View source for Crewe Alexandra F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in England}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Crewe Alexandra
| image = Crewe Alexandra.svg
| upright = 0.65
| alt = Crewe Alexandra crest
| fullname = Crewe Alexandra Football Club
| nickname = The Railwaymen, The Alex
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|August 1877}}
| ground = [[Gresty Road]]
| capacity = 10,153
| chairman = Charles Grant<ref name="CAnet-03Apr2021">{{cite web |title=Club Statement: Chairman and Vice Chairman |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2021/april/club-statement-chairman-and-vice-chairman/ |website=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=3 April 2021}}</ref><ref name=WhosWho>{{cite web |title=Who's Who – Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.crewealex.net/club/whos-who/ |website=www.crewealex.net |access-date=3 April 2021}}</ref>
| manager = [[Lee Bell]] 
| league = {{English football updater|CreweAle}}
| season = {{English football updater|CreweAle2}}
| position = {{English football updater|CreweAle3}}
| current = 2025–26 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season
| website = {{URL|https://www.crewealex.net/|crewealex.net}}
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| pattern_ra1 = __whiteborder
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| pattern_la2 = 
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'''Crewe Alexandra Football Club''' is a professional [[association football]] club based in the town of [[Crewe]], [[Cheshire]], England. Its first team competes in [[EFL League Two|League Two]], the fourth level of the [[English football league system]]. Nicknamed 'The Railwaymen' because of the town's [[Crewe Works|links with the rail industry]], and also commonly known as 'The Alex', they have played at their current [[Gresty Road]] location (adjacent to the sites of two previous grounds) since 1906. The supporters' fiercest rivalry is with [[Staffordshire]]-based side [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]].

The club was formed in August 1877 as the football division of Crewe Alexandra [[Club cricket|Cricket Club]], named after [[Alexandra of Denmark|Princess Alexandra]]. Crewe reached the [[FA Cup]] semi-finals in 1888 and were then a founding member of the [[Football League Second Division]] in 1892. In 1921, the club was invited to join the newly created [[Football League Third Division North]], where they stayed for the next 37 years before being placed in the new [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in 1958. The team achieved their first [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] after finishing third in [[1962–63 Football League|1962–63]]. Crewe were immediately relegated the next season but were promoted again in [[1967–68 Football League|1967–68]], but again lasted just one season in the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]].

Crewe spent 20 years struggling in the fourth tier before their fortunes were revived under [[Dario Gradi]], manager for 24 years from 1983. Under his leadership, Crewe were twice promoted to the third tier from the fourth, and, in 1997, won the [[1997 Football League Second Division play-off Final|Second Division play-off final]] to secure a place in the [[Football League First Division]]. After an absence of 101 years, they played at this second tier level―renamed the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] before the start of the [[2004–05 Football League|2004–05 season]]―for eight of the following nine seasons. Gradi encouraged Crewe to play attractive, technical football and built a reputation for developing young players, with future [[England national football team|England]] internationals [[David Platt]], [[Danny Murphy (footballer, born 1977)|Danny Murphy]], [[Seth Johnson (footballer)|Seth Johnson]] and [[Dean Ashton]] all emerging at the club. After Crewe dropped down to the fourth tier again in 2009, [[Steve Davis (footballer, born 1965)|Steve Davis]] led the club to promotion to the third tier [[2012 Football League Two play-off Final|via the play-offs in 2012]]. In [[2013 Football League Trophy final|2013]], the club won its first and only [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]]. Under [[David Artell]], manager from January 2017, Crewe returned to third tier [[EFL League One|League One]] in 2020 and finished 12th in the [[2020–21 EFL League One|2020–21 season]], but were relegated in 2022.

==History==
===Formation and early years===
Crewe Alexandra Football Club was formed in August 1877<ref name="Dyer">{{cite book |last1=Dyer |first1=Liam |last2=Day |first2=Dave |title=The Industrial Middle Class and the Development of Sport in a Railway Town |publisher=Manchester Metropolitan University |url=https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/618860/1/The%20Industrial%20Middle%20Class%20and%20the%20Development%20of%20Sport%20in%20a%20Railway%20Town.pdf |access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref> as an offshoot of Crewe Alexandra Cricket Club (established in September 1866 by Thomas Abraham{{efn|Abraham also supported the formation of the [[Cheshire Football Association]] in 1878, being appointed secretary, and was an umpire in the first [[Lancashire Senior Cup]] final, held at [[Darwen]] in 1880. He refereed the first [[Liverpool Senior Cup]] final, also in 1880, and travelled extensively to umpire Crewe Alexandra's matches. He also made a significant contribution to amateur [[Sport of athletics|athletics]], helping organise annual events at the cricket club's ground in Earle Street, as well as becoming a long-standing official of the Northern Counties Athletic Association and the [[Amateur Athletic Association]].<ref name="Dyer"/>}} and other workers at Crewe locomotive works),<ref name="Sandhu-14Oct2015">{{cite news |last1=Sandhu |first1=Nathan |title=Retail hotspot was once home of the Crewe Alexandra Cricket Club |url=https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/crewe-south-cheshire-news/retail-hotspot-once-home-crewe-10249259 |access-date=16 February 2021 |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=14 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="Morse-01Sep2016">{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Peter |title=Crewe cricket club is planning a big 150th birthday bash |url=https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/sport/cricket/crewe-cricket-club-planning-big-11830747 |access-date=16 February 2021 |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=1 September 2016}}</ref>{{efn|Crisp notes 1950s newspaper correspondence suggesting the formation of a football club was proposed by cricketer [[A.N. Hornby]], who also played professional football, and who elicited the support of 'Thomas Abrams' (presumably Thomas Abraham) and John O'Brien Tandy.<ref name=Crisp6>Crisp, p.6.</ref>}} and named after [[Alexandra of Denmark|Alexandra, Princess of Wales]].<ref>"1877 – A Football Club is formed in Crewe, as a separate organisation from the successful Crewe Cricket Club. They take the name 'Alexandra' after Princess Alexandra": from [http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/potted-history-255195.aspx the club's official website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105125308/http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/potted-history-255195.aspx |date=5 November 2013 }}</ref><ref>Seddon, Peter (2004), ''Football Talk: The language and folklore of the world's greatest game'', Chrysalis Books, London ({{ISBN|1-86105-683-4}}), p.174.</ref> They were based at the [[Alexandra Recreation Ground]] in [[Crewe]], adjacent to [[Crewe railway station]], and played their first match against a side from [[Basford, Staffordshire|Basford]] in North Staffordshire on 1 December 1877, [[Tie (draw)|drawing]] 1–1.<ref name="Dyer"/><ref name=Crisp6/> In 1883, Crewe Alexandra's first match in the [[FA Cup]] was against Scottish club [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]] of Glasgow, losing 10–0.<ref>{{cite news|title=English Challenge Cup. Queen's Park (Glasgow) v. Crewe|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/18831008/056/0004|access-date=5 February 2015|work=Sheffield Daily Telegraph|date=8 October 1883|via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In February 1886, [[William Bell (footballer, born 1859)|William Bell]] became the first Crewe player to win an international [[Cap (sport)|cap]], playing for [[Wales national football team|Wales]] against [[Ireland national football team (1882–1950)|Ireland]] in Wrexham.<ref name="EUFImatch">{{cite web |title=Wales vs Ireland international football match report |url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=4359 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> In [[1887–88 FA Cup|1887–88]], the club reached the [[FA Cup semi-finals]], defeating [[Swifts F.C.|Swifts]],<ref name=Crisp7>Crisp, p.7.</ref>{{efn|Crewe drew 2–2, and lost the replay 3–2, but successfully appealed against the result in respect of the size of the Swifts' goals (the crossbars were too low). Crewe won the replay played at a neutral ground, Derby County's [[Baseball Ground]], 2–1.<ref>Crisp, pp.7, 18.</ref>}} [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] and [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] en route, before going out to [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]. In 1891, the football club split away from the cricket club—a step that was condemned by [[Francis Webb (engineer)|Francis Webb]], chief engineer of the town's [[London and North Western Railway]] (LNWR) [[Crewe works]], who was virulently opposed to professionalism in sport;<ref name=Redfern>Redfern, Allan (1983) "Crewe: Leisure in a railway town" in Walton, John K., and Walvin, James, ''Leisure in Britain, 1780-1939'', Manchester University Press, Manchester, pp.117-136. ISBN  0-7190-0912-X.</ref> following the schism, Webb and the LNWR said the company would "refuse to find employment in the Crewe Works for any professional football player".<ref name="Dyer"/> Consequently, "the football section of the Alexandra Club owed little to the LNWR..., despite the teams being closely linked to the local railway industry"<ref name="Kural">{{cite web |last1=Kural |first1=Tom |title=Listen, it's time to bring back the wheel! |url=https://therailwaymenreview.wordpress.com/2022/09/07/listen-its-time-to-bring-back-the-wheel/ |website=Railwaymen Review |date=7 September 2022 |access-date=7 September 2022}}, quoting Morris's ''Vain Games of No Value? A Social History of Association Football in Britain during its First Century''.</ref> (though one of Webb's successors as LNWR's chief engineer, [[Charles Bowen Cooke]], was "less intractable" and "was President of Crewe Alexandra Football Club and the professional athletics meetings it organised").<ref name=Redfern/>

On 5 March 1892, [[John Pearson (footballer, born 1868)|John Pearson]] became the first Crewe player to win an [[England national football team|England]] cap, playing against Ireland in Belfast;<ref name="Gibbons" /><ref name="Englandstats" /> he remains the only Crewe player capped for the full England side while playing for the club.<ref name="EU - JoP">{{cite web |title=John Hargreaves "Jackie" Pearson |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=16215 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Alexandra Football Ground location 1911.png|thumb|1911 Ordnance Survey map showing Alexandra Football Ground in its current location]]Crewe secretary J.G. Hall helped found the unsuccessful [[The Combination|Combination]] (launched at Crewe's Royal Hotel in early 1889) and then the [[Football Alliance]] (1889–1892).<ref name="Whittle">{{cite news |last1=Whittle |first1=Paul |title=The Football Alliance: Teams Who Didn't Make the League |url=https://the1888letter.com/the-football-alliance-teams-who-didnt-make-the-league/ |access-date=30 November 2021 |work=THE 1888 LETTER: Football Then And Now |date=4 April 2020}}</ref> When the latter merged with the Football League, Crewe were a founding member of the [[Football League Second Division]] in 1892, but lost their league status in 1896 after only four seasons—finishing third from bottom, fourth from bottom, then bottom twice—possibly due to a player budget that was a quarter of that of other clubs.<ref>Crisp, pp. 7–8</ref> The club left the Alexandra Recreation Ground shortly before the end of the [[1895–96 Football League|1895–96 season]], and after playing at a number of different venues, including in nearby [[Sandbach]], they moved to the first [[Gresty Road]] ground in 1897 (in 1906, the club's current ground adjacent to Gresty Road was constructed to the west of its previous site).<ref name=UD>Paul Smith & Shirley Smith (2005) ''The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds Second Edition 1888–2005'', Yore Publications, p62, {{ISBN|0-9547830-4-2}}</ref> Incorporated as a limited company on 29 May 1899,<ref name="CoHo1899">[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00062367/filing-history?page=5 Filed 01 Jan 1995: A selection of documents registered before 1 January 1995, including Memorandum of Association of the Crewe Alexandra Football Club Company Limited, signed 29 May 1899]. Companies House. Retrieved: 22 September 2021</ref>{{efn|The first Articles of Association lists seven directors, three of whom were railway clerks (as was the first company secretary), plus a tailor, grocer, painter and foreman.}} Crewe spent two further seasons in the second incarnation of the Combination from 1896 followed by three seasons in the [[Lancashire League (football)|Lancashire League]], before competing in the [[West Midlands (Regional) League|Birmingham & District League]] for ten years. They also won the [[Cheshire Senior Cup|Cheshire Senior Challenge Cup]] in 1907 and 1910.<ref name=Crisp7/> The team spent the 1910s in [[Central League (England)|the Central League]], finishing second in 1913–14 and 1920–21.<ref name=Crisp8>Crisp, p.8.</ref>

[[File:CreweAlexandraFC League Performance.svg|thumb|300px|right|Chart of table positions of Crewe Alexandra in the Football League.]]

Crewe rejoined the [[English Football League|Football League]] in 1921; they finished 6th in their first two seasons in the [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] but did not finish as high again until [[1931–32 Football League|1931–32]] and [[1935–36 Football League|1935–36]].<ref>Crisp, p.8, p.58, p62.</ref> In October 1932, defender [[Fred Keenor]]'s last Wales appearance marked Crewe's first international cap of the 20th century.<ref name="EU - FrK">{{cite web |title=Fred Keenor |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=10362 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> Crewe's first major honours were [[Welsh Cup]] wins in 1936 and 1937;<ref name=p12/> Crewe is not in [[Wales]] but English clubs, usually from border areas, participated by invitation. In 1936, [[Bert Swindells]] scored his 100th League goal for Crewe,<ref>Crisp, pp.62–63.</ref> going on to score 128 League goals for the club,<ref name=p12>Crisp, p.12.</ref> a [[List of Crewe Alexandra F.C. records and statistics|record that still stands]],<ref name="CAFC">{{cite web|title=Potted History|url=http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/potted-history-255195.aspx|website=Crewe Alexandra|access-date=12 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105125308/http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/potted-history-255195.aspx|archive-date=5 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> as well as goals in both Welsh Cup finals.<ref>Morris, p.99.</ref>

===Post-World War II===
From the 1950s to the early 1980s, Crewe enjoyed only occasional success. Looking over Gresty Road, [[Michael Palin]], in the 1980 [[BBC]] ''[[Great Railway Journeys|Great Railway Journeys of the World]]'' series, described Crewe as "like those other [[railway town]]s, [[Swindon]] and [[Doncaster]], possessed of a football team which is perpetually propping up the bottom of the Fourth Division".<ref name="Fearon-18Aug2012">{{cite news |last1=Fearon |first1=Matthew |title=Dream Teams: Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/dream-teams-crewe-alexandra-1679411.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707124016/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/dream-teams-crewe-alexandra-1679411.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2022 |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=Independent |date=18 August 2012 }}</ref> Between 1894 and 1982, Crewe finished last in the Football League eight times, more than any other league club.<ref>Crisp, pp.25–26, 130–137.</ref> On 25 December 1954, Crewe embarked on a sequence where they did not win [[Road (sports)|away]] from home for 56 matches; the run ended with a 1–0 win at [[Southport F.C.|Southport]] on 24 April 1957.<ref>Crisp, pp.86–89.</ref> Crewe finished bottom of Division Three North three times in a row from [[1955–56 Football League|1955–56]] to [[1957–58 Football League|1957–58]], tallying just 28, 21 and 23 points from 46 games in each respective season.<ref>Crisp, pp.133–134.</ref> The club was placed into the newly formed [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in [[1958–59 Football League|1958–59]].<ref>Crisp, p.90.</ref>

All-time records were set against First Division [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in the FA Cup fourth round in 1960. A new record Gresty Road attendance of 20,000 saw Crewe hold Spurs to a 2–2 draw on 30 January.<ref name="Crisp, pp.9, 91">Crisp, pp.9, 91.</ref> On 3 February, Tottenham convincingly won the [[Replay (sports)|replay]] 13–2, Crewe's record defeat.<ref>Crisp, pp.9, 12, 91.</ref> The following year, however, [[Jimmy McGuigan]]'s Crewe side defeated another First Division club, [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], 2–1 in the FA Cup at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]] on 7 January 1961. Chelsea's side included former Crewe player [[Frank Blunstone]]—who scored Chelsea's goal—as well as England internationals [[Peter Bonetti]], [[Jimmy Greaves]] and [[Terry Venables]].<ref name="Stamford-Bridge">{{cite web |title=Match detail: Chelsea v Crewe Alexandra |url=http://www.stamford-bridge.com/match.php?mid=2380&opp=Crewe%20Alexandra |website=Stamford-Bridge.com: The history of Chelsea F.C. |access-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> Crewe were then again drawn against the eventual [[Double (association football)|double]]-winning Spurs side, who won 5–1 in the fourth round at [[White Hart Lane]].<ref name="HotspurHQ">{{cite web |last1=Holmes |first1=Logan |title=Tottenham On This Day: Spurs Put Five Past Crewe In FA Cup |url=https://hotspurhq.com/2014/01/28/tottenham-day-spurs-put-five-past-crewe-fa-cup/ |website=Hotspur HQ |access-date=21 March 2021 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415015410/https://hotspurhq.com/2014/01/28/tottenham-day-spurs-put-five-past-crewe-fa-cup/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====1960s promotions and relegations====
In 1963, Crewe secured their first [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] to the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]], winning the season's final game against [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]], with [[Frank Lord]] scoring the only goal in front of a crowd of 9,807 at Gresty Road. Lord holds the record for most hat-tricks for the club with eight,<ref name="Riddle">{{cite book|first=Andy|last=Riddle|title=Plymouth Argyle: 101 Golden Greats|year=2001|publisher=Desert Island Books|location=Westcliff-on-Sea|isbn=1-874287-47-3|pages=105–106}}</ref> and he scored a then record 33 goals that season, forming a strong partnership with [[Johnny King (footballer, born 1932)|Johnny King]] (17 goals).<ref>Morris, p.122.</ref> The club finished in third place, behind champions [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] and [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]], but were relegated back to Division Four the [[1963–64 Football League|following season]]. In the [[1964–65 in English football|1964–65 season]], [[Terry Harkin]] set a new record of 34 league goals for Crewe.<ref name="ENFA">{{ENFA}}</ref><ref name=p12/> Managed by [[Ernie Tagg]], the club achieved promotion for a second time in [[1967–68 in English football|1967–68]], but again spent just one season in the Third Division.<ref>Crisp, pp.99–100.</ref>

====1970s and early 1980s====
From 1969, Crewe spent 20 years in Division Four, finishing bottom in [[1971–72 in English football|1971–72]], [[1978–79 in English football|1978–79]] and [[1981–82 in English football|1981–82]], and not achieving a top half finish until 1985.<ref>Crisp, pp.135–136.</ref> In 1974, they came within two minutes of taking [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] into [[Overtime (sports)|extra time]] in a [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] third round replay at [[Villa Park]].<ref name="AVHistory"/> In 1977, [[Tommy Lowry]] played his record-setting 475th and last game for the Railwaymen; he had earlier passed [[Peter Leigh]]'s total of 430 appearances between 1960 and 1972.<ref name=p12/> From February to September 1979, the club went a record 16 matches (15 league, one League Cup tie) without winning at Gresty Road.<ref>Crisp, pp.110–111.</ref> In December 1979, manager [[Tony Waddington]] signed the [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] [[Bruce Grobbelaar]] who kept eight [[Shutout|clean-sheets]] in his 24 matches played,<ref>Crisp, p.111.</ref> and, on 5 May 1980, scored a penalty—his only professional goal—to seal a 2–0 victory over [[York City F.C.|York City]].<ref name="ESPN-23May2012">{{cite news |last1=Hackett |first1=Robin |title=Bruce Grobbelaar: Tears of a clown |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/columns/story/_/id/1077154/the-mavericks:-bruce-grobbelaar |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=ESPN |date=23 May 2012 |archive-date=7 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007221744/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/columns/story/_/id/1077154/the-mavericks:-bruce-grobbelaar |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Gradi years (1983–2011)===
[[File:Gradi, Dario.jpg|thumb|Dario Gradi managed 1,359 Crewe first team games]]

In June 1983, after Crewe finished second from bottom at the end of the [[1982–83 in English football|1982–83 season]], the club chairman [[Norman Rowlinson]] appointed [[Milan]]-born [[Dario Gradi]] as manager.<ref name="CreweChron2006">{{cite news |title=Alex saviour Rowlinson loses battle |url=http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/crewealexandra/news/tm_headline%3Dalex-saviour-rowlinson-loses-battle-%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D17609844%26siteid%3D50020-name_page.html |access-date=22 September 2022 |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=23 August 2006 |archive-date=14 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714092446/http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/crewealexandra/news/tm_headline=alex-saviour-rowlinson-loses-battle-&method=full&objectid=17609844&siteid=50020-name_page.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>Hornbrook, p.11.</ref> Gradi looked to build an academy structure to develop players that could be sold to help fund the player development programme.<ref>Hornbrook, p.14.</ref> Among his early transfer successes were [[Geoff Thomas (footballer, born 1964)|Geoff Thomas]] and [[John Pemberton (footballer)|John Pemberton]] (both signed from [[Rochdale F.C.|Rochdale]] and sold to [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], in 1987 and 1988 respectively),<ref name="McGarry">{{cite news|last1=McGarry|first1=Graham|title=Dario Gradi – Crewe's longest serving manager|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2009/07/02/dario_tribute_feature.shtml|access-date=30 March 2017|work=BBC Radio Stoke|date=2 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="Thomas">{{cite book|last1=Thomas|first1=Geoff|title=Riding Through The Storm: My Fight Back to Fitness on the Tour de France|date=2008|publisher=Hachette|location=London}}</ref> and former [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] apprentice [[David Platt]], signed in 1985 and sold to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] for £200,000 in February 1988.<ref>Hornbrook, p.38.</ref>

Under Gradi, and despite some Crewe fans' initial reservations,<ref>Crisp, p.9</ref> Crewe played attractive, technical football and gained a reputation for developing young talent. [[Steve Walters (footballer)|Steve Walters]] became Crewe's youngest player, aged just 16 years and 119 days when he played against [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] on 7 May 1988.<ref>Crisp, p.119.</ref> In 1989, Crewe won their third promotion, a 1–1 draw at [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] enough to take both teams into the Third Division.<ref>Hornbrook, pp.47–48.</ref> Meanwhile, on 7 January 1989, Crewe had hosted Aston Villa—and Platt—at Gresty Road in the FA Cup third round, taking a 2–0 lead before the visitors rallied to secure a 3–2 win,<ref>Crisp, p.120.</ref><ref>Hornbrook, pp.46.</ref> with Platt netting the winner but refusing to celebrate against his former club.<ref>Morris, p.233.</ref> A year later, on 6 January 1990, Crewe were drawn away at Chelsea in the third round; Walters gave Crewe a first-half lead at Stamford Bridge before Chelsea equalised in the 82nd minute to force a replay, which they won 2–0.<ref>Crisp, p.121.</ref><ref>Hornbrook, pp.51–52.</ref> In March 1990, Crewe defender [[Paul Edwards (footballer, born 1963)|Paul Edwards]] was sold to [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] for £350,000;<ref name="CCFPA">{{cite web |title=Members News: Its Xmas! But Congrats To Former Sky Blue Paul Edwards Whose Birthday It Is! |url=http://www.ccfpa.co.uk/?p=38320 |website=Coventry City Former Players Association |access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref> he was later named in the [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#Third Division|1989-1990 Third Division PFA Team of the Year]],<ref name=Lynch148>{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=148}}</ref> Crewe's first player to feature in the awards.

Crewe were relegated in 1991. However, despite further player sales―defender [[Rob Jones (footballer, born 1971)|Rob Jones]] joined [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] for £300,000,<ref name="LFCHistory-transfers">{{cite web |title=Transfers to or from Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.lfchistory.net/Transfers/ByClub/134 |website=LFC History |access-date=22 March 2021}}</ref> then [[Craig Hignett]] was sold for a club record £500,000 to [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]<ref>Hornbrook, p.75.</ref>―the club reached the [[1993 Football League Third Division play-off Final|1993 Third Division play-off final]] but lost against York City at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]].<ref>Crisp, pp.10, 124.</ref> Crewe then gained promotion in 1994 after a final day victory at [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]].<ref>Crisp, p.125.</ref><ref>Hornbrook, p.86.</ref> In the same year, [[Neil Lennon]] became the first Crewe player to win an international cap since Fred Keenor in 1932 when he was selected to play for [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] against [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2008/01/11/sport_crewe_alexandra_feature.shtml |title=Crewe Alexandra |work=BBC Leeds |date=11 January 2008 |access-date=21 November 2013 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925070000/http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2008/01/11/sport_crewe_alexandra_feature.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Crewe twice lost in play-off semi-finals, to [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]] in 1995<ref>Hornbrook, pp.98.</ref> and [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] in 1996,<ref>Hornbrook, pp.105.</ref><ref>Crisp, pp.126, 127.</ref> then returned to Wembley in the [[1997 Football League Second Division play-off Final|1997 Division Two play-off final]], securing a 1–0 victory over [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] to put the club back in the second tier for the first time since 1896.<ref name=p1028>Crisp, pp.10, 128.</ref>

====Second tier survival====
Crewe achieved their highest finishing position, 11th, in the [[1997–98 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|1997–98 First Division season]].<ref name=p12/> Gradi kept his team in the division until 2002, despite a matchday income on which many more lowly clubs could not survive. Boosting the finances, notable player sales included Lennon (to [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] for £750,000),<ref>{{cite news |title=Newcastle on the verge of signing Batty |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/newcastle-on-the-verge-of-signing-batty-1320624.html |work=[[The Independent]] |date=23 February 1996 |access-date=16 April 2012 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610194628/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/newcastle-on-the-verge-of-signing-batty-1320624.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Danny Murphy (footballer, born 1977)|Danny Murphy]] (to Liverpool for an initial fee of £1.5m),<ref name="LFCHistory-transfers"/> and [[Seth Johnson (footballer)|Seth Johnson]] (to [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] for £3m).<ref name="Burnton-28Feb2012">{{cite news |last1=Burnton |first1=Simon |title=The forgotten story of ... Seth Johnson in an England shirt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/feb/28/seth-johnson-england |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=Guardian |date=28 February 2012}}</ref> Gradi celebrated his 1,000th game in charge of Crewe on 20 November 2001.<ref name="BBC-20Nov2001">{{cite news |title=Gradi's landmark |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/1665802.stm |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=20 November 2001}}</ref>

After one season in the [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]] the team were promoted back to Division One at the end of the [[2002–03 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2002–03 season]],<ref name="statto">{{cite web|title=Crewe Alexandra 2002/03|url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/crewe-alexandra/2002-2003/results|website=Statto|access-date=14 June 2014|archive-date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216141615/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/crewe-alexandra/2002-2003/results|url-status=live}}</ref> having finished in second place—Crewe's first runner-up position—with [[Rob Hulse]] scoring 22 league goals, and being named in the [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)|PFA Team of the Year]],<ref name="McKechnie-28Apr2003">{{cite news |last1=McKechnie |first1=David |title=Henry lands PFA award |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/apr/28/newsstory.premierleague200203 |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=Guardian |date=28 April 2003}}</ref> ahead of a £750,000 transfer to [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]].<ref name="BBC-11Jul2003">{{cite news |title=Baggies bag duo |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/3055657.stm |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=11 July 2003}}</ref> Crewe retained their Division One place in the [[2003–04 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2003–04 season]], during which assistant manager Neil Baker took temporary charge between 22 September and 17 October 2003 while Gradi underwent heart surgery.<ref name="Guardian-23Sep2003">{{cite news |title=Gradi undergoes heart surgery |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/sep/23/newsstory.sport8 |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=Guardian |agency=PA |date=23 September 2003}}</ref> At the start of the [[2004–05 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2004–05 season]], Crewe were rated one of the teams most likely to be relegated from the newly renamed 'Championship'. In the event, they put in a good showing in the first half of the season, but after selling [[Dean Ashton]] to [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] for £3 million in the January 2005 transfer window,<ref name="Flown">{{cite web |title=Dean Ashton |url=http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/ashton.htm |website=Flown from the Nest |access-date=22 March 2021}}</ref> Crewe failed to win until the final match of the season, when they defeated [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] 2–1 to avoid relegation on [[goal difference]]. However, they were relegated to [[EFL League One|League One]] (level three) the [[2005–06 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|following season]]. Nonetheless, Crewe were named the "Most Admired Club" in the 2006 [[EFL Awards|Football League Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.crewealex.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10414~798054,00.html |title=Crewe Alexandra {{!}} News {{!}} Latest News {{!}} Latest News {{!}} Crewe Delighted With Award |date=6 March 2006 |website=www.crewealex.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com |access-date=4 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405032821/http://www.crewealex.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10414~798054,00.html |archive-date=5 April 2018 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

====Stepping back====
By the summer of 2007, Gradi was the [[List of football managers with most games|longest-serving manager]] in English league football, having completed 24 years in sole charge of the club. Crewe 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 (footballer)|Steve Holland]] control of the team.<ref name="Rostance-21Apr2007">{{cite news |last1=Rostance |first1=Tom |title=Gradi gets new role after 24 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/apr/21/newsstory.crewe |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=Guardian |date=21 April 2007}}</ref> Holland's first season was a disappointment as the club narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 20th with 50 points.<ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406153716/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/table/default.stm|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/tables|title=Coca-Cola Football League One: Table|work=BBC News|archive-date=6 April 2008|url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2013}}</ref> Ahead of his second season, he spent half a million pounds on new signings, while striker [[Nicky Maynard]] joined [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] for £2.25 million.<ref name="BBC-31Jul2008">{{cite news |title=Bristol City clinch Maynard deal |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/7533626.stm |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=31 July 2008}}</ref> However, despite a positive pre-season, Crewe took only nine points from their first 16 games. The board sacked Holland as first team coach in November 2008, and re-appointed Gradi as [[caretaker manager]].<ref name="Times-18Nov2008">{{cite news |title=Crewe Alexandra sack manager Steve Holland |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/crewe-alexandra-sack-manager-steve-holland-w8gvz8vk2xn |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=Times |date=18 November 2008}}</ref>

On 24 December 2008, former Stoke City manager [[Guðjón Þórðarson|Gudjon Thordarson]] was appointed as Holland's successor.<ref name="Guardian-24Dec2008">{{cite news |title=Thordarson confirmed as new Crewe manager |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/dec/24/crewealexandra |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=Guardian |date=24 December 2008}}</ref> He made a promising start, and received the February 2009 [[EFL League One Manager of the Month|Manager of the Month]] award (the first Crewe manager to win the award),<ref name="Thordarson">{{Cite news|date=6 March 2009|title=Thordarson pays tribute to squad|work=BBC Sport|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/7928449.stm|access-date=18 May 2009}}</ref> but the team suffered a poor end-of-season run, not winning for 10 games, and were relegated to [[EFL League Two|League Two]]. On 2 October 2009, after nine months in charge and another poor run of results, Thordarson was sacked,<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/8286658.stm Thordarson sacked as Crewe boss] BBC Sport; 2 October 2009</ref> and Gradi was reinstated as caretaker manager. Despite lingering close to the playoff places for the majority of the season, another run of poor form saw the club finish 18th. Crewe improved to 10th in the [[2010–11 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2010–11 season]], during which Gradi won the January 2011 Manager of the Month.<ref name="LMA2011">{{cite web |title=Manager of the Month 2010-2011 |url=https://leaguemanagers.com/managers/manager-of-the-month/league-two/?season=2010 |website=League Managers Association |access-date=3 November 2021 |archive-date=3 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103113556/https://leaguemanagers.com/managers/manager-of-the-month/league-two/?season=2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In November 2011, Gradi finally stepped down as manager and returned to his previous role as director of football focusing on youth development.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15675372 Dario Gradi steps down as Crewe Alexandra manager] BBC Sport; 10 October 2011</ref>

===2011 to present day===
[[Steve Davis (footballer born 1965)|Steve Davis]] was appointed manager in the same month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crewealex.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10414~2511452,00.html/|title=Davis To Take Over As First Team Manager|date=10 November 2011|publisher=Crewe Alexandra F.C|access-date=10 November 2011}}</ref> Previously manager of nearby [[Nantwich Town F.C.|Nantwich Town]], Davis had been appointed assistant manager in June 2009, replacing former assistant Neil Baker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/crewe-alex-fc/crewe-alex-fc-news/2009/06/17/steve-davis-will-start-work-at-crewe-alex-on-monday-96135-23904635/|title=Davis Becomes Alex Assistant|date=17 June 2009|newspaper=Crewe Chronicle|access-date=16 June 2009}}</ref> Davis immediately led the team to a 16-match unbeaten run in early 2012 up to 7th position, earning the club a play-off place.<ref>Alex secure play-offs spot, ''[http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide3/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer_league_1_and_2/12/05/05/manual_183552.html&TEAMHD=nationwide3&BID=422 Sporting Life]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}'' (retrieved: 6 May 2012)</ref> Crewe defeated [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] in the two-legged semi-final, extending the unbeaten run to a club record 18 matches<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18109180 | work=BBC News | title=Go and finish the job, says Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis. | date=17 May 2012}}</ref> and securing a [[2012 Football League Two play-off Final|play-off final]] against [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]] at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] on 27 May 2012 which they won 2–0; the goalscorers were academy graduates [[Nick Powell]] and [[Byron Moore]].<ref name=guardrep>{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A291072517/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=28b2b9e1 | via = [[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] | access-date = 3 February 2021 | title = League Two play-off final: Powell serves notice of rare talent to earn Crewe play-off glory: Cheltenham T 0 Crewe Alexandra | first = John | last = Ashdown | date = 28 May 2012 | work = [[The Guardian]] | page = 5 | url-access = subscription | archive-date = 4 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210204212740/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA291072517&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=28b2b9e1 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=timesrep>{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A291069735/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=b6547116 | via = [[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] | access-date = 3 February 2021 | title = Crewe get a parting gift from Powell | first = Jon | last = West | date = 28 May 2021 | work = [[The Times]] | page = 9 | url-access = subscription | archive-date = 4 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210204212709/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA291069735&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=b6547116 | url-status = live }}</ref>

Before the [[2012–13 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2012–13 season]], Crewe sold Powell to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], and on transfer deadline day captain [[Ashley Westwood (footballer born 1990)|Ashley Westwood]] joined [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. However, with new academy players coming into the first team, Crewe returned to Wembley to win the [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]], beating Southend United [[2013 Football League Trophy Final|2–0 in the final]] in April 2013.<ref name=Osborne>{{cite news|last=Osborne|first=Chris|title=Crewe 2 – Southend 0|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21986344|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=8 April 2013}}</ref> In the league, Crewe finished in mid-table; they ended the season by fielding a team whose starting line-up were all Crewe Academy graduates.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crewe 2–0 Walsall|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22229034|access-date=29 April 2013|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=27 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Scott|first=Ged|title=Crewe Alexandra: Dario Gradi's academy dream set to come true|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22278754|access-date=29 April 2013|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=24 April 2013}}</ref>

[[File:John Bowler (in 2000).png|thumb|John Bowler in 2000. He served as chairman from 1988 until resigning in March 2021 following criticisms in [[Sexual abuse cases at Crewe Alexandra F.C.|the FA's sex abuse inquiry]].]]

In March 2014, [[John Bowler (businessman)|John Bowler]], Crewe chairman since 1988,{{efn|Different sources give varying dates (some suggest 1987), however records at Companies House show Rowlinson was chairman in May 1988; Bowler had become chairman by the time the following year's accounts were signed in May 1989.}} was honoured with the Contribution to League Football Award at The Football League Awards.<ref name=award>{{cite web|title=John Bowler honoured with Contribution to League Football Award|url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/flawards/news/20140316/john-bowler-honoured-with-contribution-to-league-football-award_2293338_3713279|work=The Football League|access-date=24 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322102335/http://www.football-league.co.uk/flawards/news/20140316/john-bowler-honoured-with-contribution-to-league-football-award_2293338_3713279|archive-date=22 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Dario Gradi had earlier won the same award, in 2011. In the [[2015 New Year Honours]], Bowler was awarded an [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]] for services to football; Gradi was presented an MBE in January 1998.<ref name=LMA/><ref name=humbled>{{cite news|title=Crewe Alexandra: Chairman John Bowler 'humbled' by MBE award|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30642096|access-date=6 February 2015|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=31 December 2014}}</ref>

Crewe retained their place in League One in the [[2013–14 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2013–14 season]], but started the [[2014–15 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|following season]] poorly, gaining four points from the first 11 League games. Some sustained runs of better results pulled the club out of the relegation places. The team needed at least a home draw against Bradford City to secure safety but lost 1–0 and had to rely on results elsewhere to ensure League One football for another year, finishing two points above the bottom four in 20th.<ref name=Bradford>{{cite news|title=Crewe 0 – 1 Bradford|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32471095|access-date=4 May 2015}}</ref>

The [[2015–16 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2015–16 season]] started in a similar pattern, with the team winning just two of their first 15 league games. They also crashed out of the FA Cup in the first round against [[Non-League football|non-league]] [[Eastleigh F.C.|Eastleigh]],<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34685303 Crewe 0–1 Eastleigh], BBC Sport, 7 November 2015. Retrieved: 12 November 2015.</ref> forcing Davis to defend his position as the 'right man' for the job.<ref name="BBC right man">{{cite news|title=Steve Davis: Crewe boss insists he is 'right man' for the job|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34779431|access-date=12 November 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=10 November 2015}}</ref> Crewe's relegation to League Two was confirmed following a 3–0 defeat at local rivals [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]], with five games remaining.<ref name="PV">{{cite news|title=Port Vale 3–0 Crewe Alexandra|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35949609|access-date=9 April 2016|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=9 April 2016}}</ref> After an initially promising start to the [[2016–17 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|following season]], Crewe's form slumped in late 2016, and on 8 January 2017, Davis was sacked as Crewe manager.<ref name="Club Part Company With Steve Davis">{{cite press release | url=http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/2016-17/club-part-company-with-steve-davis-3508191.aspx | title=Club Part Company With Steve Davis | publisher=Crewe Alexandra F.C. | date=8 January 2017 | access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref>

Former Crewe defender and Academy operations manager [[David Artell]] replaced Davis.<ref>{{cite news|date=8 July 2014|title=Artell Replaces Michael Jolley|work=crewealex.net|url=http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/artell-replaces-michael-jolley-1726977.aspx|access-date=7 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="DavisSacked-8Jan2017">{{cite news|title=Crewe Alexandra: David Artell named manager after sacking of Steve Davis|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38547790|access-date=8 January 2017|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=8 January 2017}}</ref> Artell maintained the flow of academy players and, as Crewe improved to 15th at the end of the [[2017–18 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2017–18 season]], he emulated Davis in selecting another starting line-up who were all Crewe Academy graduates.<ref name="BBC-5May2018">{{cite news|title=Crewe Alexandra 2–1 Cheltenham Town|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43931753|access-date=10 May 2018|work=BBC Sport|agency=BBC|date=5 May 2018}}</ref>

After 36 years involvement with the club, Gradi, 78, announced his retirement from all positions at Crewe Alexandra on 7 October 2019.<ref name="Morse-07Oct2019">{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Peter |title=Dario Gradi retires from positions at Crewe Alex |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/dario-gradi-retires-positions-crewe-17044705 |access-date=7 October 2019 |work=Cheshire Live |date=7 October 2019}}</ref> In February 2020, further changes to the club's board were announced with local businessman Stuart Whitby<ref name="Morse-01Apr2020">{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Peter |title=Investing in great escape made perfect sense for new Crewe Alex director Stuart Whitby |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/investing-great-escape-made-perfect-18016456 |access-date=9 August 2020 |work=Cheshire Live |date=1 April 2020}}</ref> and former Nantwich Town chairman Tony Davison joining the board following a £1.75m buy-out of majority shareholder Norman Hassall. The Railwaymen Supporters Society also raised £250,000,<ref name="Morse-04Feb2020">{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Peter |title=Nantwich Town chairman Tony Davison resigns to become a director at Crewe Alex |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/nantwich-town-chairman-tony-davison-17683816 |access-date=4 February 2020 |work=Cheshire Live |date=4 February 2020}}</ref> to earn the right for a Crewe fans' representative on the club's new board.<ref name="Tantram-03Feb2020">{{cite news |last1=Tantram |first1=Tim |title=#Project250 – Target Achieved! |url=https://railwaymen.co.uk/index.php/2020/02/03/project250-target-achieved/ |access-date=4 February 2020 |work=The Railwaymen Supporters Society |date=3 February 2020}}</ref>

On the pitch, Artell's progress since 2017 culminated in Crewe vying for promotion for much of the [[2019–20 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2019–20 season]], with the club top of the table (ahead of [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] on goal difference) when the football season was suspended in March 2020 amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]]. On 9 June, Crewe's promotion to League One was confirmed, but Swindon were crowned League Two champions on the basis of average points per game.<ref name="BBC-09Jun2020">{{cite news |title=League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52705124 |access-date=9 June 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 June 2020}}</ref> Artell was selected as League Two Manager of the Year in the [[League Managers Association Awards]]<ref name="Powell-27Jul2020">{{cite news |last1=Powell |first1=David |title=Crewe Alex boss David Artell picks up LMA Manager of the Year accolade for League Two |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/crewe-alex-boss-david-artell-18672685 |access-date=27 July 2020 |work=Cheshire Live |date=27 July 2020}}</ref>—becoming the first Crewe manager to win such an annual award—and two Academy graduates, [[Perry Ng]] and [[Charlie Kirk (footballer)|Charlie Kirk]], were named in the [[PFA Team of the Year (2010s)|PFA League Two Team of the Year]].<ref name="PFA">{{cite web |title=PFA Awards |url=https://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfa-awards |website=PFA |access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref> Crewe finished 12th in League One at the end of the [[2019–20 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2020–21 season]] – the club's highest finish since relegation from the Championship in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title=Young Crewe Alexandra squad consolidate League One status |url=https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2021/04/20/young-crewe-alexandra-squad-consolidate-league-one-status/ |access-date=11 May 2021 |work=Nantwich News |date=20 April 2021}}</ref>

However, the following season was "one of the worst" seasons in Crewe's modern history; the club was relegated with four games still to play after a 2–0 defeat at [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] on 9 April 2022.<ref name="BBC-09Apr2022">{{cite news |title=Doncaster Rovers 2-0 Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60963575 |access-date=10 April 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 April 2022}}</ref> Two days later, Crewe parted company with Artell; assistant manager [[Alex Morris (footballer)|Alex Morris]] was appointed interim manager,<ref name="BBC-11Apr2022">{{cite news |title=David Artell: Crewe Alexandra part company with boss following relegation to League Two |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61070258 |access-date=11 April 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=11 April 2022}}</ref>
becoming the permanent manager on 28 April 2022.<ref name="CAFC-28Apr2022">{{cite news |title=Alex Morris Appointed First-Team Manager |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2022/april/alex-morris-appointed-first-team-manager/ |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=CreweAlex |date=28 April 2022}}</ref> However, just over six month later, on 4 November 2022, Morris, winless in nine games, stepped down as manager for family reasons and reverted to assistant manager. [[Lee Bell]] became interim manager<ref>{{cite news|title=Alex Morris steps down as First-Team Manager |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2022/november/alex-morris-steps-down-as-first-team-manager/ |access-date=4 November 2022 |work=Crewe Alexandra |date=4 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="BBC-04Nov2022">{{cite news |title=Alex Morris: Crewe Alexandra boss steps down to be assistant, Lee Bell becomes interim manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63517779 |access-date=4 November 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=4 November 2022}}</ref> and on 1 December 2022 was given the job on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2022/december/lee-bell-appointed-first-team-manager/|title=Lee Bell appointed First Team Manager|website=www.crewealex.net|date=1 December 2022|accessdate=1 December 2022}}</ref>

Bell managed the side to 13th place at the end of the [[2022–23 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2022–23 season]],<ref name="BBC-08May2023">{{cite news |title=Newport County 2-2 Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65445729 |access-date=9 May 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2023}}</ref> improving to 6th place the [[2023–24 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|following season]]; in the [[2024 English Football League play-offs|play-offs]], they beat Doncaster to reach a fourth [[2024 EFL League Two play-off final|play-off final]],<ref name="BBC-27Apr2024">{{cite news |title=Colchester United 1-1 Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68862488 |access-date=29 April 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=27 April 2024}}</ref> but lost 2–0 to [[Crawley Town F.C.|Crawley Town]] at Wembley on 19 May 2024.<ref name="BBC-19May2024">{{cite news |title=Crawley Town Crawley Town 2 0 Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/crgygex110jt |access-date=20 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2024}}</ref> Crewe vied for promotion for much of the [[2024–25 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season|2024–25 season]] and were in the automatic promotion places until late January, but won just three of their last 18 games to eventually finish 13th again.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bell 'really clear' on what Crewe need next season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5ygwjl3999o |access-date=30 May 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=24 April 2025}}</ref>

==Stadiums==
[[File:Alexandra Recreation Ground - 1888 OS map detail.png|thumb|Detail of 1888 OS map showing Crewe Alexandra's first two grounds: the Alexandra Recreation Ground and its adjacent football ground]]

===Alexandra Recreation Ground===
{{Main|Alexandra Recreation Ground}}
Until 1896, Crewe played at the [[Alexandra Recreation Ground]], located just to the north of the modern-day [[Gresty Road]]. After playing at various venues in 1896 and 1897, including in nearby [[Sandbach]], the club returned to the same area of Crewe, adjacent to [[Crewe railway station]], to play at the first Gresty Road ground, located to the south-east of the original stadium. In 1906 the ground was demolished to make way for some new railway lines, and a new Gresty Road stadium was built on a site directly to the west.<ref name=UD/><ref name=UD2>Smith & Smith, p13</ref>

===Gresty Road===
{{Main|Gresty Road}}
[[File:Gresty Road - geograph.org.uk - 1493956.jpg|thumb|Gresty Road in 1998, looking east towards the Family Stand, with the old main stand on the right]]
[[File:Gresty Road, Crewe.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph|Main stand (left) and Gresty Road End]]

The pitch runs approximately east to west, with teams playing either west towards Gresty Road or east towards the railway station. The main stand has always been situated on the south side of the ground. Until the 1990s, the main stand was a wooden structure, built in 1932 after a fire destroyed the original stand,<ref name=UD2>Smith & Smith, p13</ref><ref>Morris, pp.96–97.</ref> offering the ground's only (wooden) seating plus a standing area―'The Paddock'―while the other three sides were all standing terraces. This configuration saw the club's record attendance when 20,000 people watched the FA Cup third round tie against Spurs in 1960.<ref name=p12/>

During the 1990s, phased modernisation saw open terracing at the "Railway End" (at one time a roughly formed "ash bank" terraced with sleepers) replaced by a new family stand in 1993.<ref>Hornbrook, p.71.</ref> The "Gresty Road End" (then the main away supporters area) was also replaced by an all-seater stand in 1995;<ref>Hornbrook, p.100.</ref> and the partially-covered northern stand (the home supporters' "Pop Side") was replaced by an all-seater stand in 1996–97.<ref>Hornbrook, p.117.</ref> Completion of the final phase in 2000, including construction of a new £5.2 million main stand, saw some reorganisation of seating allocations. 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 hosted its first crowd of over 10,000 in the now all-seater stadium in 2000<ref>Hornbrook, p.170.</ref> with the record attendance of 10,092 when Crewe played [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] on 12 March 2002.<ref name="doing92">{{cite web |title=Crewe Alexandra 1–3 Manchester City |url=http://doingthe92.com/display_game.asp?Step=40&eventid=62592&C=54&T=72 |website=Doing the 92 |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref> The Gresty Road End and main stand are solely for home supporters.<ref name="Stadiums">{{cite web |title=Alexandra Stadium: Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/grounds/england/alexandra-stadium/ |website=Football Stadiums |date=9 May 2016 |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref>

In June 2021, the club agreed a £0.5m naming rights deal with its then long-term shirt sponsor [[Mornflake]]; the ground would be called the "Mornflake Stadium";<ref name="BBC-10Jun2021">{{cite news |title=Crewe Alexandra: Gresty Road is rebranded as Mornflake Stadium |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57246383 |access-date=13 June 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=10 June 2021}}</ref> in December 2023, Mornflake extended their stadium and shirt sponsorship,<ref name=Rial>{{cite news |last1=Rial |first1=Bradley |title=Crewe Alexandra extends with stadium sponsor Mornflake |url=https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2023/12/21/crewe-alexandra-extends-with-stadium-sponsor-mornflake/ |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=The Stadium Business |date=21 December 2023}}</ref> and in April 2025 it extended its stadium naming rights deal again.<ref name="sponsors" /> Also known as the Alexandra Stadium, it has an all-seated capacity of 10,153. It features four stands:<ref name="Stadiums"/>
*The "Boughey Stand",<ref>{{cite news |title=Company Renews Commitment to Crewe Alexandra |url=https://boughey.co.uk/company-renews-commitment-to-crewe-alexandra/ |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=Boughey |date=23 June 2023}}</ref> or main stand, seats 6,809 spectators and also has a directors area and media seating, and houses the club's offices, team changing rooms, hospitality facilities, ticket office and club shop.<ref name="CAFC-Boughey">{{cite web |title=Boughey Distribution To Sponsor Main Stand (1 August 2022) |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2022/august/boughey-distribution-to-sponsor-main-stand/ |website=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=18 August 2022}}</ref>
*The "KPI Recruiting Stand",<ref>{{cite news |title=Crewe Alexandra announce new KPI Recruiting Partnership |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2023/july/crewe-alexandra-announce-new-kpi-recruiting-partnership/ |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=14 July 2023}}</ref> also known as the "Gresty Road End", accommodates 982 spectators and 4 disabled spectators. A bar for home supporters is situated to the north of this stand.
*"The Andrew Connolly Financial Planning Stand",<ref>{{cite news |title=Venue: Mornflake Stadium, Crewe Alexandra |url=https://behindsport.com/venue-mornflake-stadium-crewe-alexandra/ |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=BehindSport |date=1 September 2022}}</ref> also known as the "Railway End", accommodates 682 spectators.
*The "[[Whitby Morrison]] Ice Cream Van Stand",<ref name="icecream">{{cite web |title=Whitby Morrison Extend Partnership (7 August 2020) |website=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2020/august/whitby-morrison-extend-partnership/ |publisher=CAFC |access-date=9 August 2020}}</ref> formerly the "Pop Side", accommodates 1,680 away spectators, and also houses the ground's matchday video filming facilities. In July 2021, Whitby Morrison announced a 99-year extension of its stand sponsorship at Crewe.<ref name="CAFC-22Jul2021">{{cite news |title=Whitby Morrison agree to one of the longest sponsorship deals in sporting history |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2021/july/99-reasons-to-celebrate-one-of-the-longest-sponsorship-deals-in-sporting-history/ |access-date=23 July 2021 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=22 July 2021}}</ref>

Should the ground require expansion, the most likely change will be redevelopment of the Ice Cream Van Stand to become a two-tiered stand.<ref name="Stadiums"/> In February 2023, the club announced plans to install 3,000 solar panels above spaces in the car park south of the main (Boughey) stand, with energy to be used to power the stadium or to bring in cash.<ref name="BBC-03Feb2023">{{cite news |title=Crewe Alexandra Football Club plans large solar farm on car park |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-64498161 |access-date=5 February 2023 |work=BBC News |date=3 February 2023}}</ref>

==Club identity==
[[File:Crewe alexandra 1988-1989.gif|thumb|Crewe Alexandra kit, 1988–1989]]

Since the late 1890s, the main (home) Crewe playing strip has featured a red or predominantly red top, usually with white shorts (though red and black shorts have also been briefly adopted) and red socks.<ref name="HFK"/> The team played in white shirts and blue shorts from 1886 to 1896, but have since played mainly in red and white.<ref name="HFK">{{cite web |title=Crewe Alexandra |url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Crewe_Alexandra/Crewe_Alexandra.htm |website=Historical Football Kits |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="Beautiful">{{cite web |title=Crewe Alexandra |url=https://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/crewe-alexandra/ |website=The Beautiful History Of Club Crests, Club Colours & Nicknames |date=12 November 2010 |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref> The red shirts earned the early nickname of the "Robins",<ref name="Beautiful"/> though the club is more commonly referred to as the "Alex" or the "Railwaymen" (reflecting the club's railway works founders, the town's associations with the railway industry, and the club's proximity to Crewe railway station).<ref name="HFK"/>

Crewe's away colours have varied. Blue, white or blue-and-white shirts have been the most commonly adopted, but during the 21st century, the club has also occasionally played in other colours;<ref name="FSH">{{cite web |title=Crewe Alexandra |url=https://footballshirthistory.weebly.com/c---g/category/crewe-alexandra |website=Football Shirts History |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> black with a gold trim was adopted for the 2021–2022 season,<ref name="CAFC-09Jul2021">{{cite news |title=New 2021-22 Away Shirt Revealed |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2021/july/new-2021-22-away-shirt-revealed/ |access-date=14 July 2021 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=9 July 2021}}</ref> then light and dark blue vertical stripes the following season.<ref name="CAFC-13Jul2022">{{cite news |title=Away Shirt On Sale This Saturday! |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2022/july/away-shirt-on-sale-this-saturday/ |access-date=26 July 2022 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=13 July 2022}}</ref>

The town's crest appeared on the team's shirts in the 1958–59 season.<ref name="HFK"/> This included a lion―associated with the [[Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe|Marquess of Crewe]]―holding a cogged wheel, a larger six-spoked railway wheel, and two wheatsheaves reflecting south Cheshire's agricultural connections.<ref name="Beautiful"/> This was replaced in 1975 by a simpler badge with a lion holding a railway wheel―a motif borrowed from [[British Rail]]<ref name="HFK"/>―on a circle containing the words 'Crewe Alexandra Football Club' arranged around a football. The current badge, adopted in 1998, features a lion perched on a football, encircled by a laurel and the club's name; it dropped the railway wheel, prompting some Crewe fans to demand the club "bring back the wheel".<ref name="Beautiful"/><ref name="Kural" /> The club's [[mascot]] is also a lion: Gresty the Lion appears on matchdays and in other community activities.<ref name="Gresty">{{cite news |title=Our Leighton Hospital Visit |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2019/december/mid-cheshire-hospital-visit/ |access-date=14 July 2021 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=19 December 2019}}</ref>

The longest-standing shirt sponsor was cereals supplier Mornflake―also based in Gresty Road―whose logo appeared on the shirts from 2005.<ref name="HFK"/><ref name="CAFC-19Jun2020">{{cite news |title=Mornflake Extend Shirt Sponsorship Deal |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2020/june/mornflake-extend-shirt-sponsorship-deal/ |access-date=24 March 2021 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=19 June 2020}}</ref> In December 2023, Mornflake extended their shirt sponsorship, making it the longest continual agreement in the EFL,<ref name=Rial/> and October 2024 saw the 1,000th game since Mornflake's shirt sponsorship began.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alex to officially mark Mornflake’s 1,000 game milestone |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2024/october/24/alex-to-officially-mark-mornflake-s-1-000-game-milestone/ |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=24 October 2024}}</ref> In April 2025, [[Whitby Morrison]] was announced as the club's new shirt sponsor, while Mornflake extended their ground naming rights sponsorship.<ref name=sponsors>{{cite web |title=Mornflake and Whitby Morrison announced as joint Headline Partners |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2025/april/29/mornflake-and-whitby-morrison-announced-as-joint-headline-partners/ |website=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=14 May 2025}}</ref>

==Supporters and rivalries==
===Attendances===
Crewe is the [[List of settlements in Cheshire by population|third largest town in Cheshire]]: its built-up area had a total population of 76,437 in 2021.<ref name="CPBUA">{{cite web |title=CREWE in Cheshire East (North West England) Built-up Area Subdivision |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/northwestengland/cheshire_east/E35001040__crewe/ |publisher=City Population |access-date=5 February 2023}}</ref> Founded by employees of the railway works, the club drew many of its supporters from the works, as well as residents from more rural areas surrounding the town. The club's location next to Crewe railway station has also helped supporters travel to and from games at Gresty Road. This enables many Alex fans to travel in from various nearby towns, especially in Cheshire and North Shropshire, and also further afield. From the 1920s through to the 1960s, attendances typically averaged around 6,000,<ref name="EFS">{{cite web |title=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |url=http://european-football-statistics.co.uk/attnclub/league/crea.htm |website=European Football Statistics |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref> but local derbies could more than double crowds: the visit of [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] on 26 October 1926 attracted 15,102, for example,<ref>Crisp, p.53.</ref> while Port Vale drew 17,883 on 21 September 1953,<ref>Crisp, p.85.</ref> Crewe's record league crowd.<ref name="EFS"/> Cup matches against major clubs such as Spurs also drew large crowds (a record 20,000 in 1960).<ref name="Crisp, pp.9, 91">Crisp, pp.9, 91.</ref> However, league attendances dwindled in the 1970s and 1980s,<ref>Morris, p.200.</ref> when seasonal averages of under 2,000 were recorded four times, with 1986-87 being lowest: 1,817;<ref name="EFS"/> just 1,009 watched a 1–1 draw with [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] on 4 February 1986.<ref>Crisp, p.117.</ref> Crewe's resurgence from the mid-1980s under Gradi boosted local interest, with 5,000-plus attendances increasingly common, even as Gresty Road's transition to an all-seater stadium began to restrict numbers in the late 1990s; average attendance peaked at 7,741 in 2004 during Crewe's years in the Championship.<ref name="EFS"/> League Two crowds before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown in 2020 averaged 4,580,<ref name="EFS"/> just below their all-time average, 4,583.<ref name="EFS"/> Crewe's average home attendance in the 2024–2025 season was 5,397.<ref name="EFS"/>

Ticket prices at Gresty Road are broadly in line with other clubs' rates for all-seated areas. In the BBC's 2017 Price of Football survey, Crewe's tickets for individual League Two games cost a maximum of £22 (15 other clubs charged higher prices); the most expensive Crewe season ticket cost £325 (only one other club, [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]], charged less for its most expensive season tickets), and its lowest priced season ticket (£280) was in the mid-range for the division.<ref name="BBC-15Nov2017">{{cite news |title=Price of Football: Full results 2017 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41482931 |access-date=14 July 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 November 2017}}</ref> For the 2021–2022 season in League One, matchday tickets cost a maximum of £25.<ref name="CAFC-tickets">{{cite web |title=2021/22 League Match Ticket Prices |url=https://www.crewealex.net/tickets/home-tickets/ |website=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>

===Rivalries===
Crewe's main rivals are fellow English Football League team [[Port Vale]]. As of December 2025, the clubs have played 85 games since 1892 (8 games against Burslem Port Vale); overall, Crewe have won 20 games, Port Vale have won 41, with the teams drawing 24 games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crewe Alexandra football club: record v Port Vale |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/crewe-alexandra/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Port%20Vale/ |website=11 v 11 |access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref> The rivalry (known by some since the 1980s as the [[A500 road|A500]] Derby) intensified after the millennium, when both clubs were in [[Football League One|Leagues One]] and [[Football League Two|Two]], with close encounters sometimes resulting in violence and arrests.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-12201606|title=Football fans charged after Crewe and Port Vale match|date=16 January 2011|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/13-arrests-following-Port-Vale-Crewe-Alex-game/story-20167780-detail/story.html|title=13 arrests made following Port Vale and Crewe Alex game|work=Stoke Sentinel|access-date=4 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104204713/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/13-arrests-following-Port-Vale-Crewe-Alex-game/story-20167780-detail/story.html|archive-date=4 January 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In January 2015 at Vale Park, Crewe won 1–0 to seal their first league double over Port Vale, and two arrests were made at the game, with minor disturbances between rival fans after the match.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/arrests-following-Port-Vale-s-1-0-home-defeat/story-25917916-detail/story.html |title=Two arrests following Port Vale's 1-0 home defeat to Crewe Alexandra &#124; Stoke Sentinel |access-date=26 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504211656/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/arrests-following-Port-Vale-s-1-0-home-defeat/story-25917916-detail/story.html |archive-date=4 May 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Six arrests were made at Gresty Road during the 22 September 2018 meeting between the two sides.<ref name="Wise-24Sep2018">{{cite news |last1=Wise |first1=Lauren |title=Six arrested at Crewe Alex v Port Vale match |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/two-arrested-crewe-alex-v-15192662 |access-date=24 September 2018 |work=Cheshire Live |date=24 September 2018}}</ref> A 2019 study ranked the Port Vale-Crewe Alexandra rivalry as the 14th biggest rivalry in English professional football.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Peter |title=Stoke v Port Vale named in top 30 English football rivalries, below Vale v Crewe |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-port-vale-derby-3300121 |access-date=9 September 2019 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=9 September 2019}}</ref>

Crewe also maintain smaller rivalries with [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]], [[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]], [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]], [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] and traditional local Cheshire derbies with [[Macclesfield F.C.|Macclesfield]], [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]], [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]] and [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]]. The Railwaymen's rivalry with Stockport intensified somewhat in 2009 when Stockport all but relegated Crewe from League One, after beating them 4–3 at [[Edgeley Park]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/8002053.stm|title=Stockport 4–3 Crewe|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Crewe then returned the favour on 30 April 2011, when they beat County 2–0 at [[Gresty Road]], confirming County's relegation to non-League football.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stockport-county-relegated-crewe-2-859633|title=Stockport County relegated: Crewe 2 Stockport 0|date=30 April 2011|work=Manchester Evening News}}</ref>

===Songs and music===
In the 1950s,<ref name=Morris100>Morris, p.100.</ref> Crewe's fans were the first to sing the song "[[Blue Moon (1934 song)|Blue Moon]]"―also sung by fans of [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]―(with lyrics that do not quite match the [[Rodgers and Hart]] original) and said to be a response to the gloomy days of the 1950s and 1960s,<ref name=Morris100/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/club-news/club-news/2013/august/blue-moon|title=Blue Moon: City fan anthem|work=Manchester City FC}}. Retrieved: 16 March 2021.</ref> or reflecting an old joke that the team only wins 'once in a [[blue moon]]', i.e., rarely.<ref name="FT-12Mar2021">{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Charlie |title=Letter: A run of success eclipses the footballing blues |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d5ee6fb5-72d9-4dcf-a586-71fe285725f9 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/d5ee6fb5-72d9-4dcf-a586-71fe285725f9 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=Financial Times |date=12 March 2021}}</ref> During the 1990s, one Crewe supporter, classically trained musician Richard Sutton, was known for taking a trumpet to games,<ref>Hornbrook, p.74.</ref> playing occasional fanfares such as the theme from ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' during matches.<ref name="Shaw-2011">{{cite news |last1=Shaw |first1=Phil |title=Football: Crewe scuttle Marine's Cup aspirations |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-crewe-scuttle-marine-s-cup-aspirations-1478321.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708223454/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-crewe-scuttle-marine-s-cup-aspirations-1478321.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2022 |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=Independent |date=13 January 1993 }}</ref> The Crewe-based dance trio [[Dario G]] were named after Dario Gradi.<ref name="DPost-2003">{{cite news |title=Super Dario 20 not out |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/super-dario-20-not-out-2941664 |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=Daily Post |date=4 June 2003}}</ref><ref name="Ronay-21Mar2011">{{cite news |last1=Ronay |first1=Barney |title=Homespun philosophy of Crewe's Dario Gradi recognised by Football League |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/football-league-blog/2011/mar/21/dario-gradi-crewe-football-league-crewe |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=Guardian |date=21 March 2011}}</ref>

===Railwaymen Supporters Society===
Crewe supporters often sing a song featuring the line "We are the Railwaymen". Aggregating and formalising several former Crewe supporters groups, and supported by the national [[Football Supporters' Association]], the independent Railwaymen Supporters Society was established in 2018, and incorporated as a community benefit society on 8 July 2019.<ref name="FCA">{{cite web |title=The Railwaymen Supporters Society Limited |url=https://mutuals.fca.org.uk/Search/Society/30427 |website=Financial Conduct Authority |access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref><ref>''[https://railwaymen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Railwaymen-2020-Accounts.pdf The Railwaymen Supporters Society Limited: Report of the Society Board for the Period 8th July 2019 to 30th June 2020]''. Access date: 26 March 2021.</ref> Initiatives have included a campaign, Project250, to raise £250,000 to invest in club shares and gain representation on the club's board (achieved in February 2020),<ref name="Morse-05Feb2020">{{cite news |title=New Crewe Alex board of directors to meet after fans make dream a reality |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/new-crewe-alex-board-directors-17687768 |access-date=25 March 2021 |work=Cheshire Live |date=5 February 2020}}</ref> and the establishment of an Ex-Players Association ([[Gareth Whalley]] is its president).<ref name="Morse-15Apr2019">{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Peter |title=Crewe Alex legend Gareth Whalley to be president of supporters' club initiative |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/crewe-alex-legend-gareth-whalley-16131370 |access-date=25 March 2021 |work=Cheshire Live |date=15 April 2019}}</ref>

==Reputation==
===Player development===
{{main|Crewe Alexandra F.C. Academy}}

As an early professional club in the late 19th century, several Crewe players achieved international selection, particularly for Wales. During the 20th century, however, Crewe had few stars. Welsh international [[Fred Keenor]] played his final league games for the club and his last international cap in 1932 was Crewe's first of the century.<ref name="EU - FrK"/> Some players started or developed their careers at Crewe before achieving fame elsewhere. For example, forward [[Frank Blunstone]] played 48 League games for Crewe in the early 1950s before a move to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and five England caps,<ref>{{cite web|title=Frank Blunstone – Player Profile|date=September 2009 |url=http://www.football-england.com/frank_blunstone.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703142140/http://www.football-england.com/frank_blunstone.html|archive-date=2013-07-03|publisher=football-england.com|access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> [[Stan Bowles]] scored 18 Crewe goals in 51 games in the early 1970s and went on to play for [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] and England,<ref>{{Hugman|1975|Stan Bowles|access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> and goalkeeper [[Bruce Grobbelaar]] played 24 Crewe matches at the start of the 1980s before moving to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]].<ref name="ESPN-23May2012"/>

Crewe's conscious investment in young players began in the late 1980s when then manager Dario Gradi and club chairman John Bowler got the local council to contribute towards the costs of an all-weather pitch at [[Gresty Road]].<ref>Hornbrook, p.36.</ref> This formed the starting point for a youth coaching facility, which by the early 1990s was coaching 120 youngsters every week.<ref>Hornbrook, p.56.</ref> In 1995, Crewe leased a 20-acre site at Reaseheath, near Nantwich, planning a £750,000 training and player development facility largely funded by transfer sales.<ref>Hornbrook, p.94.</ref> In 1996, Crewe received a [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|lottery grant]] to develop a youth coaching facility in nearby [[Shavington]].<ref>Hornbrook, p.118.</ref> By 2015, player sales had generated over £20 million which had contributed to modernising Gresty Road and developing Crewe's Academy,<ref name="McClurg-09Feb2015">{{cite news |last1=McClurg |first1=Ian |title=The pioneering work of Crewe Alexandra's Academy |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/02/09/the-pioneering-work-of-crewe-alexandra/ |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=These Football Times |date=9 February 2015}}</ref> making it the only club outside the top two divisions to have a Category Two academy club;<ref name="McClurg-09Feb2015"/> in 2022, it was ranked in the top 10 academies in England and Wales.<ref name="CAFC-20Oct2022">{{cite news |title=Top 10 academy ranking is 'credit to hard-working staff' |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2022/october/top-10-academy-ranking-is-credit-to-hard-working-staff/ |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=20 October 2022}}</ref>

Players who passed through the ranks since establishment of the academy include England internationals [[Geoff Thomas (footballer born 1964)|Geoff Thomas]] and [[David Platt]], Wales international [[Robbie Savage]], and Northern Ireland's [[Neil Lennon]] and [[Steve Jones (footballer born 1976)|Steve Jones]]. These were all youngsters signed from other clubs, but the academy also nurtured Crewe's own trainees&nbsp;– most notably England internationals [[Rob Jones (footballer born 1971)|Rob Jones]], [[Danny Murphy (footballer born 1977)|Danny Murphy]], [[Seth Johnson (footballer)|Seth Johnson]] and [[Dean Ashton]], plus Wales midfielder [[David Vaughan (footballer)|David Vaughan]].<ref name="Gibson-24Nov2016">{{cite news |last1=Gibson |first1=Owen |title=Crewe Alexandra: how a football talent factory has been thrown into turmoil |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/24/crewe-alexandra-barry-bennell |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=Guardian |date=24 November 2016}}</ref><ref>Morris, p.279.</ref>

===Sexual abuse scandal===
{{main|United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal}}
{{further|Sexual abuse cases at Crewe Alexandra F.C.}}
On 16 November 2016, former Crewe defender [[Andy Woodward]] revealed that he had been the victim of [[child sexual abuse]] by former football coach [[United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal#Barry Bennell|Barry Bennell]] (convicted as a paedophile in the US in 1994) at the club in the 1980s.<ref name="Guardian-16Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Andy Woodward: 'It was the softer, weaker boys he targeted'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/16/andy-woodward|access-date=19 November 2016|work=Guardian|date=16 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Guardian-17Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|last2=James|first2=Stuart|title=Associate of Barry Bennell also preyed on boys, two former footballers reveal|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/17/barry-bennell-two-former-players-reveal|access-date=19 November 2016|work=Guardian|date=17 November 2016}}</ref> By the time club chairman John Bowler responded to the revelations, on Monday 21 November, six other individuals had contacted the police,<ref name="Taylor-21Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Six come forward after Andy Woodward's story of abuse at Crewe|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/21/crewe-alexandra-andy-woodward|access-date=21 November 2016|work=Guardian|date=21 November 2016}}</ref> with Woodward's Crewe teammate [[Steve Walters (footballer)|Steve Walters]] alleging he was another of Bennell's victims.<ref name="Taylor-22Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Second footballer reveals abuse by serial paedophile Barry Bennell|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/22/steve-walters-andy-woodward-crewe-alexandra|access-date=22 November 2016|work=Guardian|date=22 November 2016}}</ref> Woodward criticised Crewe for failing to apologise.<ref name="Taylor-22Nov2016Apol">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Andy Woodward criticises Crewe over lack of apology in Barry Bennell case|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/22/andy-woodward-crewe-alexandra|access-date=23 November 2016|work=Guardian|date=22 November 2016}}</ref> On 27 November 2016, a third former Crewe player, [[Anthony Hughes (footballer)|Anthony Hughes]], revealed that he too had been abused by Bennell,<ref name="BBC-27Nov2016">{{cite news|title=Football sex abuse: Crewe launch child abuse investigation|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38118429|access-date=27 November 2016|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=27 November 2016}}</ref> as did Crewe trainee, later Wimbledon and Northern Ireland international [[Mark Williams (footballer, born 1970)|Mark Williams]].<ref name="Parveen-29Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Parveen|first1=Nazia|title=Former Northern Ireland player Mark Williams was 'victim of sexual abuse'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/29/northern-ireland-player-mark-williams-victim-sexual-abuse-barry-bennell|access-date=6 December 2016|work=Guardian|date=29 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Austin-29Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Austin|first1=Jack|title=Football abuse scandal: Former Premier League player becomes fifth footballer to reveal sexual abuse|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/football-abuse-scandal-former-premier-league-fifth-footballer-sexual-abuse-barry-bennell-a7445976.html|access-date=6 December 2016|work=Independent|date=29 November 2016}}</ref>

Bennell was tried at Liverpool Crown Court in early 2018, and convicted of 50 offences of sexual abuse against 12 boys<ref name="BBC-15Feb2018">{{cite news|title=Ex-football coach Barry Bennell guilty of further sex abuse|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43069415|access-date=15 February 2018|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=15 February 2018}}</ref> (and on 20 February 2018 was sentenced to 30 years in prison).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Daniel |title=Barry Bennell branded 'sheer evil' as he is sentenced to 30 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/feb/19/barry-bennell-branded-sheer-evil-as-he-is-sentenced-to-31-years |access-date=2019-10-02 |work=Guardian |date=2018-02-20}}</ref> After the guilty verdicts on 15 February, victims including Andy Woodward and Steve Walters read statements outside court.<ref name="BBC-15Feb2018" /> Crewe Alexandra expressed its "deepest sympathies" to Bennell's victims, saying it was not aware of any sexual abuse by Bennell nor had it received any complaint about sexual abuse by him before or during his employment with the club,<ref name="CANet-15Feb2018">{{cite web|title=Club Statement: Barry Bennell|url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2018/february/club-statement-barry-bennell/|website=CreweAlex.net|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="BBC-15Feb2018" /> though this has been disputed.<ref name="Taylor-15Feb2018">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Manchester City 'ignored warnings' and kept Barry Bennell in youth set-up|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/feb/15/manchester-city-barry-bennell-warning|access-date=15 February 2018|work=Guardian|date=15 February 2018}}</ref>

Walters accused Crewe of "[[victim blaming]]" in a bid to avoid compensation payouts. He and at least one other former Crewe player launched High Court damages claims of upwards of £200,000 against the club;<ref name="CreweCron-13Mar2019">{{cite news |title=Duo sue the Alex over their ordeal at hands of abuser Bennell |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=13 March 2019}}</ref> an eight-week trial was listed to start in October 2021.<ref name="BBC-05May2020">{{cite news|date=5 May 2020|title=Barry Bennell sex abuse: Eight men sue Man City|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-52549032|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref> On 19 March 2019, the ''Guardian'' reported Crewe Alexandra planned to contest victims' claims,<ref name="Taylor-19Mar2019">{{cite news |last1=Daniel |first1=Taylor |title=Crewe claim they did not arrange for boys to stay with Barry Bennell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/19/crewe-barry-bennell-arrange-stays-lawyers-catholic-church |access-date=19 March 2019 |work=Guardian |date=19 March 2019}}</ref> but later (27 March 2019), reported an apparent U-turn in Crewe's approach; it had agreed an out-of-court financial settlement with one of Bennell's victims.<ref name="Taylor-28Mar2019">{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Daniel |title=Crewe agree first settlement with Barry Bennell victim after U-turn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/26/crewe-first-out-of-court-settlement-barry-bennell-victim |access-date=28 March 2019 |work=Guardian |date=26 March 2019}}</ref> Andy Woodward had unsuccessfully sued Crewe for damages in 2004.<ref name="Woodward-04Jun2019">{{cite news |last1=Woodward |first1=Andy |title=Andy Woodward extract: 'Telling my story stopped a young guy ending his life' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jun/04/andy-woodward-book-extract-abuse-barry-bennell |access-date=5 June 2019 |work=Guardian |date=4 June 2019}}</ref>

Crewe were additionally criticised for not holding an independent review into how they dealt with historical child sex abuse allegations.<ref name="Townsend-26Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Townsend|first1=Mark|title=Crewe to launch independent review into handling of child abuse allegations|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/26/crewe-independent-review-handling-child-abuse-allegations|access-date=27 November 2016|work=The Observer|date=26 November 2016}}</ref> In March 2018, the said that, as it had fully co-operated with police investigations, it did "not intend to commission a further independent investigation," and the police's report had also been supplied to the FA review headed by [[Clive Sheldon]].<ref name="CAFC statement-02Mar2018">{{cite web|title=Club Statement: Barry Bennell (2)|url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2018/march/club-statement-barry-bennell-2/|access-date=2 March 2018|website=CreweAlex.net}}</ref> This decision was criticised by local MP [[Laura Smith (British politician)|Laura Smith]],<ref name="Ryan-09Mar2018">{{cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Belinda|title=MP urges Crewe Alex to hold independent investigation into historic handling of child sex predator Barry Bennell|url=https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/mp-urges-crewe-alex-hold-14387725|access-date=9 March 2018|work=Crewe Chronicle|date=9 March 2018}}</ref> by MP [[Damian Collins]], chair of the [[Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee|DCMS select committee]],<ref name="Drucker-14Mar2018">{{cite news|last1=Drucker|first1=James|title=Crewe's refusal to conduct internal Barry Bennell inquiry is 'totally unacceptable', says Damian Collins|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/03/14/crewes-refusal-conduct-internal-barry-bennell-inquiry-totally/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/03/14/crewes-refusal-conduct-internal-barry-bennell-inquiry-totally/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=21 March 2018|work=Telegraph|date=14 March 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> by [[Crewe Town Council]],<ref name="Ryan-13Mar2018">{{cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Belinda|title=Crewe Alex refusal to hold inquiry 'demonstrates a disregard for Bennell's victims' town council leader says|url=https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/crewe-alex-refusal-hold-inquiry-14407864|access-date=14 March 2018|work=Crewe Chronicle|date=13 March 2018}}</ref> and by the [[Professional Footballers Association]]'s [[Gordon Taylor (footballer)|Gordon Taylor]].<ref name="Taylor-10Mar2018">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Crewe excluded from regional awards for handling of Barry Bennell scandal|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/10/crewe-barry-bennell-excluded-northwest-football-awards|access-date=11 March 2018|work=Observer|date=10 March 2018}}</ref> In his final report, Sheldon said he "liaised with the Club and its lawyers with a view to suggesting other lines of enquiry that could usefully be followed up by the Club. Ultimately, the Club agreed to conduct those further enquiries, and provided me with a report setting out its conclusions."<ref name="Sheldon Report">{{cite book |last1=Sheldon |first1=Clive |title=Independent Review into Child Sexual Abuse in Football 1970–2005 |date=2021 |publisher=Football Association |location=London |url=https://the-fa.com/7ZFDqu |access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref>

The FA's 710-page report,<ref name="Sheldon Report"/> published on 17 March 2021, identified failures to act adequately on complaints or rumours of sexual abuse at eight professional clubs including Crewe. Considering whether senior Crewe people knew about Bennell, Sheldon concluded they had not received specific reports of abuse. However, directors had discussed concerns about inappropriate behaviour, and the club "should have done more to check on the well-being of the boys".<ref name="Conn-17Mar2021">{{cite news |last1=Conn |first1=David |title=Football sexual abuse report: ignorance and naivety cleared way for scandal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/17/football-sexual-abuse-report-scandal-sheldon-fa |access-date=17 March 2021 |work=Guardian |date=17 March 2021}}</ref> Following publication of the report, Crewe Alexandra apologised to all survivors of Bennell's abuse, expressing "wholehearted regret" about their ignorance of his crimes,<ref name="BBC-18Mar2021">{{cite news |title=Football's child sex abuse scandal: Crewe 'sorry' for being unaware of Barry Bennell abuse |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56449653 |access-date=18 March 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 March 2021}}</ref> and Gradi also apologised.<ref name="BBC-20March2021">{{cite news |title=Football's child sex abuse scandal: Ex-Crewe boss Dario Gradi apologises for not recognising abuse |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56464043 |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=20 March 2021}}</ref> With Gradi "effectively banned for life" from football for safeguarding reasons,<ref name="BBC-17Mar2021">{{cite news|date=17 March 2021|title=Football's child sex abuse scandal: Sheldon review finds 'institutional failings'|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56418652|access-date=18 March 2021}}</ref> Crewe chairman John Bowler was pressed to resign<ref name="Rumsby-18Mar2021">{{cite news|last1=Rumsby|first1=Ben|date=18 March 2021|title=Crewe Alexandra chairman under pressure|work=Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/03/18/feted-great-talent-spotter-dario-gradi-now-man-failed-spot-appalling/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/03/18/feted-great-talent-spotter-dario-gradi-now-man-failed-spot-appalling/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=18 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and did so on 25 March 2021.<ref name="Ostlere-25Mar2021">{{cite news|last1=Ostlere|first1=Lawrence|date=25 March 2021|title=Crewe chairman John Bowler stands down in wake of Sheldon Review into sexual abuse scandal|work=Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/crewe-alexandra-john-bowler-sexual-abuse-scandal-b1822198.html|access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> Awarded an MBE in 1998,<ref name=LMA>[http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/dario-gradi-mbe/ Dario Gradi MBE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417123541/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/dario-gradi-mbe/|date=17 April 2015}}, League Managers Association. Retrieved: 17 April 2015.</ref> Gradi was stripped of the award in August 2023 following a professional disbarment<ref name = "UK Government">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/individuals-whose-honours-have-been-revoked-by-the-sovereign/list-of-individuals-who-have-forfeited-their-honour-august-2023|title=List of individuals who have forfeited their honour - August 2023|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|date=22 August 2023|access-date=23 August 2023}}</ref> for failing to protect children from sexual abuse.<ref name=Taylor-21Aug2023>{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Taylor (journalist) |date=21 August 2023 |title=Former Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi stripped of MBE |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4792589/2023/08/21/dario-gradi-crewe-alexandra-mbe/ |access-date=21 August 2023 |work=[[The Athletic]]}}</ref><ref name="MacInnes-21Aug20232">{{cite news |last1=MacInnes |first1=Paul |date=21 August 2023 |title=Dario Gradi to lose MBE after failing to protect children from sexual abuse |work=Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/21/dario-gradi-to-lose-mbe-after-failing-to-protect-children-from-sexual-abuse |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref>

==Records==
{{Main|List of Crewe Alexandra F.C. records and statistics}}

Crewe's biggest league victory came against [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] on 1 October 1932 in the [[Third Division North]] when they won 8–0.<ref>Crisp, p.59.</ref> In the FA Cup, their biggest win was 9–1 over [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] on 16 November 1889.<ref>Crisp, p.20.</ref> The club's heaviest defeat was in the FA Cup in 1960 when they were beaten 13–2 by [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] at [[White Hart Lane]] on 30 January 1960,<ref name=p12/> a game watched by 64,365: the largest crowd for a match involving Crewe.<ref>Crisp, p.91.</ref> In the league, Crewe's worst performance saw them beaten 11–1 at [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]] on 29 September 1951 in the Third Division North.<ref>Crisp, p.83.</ref>

[[Tommy Lowry]] made the most first team appearances in all competitions for Crewe: 482 between 1965 and 1977.<ref name=p12/> [[Bert Swindells]] holds the record for most Crewe goals: 128, scored from 1927 to 1937,<ref name=p12/> while [[Terry Harkin]] scored the most Crewe goals in a single season: 34 in [[1964–65 Football League|1964–65]].<ref name="ENFA"/><ref name=p12/> Best match return was five goals, scored by [[Tony Naylor]] in Crewe's 7–1 league defeat of [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]] at Gresty Road on 24 April 1993.<ref>Crisp, p.124.</ref>

[[William Bell (footballer, born 1859)|William Bell]] was the first Crewe player to win an international cap, playing for Wales against Ireland in Wrexham in February 1886.<ref name="EUFImatch"/> [[Clayton Ince]], with 31 caps for [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]], has won most caps while playing for Crewe.<ref name="RSSF">{{cite web |title=Clayton Ince – International Appearances |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/cince-intl.html |website=The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> [[Efe Sodje]] is the only Crewe player to play in a [[2002 FIFA World Cup|World Cup Finals]] tournament, for [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], on 2 June 2002, and then against England on 12 June 2002, both in Japan.<ref name="NFT-Sodje"/>

Crewe's most expensive player was [[Rodney Jack]], signed from [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]] in August 1998 for £650,000.<ref>Hornbrook, p.150.</ref> Crewe were reported to have received £3 million for [[Nick Powell]] when he moved to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 2 July 2012, with options for the fee to grow to £6 million depending on appearances.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18396573 |title=Manchester United sign Nick Powell from Crewe Alexandra |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=15 September 2012 |access-date=15 September 2012 }}</ref> Crewe also received £3 million for [[Seth Johnson (footballer)|Seth Johnson]]'s 1999 move to Derby County,<ref name="Burnton-28Feb2012"/> and for [[Dean Ashton]]'s move to Norwich City in 2005.<ref name="Flown"/>

==Players==
===Current squad===
{{updated|1 September 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Retained List 2025: Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2025/may/14/retained-list-2025---crewe-alexandra/ |website=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2025/26 squad numbers announced |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2025/july/31/2025-26-squad-numbers-announced/ |website=Crewe Alexandra FC |access-date=2 August 2025}}</ref>
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Tom Booth (footballer, born 2004)|Tom Booth]]}}
{{fs player|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Lewis Billington]]}}
{{fs player|no=3|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Reece Hutchinson]]}}
{{fs player|no=4|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jay Mingi]]|other=on loan from [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]}}
{{fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Mickey Demetriou]]|other=[[captain (association football)|captain]]}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Demetriou named as Alex captain |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2024/august/09/demetriou-named-as-alex-captain/ |access-date=9 August 2024 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=9 August 2024}}</ref>
{{fs player|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Max Sanders]]}}
{{fs player|no=7|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Jack Lankester]]}}
{{fs player|no=8|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Conor Thomas]]}}
{{fs player|no=9|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Omar Bogle]]}}
{{fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Shilow Tracey]]}}
{{fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Joel Tabiner]]}}
{{fs player|no=13|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Sam Waller]]|other=on loan from [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]}}
{{fs player|no=14|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Charlie Finney]]}}
{{fs player|no=15|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Dion Rankine]]}}
{{fs player|no=16|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[James Golding (footballer)|James Golding]]|other=on loan from [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=17|nat=SVK|pos=MF|name=[[Matúš Holíček]]}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=[[James Connolly (footballer)|James Connolly]]}}
{{fs player|no=19|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Owen Lunt}}
{{fs player|no=20|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=[[Calum Agius]]}}
{{fs player|no=22|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Phil Croker}}
{{fs player|no=23|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Jack Powell (footballer, born 1994)|Jack Powell]]|other=[[captain (association football)|vice captain]]}}
{{fs player|no=24|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Josh March]]}}
{{fs player|no=26|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Tommi O'Reilly]]|other=on loan from [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]}}
{{fs player|no=27|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Jordan Hodkin}}
{{fs player|no=29|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=[[Adrien Thibaut]]}}
{{fs player|no=30|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Stan Dancey}}
{{fs player|no=31|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Louis Moult]]}}
{{fs player|no=32|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Luca Moore}}
{{fs player|no=34|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Oliver Armstrong}}
{{fs player|no=36|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Emre Tezgel]]|other=on loan from [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]}}
{{fs end}}

====Out on loan====
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=21|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Fin Roberts}} (on loan at [[Chester F.C.|Chester]] until 30 June 2026)
{{fs player|no=|nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=[[Zac Williams (Welsh footballer)|Zac Williams]]}} (on loan at [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] until 30 June 2026)
{{fs end}}

===Former players===
{{Main|List of Crewe Alexandra F.C. players}}

In 2004 the BBC's ''[[Football Focus]]'' asked fans of all professional football clubs in England and Scotland to vote for their cult hero. For Crewe, Seth Johnson won with 59% of the vote; Danny Murphy came second with 33%, and [[Craig Hignett]] third with 8%.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/football_focus/4099295.stm Crewe's Cult Heroes]. Accessed 5 March 2014.</ref>

===Full international players===
[[William Bell (footballer, born 1859)|William Bell]] was the first Crewe player to win an international cap, playing for [[Wales national football team|Wales]] against Ireland in Wrexham in February 1886.<ref name="EUFImatch"/> On 15 March 1890, three Crewe players – [[Alfred Owen Davies|Alfred Davies]] (also Wales captain), [[Richard Owen Jones|Dick Jones]] and [[Billy Lewis (footballer, born 1864)|Billy Lewis]] – played in Wales's 3–1 defeat by [[England national football team|England]] in [[Wrexham]];<ref name="EUFImatch1890">{{cite web |title=Wales vs England international football match report |url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=4384 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> Lewis scored Wales's goal,<ref name="EU - BiL">{{cite web |title=Billy Lewis |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=12145 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> the first international goal scored by a Crewe player. [[John Pearson (footballer, born 1868)|John 'Jackie' Pearson]] became the first Crewe player to win an international cap for [[England national football team|England]], playing against [[Ireland national football team (1882–1950)|Ireland]] in [[Belfast]] on 5 March 1892.<ref name=Gibbons>{{cite book | title= Association Football in Victorian England – A History of the Game from 1863 to 1900|last= Gibbons|first= Philip |year= 2001|publisher= Upfront Publishing|isbn=1-84426-035-6|page=188}}</ref><ref name=Englandstats>{{Cite web| title= Ireland 0 England 2 (Match summary) | url= http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=45| publisher= www.englandstats.com| date= 5 March 1892| access-date=7 March 2009}}</ref> He remains the only Crewe player capped for England while playing at the club.<ref name="EU - JoP"/> [[Donervon Daniels]] was the most recent Crewe player to win a full international cap; he played for [[Montserrat national football team|Montserrat]] in their [[FIFA World Cup]] [[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification|2022 qualifier]] against [[United States Virgin Islands national soccer team|US Virgin Islands]] on 2 June 2021.<ref name=FIFADD/>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left"
|-
| '''Player'''
|
| '''Country'''
| '''Caps'''
|'''Goals'''
|'''Years of caps'''
|'''Notes'''
|-
| [[Clayton Ince]]
| {{flagicon|TRI}}
| [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]]
| 36||0||1999–2005||<ref name="RSSF"/>
|-
| [[Steve Jones (footballer, born 1976)|Steve Jones]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}}
| [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]]
| 22||1||2003–2006||<ref name="EU - StJ">{{cite web |title=Steve Jones |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=25323 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Marcus Haber]]
| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]]
| 13||1||2014–2016||<ref name="NFT-Haber">{{cite web |title=Haber, Marcus |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/40230/Marcus_Haber.html |website=National Football Teams |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[David Vaughan (footballer)|David Vaughan]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 13||0||2003–2007||<ref name="EU - DaV">{{cite web |title=David Vaughan |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=21995 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Efe Sodje]]
| {{flagicon|NGA}}
| [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]]
| 8||1||2000–2003||<ref name="NFT-Sodje">{{cite web |title=Sodje, Efe |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/10306/Efe_Sodje.html |website=National Football Teams |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Rodney Jack]]
| {{flagicon|VIN}}
| [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national football team|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
| 6||4||2000||<ref name="NFT-Jack">{{cite web |title=Jack, Rodney |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/5589/Rodney_Jack.html |website=National Football Teams |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Neil Lennon]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}}
| [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]]
| 6||0||1994–1995||<ref name="EU - NeL">{{cite web |title=Neil Lennon |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=12045 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Billy Lewis (footballer, born 1864)|Billy Lewis]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 6||1||1890–1892||<ref name="EU - BiL"/>
|-
| [[Michael O'Connor (footballer, born 1987)|Michael O'Connor]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}}
| [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]]
| 6||0||2008–2009||<ref name="EU - MiO">{{cite web |title=Michael O'Connor |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=25344 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[William Bell (footballer, born 1859)|William Bell]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 3||0||1886||<ref name="EU - WiB">{{cite web |title=William Bell |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=1562 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Colin Murdock]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}}
| [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]]
| 3||0||2005||<ref name="EU - CoM">{{cite web |title=Colin Murdock |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=14626 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Robbie Savage]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 3||0||1995–1996||<ref name="EU - RoS">{{cite web |title=Robbie Savage |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=18532 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mathias Pogba]]
| {{flagicon|GUI}}
| [[Guinea national football team|Guinea]]
| 2||0||2013||<ref name="NFT-Pogba">{{cite web |title=Pogba, Mathias |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/48728/Mathias_Pogba.html |website=National Football Teams |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Trevor Owen]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 2||0||1893||<ref name="EU - TrO">{{cite web |title=Trevor Owen |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=15799 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Edwin Williams (footballer)|Edwin Williams]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 2||0||1893||<ref name="EU - EdW">{{cite web |title=Edwin Williams |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=22886 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Madjid Bougherra]]
| {{flagicon|ALG}}
| [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]]
| 1||0||2006||<ref name="NFT-Bougherra">{{cite web |title=Bougherra, Madjid |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/8063/Madjid_Bougherra.html |website=National Football Teams |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Donervon Daniels]]
| {{flagicon|MSR}}
| [[Montserrat national football team|Montserrat]]
| 1||0||2021||<ref name=FIFADD>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/nccamerica/matches/match/400136229/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215536/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/nccamerica/matches/match/400136229/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2021|title=FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Qualifiers - North, Central America and Caribbean - Matches - Montserrat - US Virgin Islands |website=www.fifa.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Alfred Owen Davies|Alfred Davies]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 1||0||1890||<ref name="EU - AlD">{{cite web |title=Alfred Davies |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=4303 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Richard Owen Jones|Dick Jones]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 1||0||1890||<ref name="EU - DiJ">{{cite web |title=Dick Jones |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=9754 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Fred Keenor]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 1||0||1932||<ref name="EU - FrK"/>
|-
| [[Jamie Knight-Lebel]]
| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]]
| 1||0||2024||<ref name="NFT-Knight-Lebel">{{cite web |title=Knight-Lebel, Jamie |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/96675/Jamie_Knight_Lebel.html |website=National Football Teams |access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref>
|-
| [[Benjamin Lewis (footballer)|Ben Lewis]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 1||1||1892||<ref name="EU - BeL">{{cite web |title=Ben Lewis |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=12136 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[John Pearson (footballer, born 1868)|John Pearson]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[England national football team|England]]
| 1||0||1892||<ref name=Gibbons/><ref name=Englandstats/><ref name="EU - JoP"/>
|-
| [[Robert Roberts (footballer, born 1865)|Robert Roberts]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}}
| [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| 1||0||1893||<ref name="EU - RoR">{{cite web |title=Robert Roberts |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=17843 |website=EU Football.Info |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
|}

==Management==
===Managerial history===
{{Main|List of Crewe Alexandra F.C. managers}}
[[File:Lee Bell.jpg|thumb|[[Lee Bell]], current manager of Crewe Alexandra, applauding travelling supporters at Sutton United on 4 March 2023.]]

Since 1892, 29 men have managed Crewe. Dario Gradi holds the record for the most games: 1,359 first team games.<ref name="Soccerbase-Managers">{{cite web |title=Crewe Alexandra managers |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=652&teamTabs=managers |website=Soccerbase |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> Two Crewe managers have been inducted into the [[English Football Hall of Fame]]: Gradi in 2004<ref name="NFM">{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame: Dario Gradi|url=http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/dario-gradi|website=National Football Museum|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-date=1 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301012715/http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/dario-gradi|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Harry Catterick]], posthumously, in 2010.<ref name="Echo-26Aug2010">{{cite news |title=Everton FC legend Harry Catterick will gain Hall of Fame recognition at last |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-fc-legend-harry-catterick-3399946 |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=Liverpool Echo |date=26 August 2010}}</ref>

''As of 11 November 2025.<ref name="Soccerbase-Managers"/> Only competitive matches are counted.''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Name
!rowspan="2"|Nat
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="6"|Record
|-
!P!!W!!D!!L!!Win %
|-
|align=left|W.C. McNeill<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''1'''</span></sup>
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|August 1892
|align=left|May 1894
{{WDL|50|12|10|28}}
|-
|align=left|J.G. Hall<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''1'''</span></sup>
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|August 1895
|align=left|May 1896
{{WDL|31|5|3|23}}
|-
|align=left|[[Robert Roberts (footballer, born 1865)|Robert Roberts]]<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''1'''</span></sup>
|{{flagicon|Wales}}
|align=left|January 1897
|align=left|December 1897
{{WDL|0|0|0|0}}
|-
|align=left|John Blomerley<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''2'''</span></sup>
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|January 1898
|align=left|May 1925
{{WDL|169|56|44|69}}
|-
|align=left|[[Tom Bailey (football administrator)|Tom Bailey]]<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''1'''</span></sup>
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|August 1925
|align=left|May 1938
{{WDL|578|223|113|242}}
|-
|align=left|[[George Lillycrop]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|August 1938
|align=left|July 1944
{{WDL|45|20|7|18}}
|-
|align=left|[[Frank Hill]]
|{{flagicon|Scotland}}
|align=left|July 1944
|align=left|October 1948
{{WDL|102|45|19|38}}
|-
|align=left|[[Arthur Turner (footballer born 1909)|Arthur Turner]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|October 1948
|align=left|December 1951
{{WDL|149|56|39|54}}
|-
|align=left|[[Harry Catterick]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|December 1951
|align=left|June 1953
{{WDL|74|31|11|32}}
|-
|align=left|[[Ralph Ward]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|June 1953
|align=left|May 1955
{{WDL|96|25|28|43}}
|-
|align=left|[[Maurice Lindley]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|August 1955
|align=left|May 1958
{{WDL|143|23|28|92}}
|-
|align=left|[[Harry Ware]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|August 1958
|align=left|May 1960
{{WDL|100|36|22|42}}
|-
|align=left|[[Jimmy McGuigan]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|June 1960
|align=left|November 1964
{{WDL|222|87|85|50}}
|-
|align=left|[[Ernie Tagg]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|November 1964
|align=left|October 1970
{{WDL|273|105|69|99}}
|-
|align=left|[[Tom McAnearney]]
|{{flagicon|Scotland}}
|align=left|October 1970
|align=left|July 1971
{{WDL|39|15|9|15}}
|-
|align=left|[[Dennis Viollet]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|August 1971
|align=left|November 1971
{{WDL|15|4|2|9}}
|-
|align=left|[[Jimmy Melia]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|May 1972
|align=left|December 1973
{{WDL|70|16|23|31}}
|-
|align=left|[[Ernie Tagg]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|January 1974
|align=left|December 1974
{{WDL|48|13|12|23}}
|-
|align=left|[[Harry Gregg]]
|{{flagicon|Northern Ireland}}
|align=left|January 1975
|align=left|May 1978
{{WDL|163|53|53|57}}
|-
|align=left|[[Warwick Rimmer]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|August 1978
|align=left|May 1979
{{WDL|46|6|14|26}}
|-
|align=left|[[Tony Waddington]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|June 1979
|align=left|July 1981
{{WDL|93|24|27|42}}
|-
|align=left|[[Arfon Griffiths]]
|{{flagicon|Wales}}
|align=left|August 1981
|align=left|October 1982
{{WDL|59|9|10|40}}
|-
|align=left|[[Peter Morris (English footballer)|Peter Morris]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|November 1982
|align=left|June 1983
{{WDL|33|8|7|18}}
|-
|align=left|[[Dario Gradi]]<ref name="SB-Gradi">{{cite web |title=Dario Gradi |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=317 |website=Soccerbase |access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref><sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''3'''</span></sup>
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|June 1983
|align=left|July 2007
{{WDL|1241|464|476|301}}
|-
|align=left|[[Dario Gradi]]<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''4'''</span></sup> / [[Steve Holland (footballer)|Steve Holland]]<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''5'''</span></sup>
|{{flagicon|England}} / {{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|July 2007
|align=left|November 2008
{{WDL|72|19|16|37}}
|-
|align=left|[[Dario Gradi]]<ref name="SB-Gradi"/><sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''6'''</span></sup>
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|November 2008
|align=left|December 2008
{{WDL|8|3|1|4}}
|-
|align=left|[[Guðjón Þórðarson|Gudjon Thordarson]]
|{{flagicon|Iceland}}
|align=left|December 2008
|align=left|October 2009
{{WDL|37|12|7|18}}
|-
|align=left|[[Dario Gradi]]<ref name="SB-Gradi"/><sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''6'''</span></sup>
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|October 2009
|align=left|November 2011
{{WDL|110|38|23|49}}
|-
|align=left|[[Steve Davis (footballer, born 1965)|Steve Davis]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|November 2011
|align=left|January 2017
{{WDL|272|84|71|117}}
|-
|align=left|[[David Artell]]
|{{flagicon|Gibraltar}}
|align=left|January 2017
|align=left|April 2022
{{WDL|274|100|51|123}}
|-
|align=left|[[Alex Morris (footballer)|Alex Morris]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|April 2022
|align=left|November 2022
{{WDL|24|5|9|10}}
|-
|align=left|[[Lee Bell]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|November 2022
|align=left|''present''
{{WDL|161|61|44|56}}
|}
<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''1'''</span></sup><small>As secretary-manager</small><br />
<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''2'''</span></sup><small>A railway clerk, John Bradburn Blomerley (also among the club's first directors in 1899,<ref name="CoHo1899"/> and, in 1902, chairman of the [[Cheshire Football Association|Cheshire F.A.]])<ref name="ChObs">{{cite news |title=Football: Chester and District Association Annual Dinner |url=https://papuraunewydd.llyfrgell.cymru/view/4281425/4281427 |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=Cheshire Observer |date=June 14, 1902}}</ref> was secretary-manager to 1911; honorary secretary to 1925</small><br />
<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''3'''</span></sup><small>As sole manager. Between 22 September and 17 October 2003, Gradi underwent heart surgery. Assistant manager Neil Baker took charge of the team for this period (P6, W0, D1, L5).</small><br />
<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''4'''</span></sup><small>As technical director</small><br />
<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''5'''</span></sup><small>As first team coach</small><br />
<sup><span style="color: #002bb8">'''6'''</span></sup><small>As caretaker manager</small>

===Coaching positions===
{{updated|11 August 2023.}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Nationality
! Role
|-
| [[Lee Bell]]
| {{flagcountry|England}}
| Manager
|-
| [[Ryan Dicker]]
| {{flagcountry|British Virgin Islands}}
| Assistant manager<ref name="CAFC-01Aug2023">{{cite news |title=Ryan Dicker appointed Assistant Manager |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2023/august/ryan-dicker-appointed-assistant-manager/ |access-date=1 August 2023 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=1 August 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[Fred Barber]]
| {{flagcountry|England}}
| Goalkeeping coach
|-
| Michael Jackson 
| {{flagcountry|England}}
| U23 manager
|-
| [[Kenny Lunt]]
| {{flagcountry|England}}
| Player development manager
|-
| [[David Vaughan (footballer)|David Vaughan]]
| {{flagcountry|Wales}}
| U18 manager<ref name="CAFC-11Aug2023">{{cite news |title=Vaughan appointed Under-18s Manager |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2023/august/vaughan-appointed-under-18s-manager/ |access-date=11 August 2023 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=11 August 2023}}</ref>
|-
| Sam Pettit
| {{flagcountry|England}}
| U18 assistant manager<ref name="CAFC-11Aug2023"/>
|-
| Aidan Callan
| {{flagcountry|England}}
| Academy manager
|-
| Josh Kennard
| {{flagcountry|England}}
| Technical Director <ref name="CAFC-22Apr2022">{{cite news |title=Crewe Alexandra Appoint Duo To Recruitment Team |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2022/april/crewe-alexandra-appoint-duo-to-head-up-recruitment-operation/ |access-date=19 February 2024 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=22 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Booth |first1=Dominic |title=Data, deals and Airbnbs: the plan driving Crewe's promotion push |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/21/crewe-promotion-push-league-two |access-date=20 May 2024 |work=Guardian |date=21 March 2024}}</ref>
|}

==Honours==

'''League'''
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] (level 3){{efn|name=Tiers|Upon its formation in 1992, the [[Premier League]] became the top tier of [[Football in England|English football]]; the [[English Football League|Football League]] [[Football League First Division|First]], [[Football League Second Division|Second]] and [[Football League Third Division|Third]] Divisions then became the second, third and fourth tiers, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/History/HistoryDetail/0,,10794~1357277,00.html|title=History Of The Football League|publisher=The Football League|date=22 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202161656/http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/History/HistoryDetail/0%2C%2C10794~1357277%2C00.html|archive-date=2 February 2013}}</ref> From 2004, the First Division became the [[EFL Championship|Championship]], the Second Division became [[EFL League One|League One]] and the Third Division became [[EFL League Two|League Two]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3795239.stm|title=League gets revamp|website=BBC Sport|date=10 June 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729210603/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3795239.stm|archive-date=29 July 2020|url-status=live|access-date=18 June 2020}}</ref>}}
**2nd place promotion: [[2002–03 Football League|2002–03]]<ref name=statto/>
**Play-off winners: [[1997 Football League play-offs#Second Division|1997]]<ref name=p1028/>
*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] / [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] / [[EFL League Two|League Two]] (level 4){{efn|name=Tiers}}
**2nd place promotion: [[2019–20 EFL League Two|2019–20]]<ref name="BBC-09Jun2020"/>
**3rd place promotion: [[1962–63 Football League|1962–63]], [[1993–94 Football League|1993–94]]<ref name=Crisp134>Crisp, pp.134–138.</ref>
**4th place promotion: [[1967–68 Football League|1967–68]], [[1988–89 Football League|1988–89]]<ref name=Crisp134/>
**Play-off winners: [[2012 Football League play-offs#League Two|2012]]<ref name=guardrep/><ref name=timesrep/>

'''Cup'''
*[[Football League Trophy]]
**Winners: [[2012–13 Football League Trophy|2012–13]]<ref name=Osborne/>
*[[Welsh Cup]]
**Winners: [[1935–36 Welsh Cup|1935–36]], [[1936–37 Welsh Cup|1936–37]]<ref name=p12/>
Crewe Alexandra have never won a division title, and have only been division runners-up twice. In addition to play-off promotions, the club also achieved four promotions, all from the fourth tier, by third-place finishes in [[1962–63 Football League|1962–63]] and [[1993–94 Football League|1993–94]]<ref name=Crisp134>Crisp, pp.134–138.</ref> and by fourth-place finishes in [[1967–68 Football League|1967–68]] and [[1988–89 Football League|1988–89]].<ref name=Crisp134/> Crewe's highest finishing league position was 11th in the second tier, the [[1997–98 Football League#First Division|First Division in 1997–98]].<ref name=Crisp7/>

In the major cup competitions, Crewe reached the semi-finals of the [[FA Cup]] in 1888.<ref name="Crisp7" /> They have reached the third round of the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] ten times (1960, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008),<ref>Crisp (for years 1960–1992), pp.92, 106, 107, 110 and 124.</ref> losing 1–0 to Aston Villa in a replay at [[Villa Park]] in 1974,<ref name="AVHistory">{{cite web |last1=Northam |first1=Randall |title=League cup winner comes so late Hamilton puts Villa through |url=https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/16-10-1974-villa-v-crewe |website=Aston Villa History |access-date=29 March 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and taking cup holders [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] into extra time at Gresty Road in 2006 before losing 2–1.<ref name="BBC-25Oct2006">{{cite news |title=Crewe 1–2 Man Utd (aet) |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6072610.stm |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=25 October 2006}}</ref>

While Crewe is not in Wales, English clubs, usually from border areas, have participated by invitation in the [[Welsh Cup]], which Crewe won twice, in 1936 and 1937.<ref name=p12/> The club won the [[Cheshire Senior Cup]] 19 times up to 1998,<ref name=p12/> and have won it a further three times, most recently in 2017.<ref name="CAFC-5Apr2017">{{cite web |title=Cheshire Cup Final: Crewe 3–2 Nantwich (5 April 2017) |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2017/april/cheshire-cup-final-crewe-3-2-nantwich/ |website=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref>

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}

===References===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{cite book|last1=Crisp|first1=Marco|title=Crewe Alexandra Match by Match|date=1998|publisher=Tony Brown|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-899468-81-1|edition=2nd}}
*{{cite book|last1=Hornbrook|first1=Jules|title=The Gradi Years|date=2000|location=Crewe|isbn=0953887707}}
*{{cite book|last1=Morris|first1=Charlie|title=Generation Game|date=2019|publisher=Goldford|isbn=978-1-9160314-0-1}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://crewealex.org Crewe Alexandra F.C.] official website
*{{Official website}}{{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=crewe-alexandra}}

{{Crewe Alexandra F.C.}}
{{EFL Championship}}
{{EFL League One}}
{{EFL League Two}}

[[Category:Crewe Alexandra F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Cheshire]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1877]]
[[Category:1877 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Crewe]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:The Combination]]
[[Category:Lancashire League (football)]]
[[Category:West Midlands (Regional) League]]
[[Category:The Central League]]
[[Category:EFL Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Welsh Cup winners]]
[[Category:Professional football clubs in England]]