' pairing.

Such transitions can often make for the eye being taken off the ball a little, and whether it was a lack of clarity of roles or whether Holland simply was not the right man, Crewe had a poor 2007-08, finishing just above the drop zone in 20th place. The season was another struggle, Holland paid the price, Gradi stepped back in as caretaker, things didn't really improve, and when Gudjon Thordarson was appointed he was clearly designated as 'manager' from the off. Not that this worked either. Crewe were heading for relegation to League Two, and Thordarson lasted only two months of the following season, before Dario returned for his fourth spell as manager, before ultimately handing over to Steven Davis in November 2011. Davis is a man who cut his managerial teeth at Northwich Victoria and Nantwich Town and was a defender on Crewe's books between 1983 and 1987. Having also played for Stoke City and Macclesfield Town, he's a familiar face in this neck of the woods and perhaps the right man to take up the Dario legacy. His 2012-13 League Two play-off Final win over Cheltenham Town means that after a three year gap, The Alex are now back in the third tier - their first task will be to prove they can stay there, and early signs are that they ought to be capable of doing that.

Back to Top of Page

Back to Top of Page

RECENT RESULTS

10/04/2013	Brentford	Home	NPL1	L	0-2	4594
13/04/2013	Doncaster Rovers	Home	NPL1	L	1-2	5465		Clayton 54
16/04/2013	Swindon Town	Away	NPL1	L	1-4	7169		Davis 65
20/04/2013	Yeovil Town	Away	NPL1	L	0-1	5293
23/04/2013	Sheffield United	Home	NPL1	W	1-0	5379		Aneke 49
27/04/2013	Walsall	Home	NPL1	W	2-0	6547		Murphy 78, Aneke 85

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Mathias Pogba	12	0	0	3	0	15
Bradden Inman	5	0	0	2	0	7
Max Clayton	4	0	0	3	0	7
Luke Murphy	6	0	0	1	0	7
Chuks Aneke	6	0	0	0	0	6
Lauri Dalla Valle	5	0	0	0	0	5
Mark Ellis	5	0	0	0	0	5
Jay Leitch-Smith	4	0	0	1	0	5
Byron Moore	4	0	0	0	0	4
Harry Davis	1	0	0	0	0	1
Matt Tootle	1	0	0	0	0	1
Jay Lovett	0	0	0	1	0	1
Ryan Colclough	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 6547, vs Walsall, 27/04/2013
Lowest League Attendance: 3770, vs Milton Keynes Dons, 19/03/2013
Average League Attendance: 4903

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	0		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	4		Games Without Defeat:	2
Games Without A Home Defeat:	2		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	7		Games Without A Score Draw:	7
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	39		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	2		Home Results Sequence:	WWLLWW
Away Results Sequence:	LWLDLL		Overall Results Sequence:	LLLLWW

Back to Top of Page

Back to Top of Page

Back to Top of Page

Back to Top of Page

General:

There's plenty of pubs around the stadium - well it's a traditional town centre ground. Some are home fans only, but as well as the ones we've detailed below The Bank, The Barrel and The Brunswick all accept away supporters.

Club Bar :

There is a Supporters Clubhouse which will usually allow small numbers of away supporters in, but only if they arrive early before it fills up with home fans. No alcohol is served in the away section of the stadium.

Local Pubs :

Entrance to The Angel, which is beneath the shopping centre © Hugh Gleave Angel: Pub in the shopping complex which opens 10.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Monday - Friday, 10.00 a.m. - 10.00 p.m. Saturday. Cheapest pub in town, even undercutting the Wetherspoon. Does food and a real ale in Oakwell Barnsley Bitter. Has a pool table. Around 20 minutes walk to the stadium. Angel, Victoria Street, (Victoria Shopping Centre), Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 2PU. Tel: 01270 212003. Map: Click Here.

Highly recommended drinking hostelry © Hugh Gleave Borough Arms: Fifteen minute walk from the stadium, towards the northern edge of the town centre. The largest range of beers in Crewe, with nine changing real ales mainly from small outlets as well as two of their own brewed on the premises on an occasional basis. Also carries a wide selection of Belgian bottled beers and a real cider. Opening times hark back to an earlier age of complexity, and are not convenient for a mid-week fixture unfortunately: Monday - Thursday 7.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m.; Friday 3.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m.; Saturday 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m.; Sunday 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. No food served but access is wheelchair friendly (in parts), families are welcome in the lower room, and the garden area is available for smokers (and others). Lined glasses used. Borough Arms, 33, Earle Street, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 2BG. Tel: 01270 254999. Map: Click Here.

Locally nicknamed the 'Pig' © Hugh Gleave British Lion: Real ale venue a few hundred yards from the stadium along the Nantwich Road towards the town centre. Does Tetley's Bitter and Dark Mild and a varying guest beer from local micro breweries. Opening is 5.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. weekdays, 12.00 noon - 12.00 midnight Friday and Saturday, 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday. Gets packed on matchdays. Doesn't do meals. Wheelchair access. Heated smoking area outside. British Lion, 58, Nantwich Road, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 6AL. Tel: 01270 214379. Map: Click Here.

© Hugh Gleave Brocklebank: Brewsters pub - arghh! But they suit some. Convenient if you have parked on the industrial estate (see 'Parking' above) as it's on your walk to the stadium. Large car park which is charged at £1.00 for three hours, refundable off your bill if you eat there. There's also Sky Sports. Brocklebank, Weston Road, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 6FX. Tel: 01270 212432. Fax: 01270 251245. Map: Click Here.

'Family' provision at its best, or worst, depending how you see things. © Hugh Gleave Rookery Wood: Huge pub in the 'Two For One' stable about 15 minutes walk from the stadium on the other side of the railway line. Family style hostelry with a Wacky Warehouse etc. Children are welcome until 9.30 p.m. On draught are Carling, Carlsberg Export, Fosters, Stella Artois, John Smiths Smooth, Guinness and Strongbow Cider. Food is served Monday - Saturday 12.00 noon - 10.00 p.m., Sunday 12.00 noon - 9.30 p.m. Has beer garden, patio area, wheelchair access, disabled toilets, baby changing facilities, outdoor children's play area and car parking with 100 spaces. Opening was 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday - Saturday, 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday, last time we passed by. Rookery Wood, Weston Gate, Weston Road, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 6NE. Tel: 01270 255384. Map: Click Here.

Photo shows Clancy's, the bar at The Royal away fans are allowed in. Good name. © Hugh Gleave Royal Hotel: Large Victorian establishment a few hundred yards from the ground. Another place where you can expect to see the men in bow ties on the door. Home and away fans are directed to separate bars - the away fans get Clancy's. The 35 bedroom hotel has pool and a big screen. Bar opening is from 12.00 noon. Food served. Royal Hotel, 7, Nantwich Road, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 6AG. Tel: 01270 257398. Map: Click Here.

The Earl: Less than ten minutes walk from the stadium. Opening is 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday - Wednesday, 11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midnight Thursday - Saturday, 12.00 noon - 12.00 midnight Sunday. Has Sky Sports and Premiership Plus, 7 TVs, 2 plasma screens, a big screen, 2 pool tables and juke box. Food is served 12.00 noon - 5.30 p.m. On draught are Carling, Fosters, Heineken, Kronenbourg, Stella Artois, John Smiths Smooth, Guinness and Strongbow Cider. There's a large car park with 120 spaces, beer garden, wheelchair access and disabled toilet. Expect to see door staff. The Earl, Nantwich Road, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 6BP. Tel: 01270 255469. Map: Click Here.

Snotty attitude did them no favours. © Hugh Gleave The Gaffers Row: Wetherspoon. This outlet serves super chilled drinks, should that excite you. Nowhere to smoke except in the street. Opening is 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 midnight Sunday - Thursday, 9.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. Friday - Saturday. Around 20 minutes walk to the ground. Was one of those Wetherspoons that's particularly difficult about children last time we called in. Given they are in the shopping area this seems madness during the day time, but it's their business to do what they wish with. They lost ours. The Gaffers Row, 48, Victoria Street, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 2JE. Tel: 01270 503820. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

There used to be a genuine Cheshire accent, but the Sixties generation wanting to pretend to be fashionable (then) Liverpudlians and the younger generation aping Hollyoaks characters has put paid to that.

Top-Tip :

Don't disrespect Dario in Crewe or its vicinity. Such heresy won't earn you Brownie points.

Back to Top of Page

Back to Top of Page