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Crewe Alexandra F.C. is an English league football team based at Gresty Road in Crewe, England and nicknamed The Railwaymen due to that town's links with the industry. Formed in 1877 and reputedly named after Princess Alexandra (some suggest that the decision to form the club was actually taken in a pub named after the Princess). They currently play in the Football League Championship.
History
Crewe were founder members of Division 2 in 1892 having previously been members of the Football Alliance, but became a non-league side after only five seasons. They rejoined the Football League in the 1920s and earned their first honours by winning the Welsh Cup in 1936 and 1937, before being barred from entering (not least since they were not in Wales).
A fixture at the bottom of Division 3 North and later Division 4, The Alexandra had a reputation as the worst league team in England, enhanced by an infamous 13-2 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup in 1961.
A succession of managers throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including Ulsterman Harry Gregg (a survivor of the Munich Air Disaster that killed several young Manchester United F.C. stars), did little to change the situation and Crewe regularly had to apply for re-election after finishing in the bottom places of the Fourth Division.
The Gradi Years This began to change, however, in June 1983 with the appointment of Milan-born Dario Gradi as manager. A shrewd tactician with a reputation for getting the most from his young players Gradi led his charges to the unprecedented height of Division One in 1997 and kept his team there until 2002, despite a club income on which many more lowly clubs could not survive.
After one season in Division Two the club were promoted back to Division One at the end of the 2002/03 season, having finished in second place (the first time Crewe achieved promotion from the runner-up position).
At the time of writing (May 2004), Gradi is the longest serving manager in English league football; he celebrated his 1,000th game in charge of Crewe on 20 November 2001 - an away fixture at Carrow Road, the home of Norwich City F.C., and has now completed some 21 years at the club, although assistant manager Neil Baker took temporary charge between 22 September and 17 October 2003 while Gradi underwent heart surgery.
During Gradi's control, the club has gained a strong reputation for its youth policy, and gained official status as an FA Youth Academy. By concentrating on developing its own players the club has remained profitable (a rare thing in lower division football at the time) by selling them on after they have gained experience with Crewe. The Academy is known to stress technical excellence, which accords with Gradi's aim to have his sides play attractive, passing football.
Players who have passed through the ranks at Crewe include the England international players Geoff Thomas, David Platt and Rob Jones, Welshman Robbie Savage, and Northern Ireland internationals Neil Lennon and Steve Jones. All these were youngsters signed from other clubs, but Gradi has also had considerable success in nurturing Crewe's own trainees - notably full England internationals Danny Murphy and Seth Johnson.
The Ground Officially known since 2000 as the Alexandra Stadium, the ground which has been occupied by the club since 1898 will likely always be known as Gresty Road to the fans.
The ground is comprised of four stands:
- The Air Products Stand (formerly the Railtrack Stand, before a change in sponsors) - built in 2000 at a cost of £5.2 million. It accommodates 6,776 spectators, together with the clubs' office accommodation.
- The Advance Personnel Stand, also known as the Gresty Road End, accommodates 1000 spectators and 4 disabled spectators.
- The Charles Audi Stand, also known as the Railway End, accommodates 645 spectators.
- The BMW Bluebell Stand, formerly the Pop Side, accommodates 1687 away spectators.
Getting there
By Rail Gresty Road is immediately adjacent to Crewe mainline railway station. Turn left when exiting the station, and Gresty Road is the next street on the left.
By Road From the North: Exit M6 at junction 17 (A534). At T-junction turn right for Crewe and follow A534 (signposted Crewe, Nantwich). After about six miles, at the third roundabout in the space of about a mile, you pass the Crewe Arms on your right and Crewe Station on your left. Gresty Road is the first left after the Station. Beware: on match days, you may not be able to take this left turn, and may be redirected to the next left (100 yards, South St, at traffic lights).
From the South and East: Exit M6 at junction 16 (A500). At roundabout follow signs for Crewe. After about two miles, turn right at roundabout (A5020) towards Crewe; left at the next roundabout (0.8m); straight on at the next (Rookery pub on right), passing the Brocklebank pub on the left; then left at the next - and final - roundabout, taking you into Nantwich Road, passing the Crewe Arms Hotel on your right and Crewe Station on your left.
From the West: From Nantwich, follow Crewe Road, A534 (signs to Crewe Station, 4 miles), which will eventually bring you along Nantwich Road. The turning for Gresty Road is opposite the Royal Hotel, about 150yds before you reach Crewe Station.
External links - Official site (http://www.crewealex.net/)
- Soccerbase.com's entry on Crewe Alexandra (http://www.soccerbase.com/footballlive/?MIval=teams2&teamid=652)
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