24 Facts About Crewe Alexandra

Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Crewe, Cheshire, that competes in League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system.

Crewe Alexandra spent 20 years struggling in the fourth tier before their fortunes were revived under Dario Gradi, manager for 24 years from 1983.

Crewe Alexandra twice led the team to promotion to the third tier, and after two unsuccessful play-off campaigns, won the 1997 Second Division play-off final to win a place in the Football League First Division.

In 1936, Bert Swindells scored his 100th League goal for Crewe Alexandra, going on to score 128 League goals for the club, a record that still stands, as well as goals in both Welsh Cup finals.

Between 1894 and 1982, Crewe Alexandra finished last in the Football League eight times, more than any other league club.

Related searches

In 1963, Crewe Alexandra secured their first promotion to the Third Division, winning the season's final game against Exeter City, with Frank Lord scoring the only goal in front of a crowd of 9,807 at Gresty Road.

Crewe Alexandra then gained promotion in 1994 after a final day victory at Chester City.

Nonetheless, Crewe Alexandra were named the "Most Admired Club" in the 2006 Football League Awards.

Crewe Alexandra announced that, from 1 July 2007, Gradi would take up a new role as the club's technical director while gradually allowing newly appointed first-team coach Steve Holland control of the team.

Crewe Alexandra made a promising start, and received the February 2009 Manager of the Month award, but the team suffered a poor end-of-season run, not winning for 10 games, and were relegated to League Two.

Two days later, Crewe Alexandra parted company with Artell; assistant manager Alex Morris was appointed interim manager, becoming the permanent manager on 28 April 2022.

Until 1896, Crewe played at the Alexandra Recreation Ground, located just to the north of the modern-day Gresty Road.

Away fans are currently accommodated in the stand along the northern touchline, with the option of additional capacity in the family stand for particularly large visiting contingents; Crewe Alexandra hosted its first 10,000+ crowd in the now all-seater stadium in 2000 with the record attendance of 10,092 when Crewe Alexandra played Manchester City on 12 March 2002.

Since the late 1890s, the main Crewe Alexandra playing strip has featured a red or predominantly red top, usually with white shorts and red socks.

Crewe Alexandra is a small town: its built-up area had a total population of 71,722 in 2011.

Crewe Alexandra maintain smaller rivalries with Wrexham, Shrewsbury Town, Stoke City and traditional local Cheshire derbies with Macclesfield Town, Chester City, Stockport County and Tranmere Rovers.

The Crewe Alexandra-based dance trio Dario G were named after Dario Gradi.

In 1995, Crewe Alexandra leased a 20-acre site at Reaseheath, near Nantwich, planning a £750,000 training and player development facility largely funded by transfer sales.

In 1996, Crewe Alexandra received a lottery grant to develop a youth coaching facility in nearby Shavington.

On 19 March 2019, the Guardian reported Crewe Alexandra planned to contest victims' claims, but later, reported an apparent U-turn in Crewe's approach; it had agreed an out-of-court financial settlement with one of Bennell's victims.

Crewe Alexandra were reported to have received £3 million for Nick Powell when he moved to Manchester United on 2 July 2012, with options for the fee to grow to £6 million depending on appearances.

Crewe Alexandra received £3 million for Seth Johnson's 1999 move to Derby County, and for Dean Ashton's move to Norwich City in 2005.

Crewe Alexandra remains the only Crewe player capped for England while playing at the club.

Two Crewe Alexandra managers have been inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame: Gradi in 2004 and Harry Catterick, posthumously, in 2010.