| Table of contents |
|
2 The Gradi Years 3 The Ground 4 Getting there 5 External link |
Crewe were founder members of Division 2, but became a non-league side after only five seasons. They rejoined the Football League in the 1920s and earned their first honours by winning the Welsh Cup in 1936 and 1937, before being barred from entering (not least since they were not in Wales).
A fixture at the bottom of Division 3 North and later Division 4, The Alexandra had a reputation as the worst league team in England, enhanced by an infamous 13-2 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup in 1961.
A succession of managers throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including Ulsterman Harry Gregg (a survivor of the Munich Air Disaster that killed several young Manchester United F.C stars), did little to change the situation and Crewe regularly had to apply for re-election after finishing in the bottom places of the Fourth Division.
This began to change, however, in June 1983 with the appointment of Milan-born Dario Gradi as manager. A shrewd tactician with a reputation for getting the most from his young players Gradi led his charges to the unprecedented height of Division One in 1997 and kept his team there until 2002, despite a club income on which many more lowly clubs could not survive. After one season in Division Two the club were promoted back to Division One at the end of the 2002/03 season, having finished in second place (the first time promotion was achieved from the runner-up position). At the time of writing (November 2003), Gradi is the longest serving manager in English league football, having celebrated his 1,000th game in charge of Crewe on 20 November 2001 - an away fixture at Carrow Road, the home of Norwich City F.C, and has now completed more than 20 years at the club.
During Gradi's control, the club has gained a strong reputation for its youth policy, and gained official status as an FA Youth Academy. By concentrating on developing its own players the club has remained profitable (a rare thing in lower division football at the time) by selling them on after they've gained experience with Crewe. The Academy is known to stress technical excellence, which accords with Gradi's aim to have his sides play attractive, passing football. Players who have passed through the ranks at Crewe include the international players Geoff Thomas, David Platt, Rob Jones, Danny Murphy, Robbie Savage, Neil Lennon and Seth Johnson.
The ground is comprised of four stands:
From the South and East: Exit M6 at junction 16 (A500). At roundabout follow signs for Crewe. After about two miles, turn right at roundabout (A5020) towards Crewe; left at the next roundabout (0.8m); straight on at the next (Rookery pub on right), passing the Brocklebank pub on the left; then left at the next - and final - roundabout, taking you into Nantwich Road, passing the Crewe Arms Hotel on your right and Crewe Station on your left.
From the West: From Nantwich, follow Crewe Road, A534 (signs to Crewe Station, 4 miles), which will eventually bring you along Nantwich Road. The turning for Gresty Road is opposite the Royal Hotel, about 150yds before you reach Crewe Station.History
The Gradi Years
The Ground
Officially known since 2000 as the Alexandra Stadium, the ground will likely always be known as Gresty Road to the fans.Getting there
By Rail
Gresty Road is immediately adjacent to Crewe mainline railway station. Turn left when exiting the station, and Gresty Road is the next street on the left.
By Road
From the North: Exit M6 at junction 17 (A534). At T-junction turn right for Crewe and follow A534 (signposted Crewe, Nantwich). After about six miles, at the third roundabout in the space of about a mile, you pass the Crewe Arms on your right and Crewe Station on your left. Gresty Road is the first left after the Station. Beware: on match days, you may not be able to take this left turn, and may be redirected to the next left (100 yards, South St, at traffic lights).