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, with Dario 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 is a slightly confusing state of affairs, with the general motive being for Holland to eventually assume full control of matters as Dario gradually lets go of his baby. For the moment Gradi still deals with the player contracts and the post-match interviews, whilst Holland takes the coaching sessions and is the man in the dugout. The plan is for Holland to be gradually be given grater responsibilities over the coming 12 months, but exactly when one ceases to be manager and the other becomes manager isn't clear. At present Crewe do not name a manager on their website, and so the set-up at present is pretty much a continental style 'Director of Football' and 'First Team Coach' pairing, although the fact that Gradi still handles the press means that many will still refer to Gradi as the manager. Old habits die hard.

Such transitions can often make for the eye being taken off the ball a little, and perhaps that may explain Crewe's slightly sluggish start to the 2007-08 season. At the time of writing (end October) they've yet to win away from home and it is their form at Gresty Road that is keeping their heads above water. Crewe will hope that they can climb out of their current mini-trough as there's little doubt that having had eight years at Championship level, they will want to taste those dizzy heights once again.

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RECENT RESULTS

29/03/2008	Luton Town	Away	CCL1	L	1-2	5465		Maynard 58
05/04/2008	Southend United	Home	CCL1	L	1-3	4895		Maynard 74
12/04/2008	Yeovil Town	Away	CCL1	W	3-0	4785		Maynard 8, 58, Pope 90
19/04/2008	Cheltenham Town	Home	CCL1	W	3-1	5279		Maynard 14, 68, 76
26/04/2008	AFC Bournemouth	Away	CCL1	L	0-1	8621
03/05/2008	Oldham Athletic	Home	CCL1	L	1-4	6786		S Jones 84

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Nicky Maynard	14	0	0	0	0	14
Tom Pope	7	0	0	0	0	7
Gary Roberts	6	0	0	0	0	6
Ryan Lowe	4	0	0	0	0	4
Lee Barnard	3	0	0	0	0	3
Byron Moore	3	0	0	0	0	3
Steve Jones	1	0	0	0	0	1
Shaun Miller	1	0	0	0	0	1
Eugen Bopp	1	0	0	0	0	1
Simon Church	1	0	0	0	0	1
Chris McCready	1	0	0	0	0	1
Elliott Bennett	1	0	0	0	0	1
Steven Schumacher	1	0	0	0	0	1
Daniel O'Donnell	1	0	0	0	0	1
Julien Baudet	1	0	0	0	0	1
Dean Morgan	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 6786, vs Oldham Athletic, 03/05/2008
Lowest League Attendance: 3929, vs Gillingham, 04/12/2007
Average League Attendance: 4932

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	2		Games Without A Home Win:	1
Games Without An Away Win:	1		Games Without Defeat:	0
Games Without A Home Defeat:	0		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	6		Games Without A Score Draw:	6
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	10		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:	DLWLWL
Away Results Sequence:	DWDLWL		Overall Results Sequence:	LLWWLL

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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 :

Angel: Pub in the shopping complex which opens 10.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 10.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m. Friday - Saturday. Cheapest pub in town, even undercutting the Wetherspoon. Does lunches and a real ale in Oakwell Barnsley Bitter. Around 20 minutes walk to the stadium. Angel, Victoria Street, (Victoria Shopping Centre), Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 2PU. Tel: 01270 212003. Map: Click Here.

Borough Arms: Fifteen minute walk, 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. Also carries a wide selection of Belgian bottled beers. Saturday opening is 12.00 noon - 4.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. (Weekdays it only opens in the evening from 7.00 p.m., except Friday when it opens at 3.00 p.m.) No food served. Borough Arms, 33, Earle Street, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 2BG. Tel: 01270 254999. Map: Click Here.

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 two beers from local micro breweries as guests. Opening is normally 12.00 noon - 4.00 p.m., but closes at 3.00 p.m. when Crewe are at home, and 7.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Gets packed on matchdays. Doesn't do meals. British Lion, 58, Nantwich Road, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 6AL. Tel: 01270 214379. Map: Click Here.

Brocklebank: Brewsters pub - arghh! But they suit some. Convenient if you have parked on the industrial eatate (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.

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. There's currently a 'Christmas Fayre' offer of three courses for two people at £20.00 with children at £5.95 each which runs to December 30th. Has beer garden, patio area, wheelchair access, disabled toilets, baby changing facilities, outdoor children's play area, no smoking area and car parking with 100 spaces. Opening is 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday - Saturday, 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday. Rookery Wood, Weston Gate, Weston Road, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 6NE. Tel: 01270 255384. Map: Click Here.

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 and a no smoking area. Expect to see door staff. The Earl, Nantwich Road, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 6BP. Tel: 01270 255469. Map: Click Here.

The Gaffers Row: Wetherspoon. This outlet serves super chilled drinks, should that excite you. Still allows smoking. 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. 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.

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