Crewe Alexandra
Formed 1877
Founder member of Division Two 1892. Failed re-election 1896.
Founder member of Division Three (North) 1921
Kit History
1885-1886 a
1886-1887 a
1892-1896 e
1901-1902 a
1908-1909 a
1909-1910 a
1910-1921 a
1922-1923 a
1923-1924 a
1933-1937 a d
1947-1950 a
1950-1951 a
1958-1959
1959-1960 a
1960-1961 a
1962-1963 a
1963-1965 a
1965-1970 a
1970-1971 a
1971-1972 early i
1971-1972 a
1972-1975 a
1975-1976 a h
1976-1977 a h
1977-1980 a h
1980-1982 a h
1983-1984 a f
1985-1986 a
1986-1988 a
1988-1989 a
1989-1990 a
1990-1991 a g
1991-1992 a
1992-1993 a
1993-1994 a g
1994-1995 a g
1995-1996 a
1996-1997 a
1997-1998 a
1998-1999 b
1999-2000 b g
2000-2001 c g
2001-2002 b
2002-2003 b
2003-2004 b
2004-2005 c g
2005-2006 c
2006-2007 c
2007-2008 c
2008-2009 c
Background
The club was formed as an adjunct
to the local cricket club in 1877 and was named for the Alexandra public
house, which provided the club's first base. (The pub was itself named
for the Princess Alexandra, one of Queen Victoria's daughters.) In 1889
the club joined the Football Alliance, rivals of the Football League.
In 1892 the Alliance was incorporated into the League as Division Two.
In four seasons, Alex had to apply for re-election three times and in
1896 they lost their place.
Records show that the club wore white shirts during their brief league career but reverted to red in 1901. The club usually described their colours as "scarlet and white" well into the 1970s.
After losing their place in the Football League, Alex competed in the Combination, Lancashire, Birmingham & District and Central Leagues before they returned to the Football League in 1921 as founder members of the new Division Three (North).
The Alex's League career was undistinguished to say the least. Prior to the Second World War the club managed to finish in sixth place three times (1922, 1923 and 1936). The situation did not improve when organised football resumed after World War Two and Alex were lucky to survive three consecutive re-elections (1956-58). 1963 brought the club's first promotion but this was followed by the disappointment of immediate relegation. The same thing happened in 1968-69. Between 1978 and 1983 Crewe had to apply for re-election again four times in five seasons. The writing appeared to be on the wall.
In 1983 Dario Gradi was appointed manager. He consolidated and gradually transformed the club into promotion contenders, In 1989, the Alex were promoted to Division Three. Two seasons later they dropped back into the basement but, after contesting the play offs in 1992 and 1993 they achieved automatic promotion in 1994. The next three seasons Crewe contested the play-offs again and in 1997 they were promoted to Nationwide Division One (the old Division Two). There followed five seasons in the second flight before relegation in 2002. The club bounced back immediately but in 2006 they were again relegated.
While the club's achievements may be modest, the consistency of the board's management must be acknowledged. In 2006, Dario Gradi was not only the League's longest serving manager but probably the most admired citizen of Crewe.
Sources
- (a) Crewe Alexandra FC (Images of Sport) Harold Finch 2001
- (b) empics
- (c) Crewe Alexandra Official Website
- (d) The Football Encyclopaedia (Associated Sporting Press 1934) - information provided by Arthur Fergus
- (e) Association of Football Statisticians - provided by Pete Wyatt
- (f) Jason Barnes
- (g) David King
- (h) Alick Milne
- (i) Little Oaks Football Cards