The Giant Killers
CREWE ALEXANDRA
Despite being able to boast an F A cup semi final appearance which pre dates the formation of the League, Crewe Alexandra's history is one of being little more than a club with a fantastic youth policy. They were formed in 1877 and their trip to the semi finals came in 1888 in what probably will forever remain the most pivotal defeat in the club's history. had they won that game against mighty Preston and gone on to the final they may well have become late candidates for a place in the soon to be formed league but as it was they lost and remained unconsidered until becoming founder members of the second tier four years later. Crewe struggled in the league though and withdrew five years later, opting to stay out of the fold until becoming founder members of the third tier in 1920. A repeat of their trip to the semis of '88 still eludes them, as does top flight football which has rarely looked likely at Gresty Road. Crewe's greatest modern day in the cup came at Stamford Bridge in 1961 when Chelsea were humbled.

Attendance: 8,000
Scorers: Harry King [image right], Mason, Frederick Chapple
Ranked at the time: 30
Today: Outside the top 200
Team included: Whalley, Mason, Frederick Chapple, Harry King
3-1 vs Sheffield United
Third Round: Saturday January 10th 1948
Attendance: 9,700
Scorers: Bobby Finan {2}, Eric Jones
Ranked at the time: 92
Team: 1:Robert Scott, 2:Ralph Ward, 3:Maurice Randall, 4:Tony Waddington, 5:Louis Cardwell, 6:Ray Ferris, 7:Eric Jones, 8:John Meaney, 9:Duncan Harrigan, 10:Bobby Finan, 11:James Taylor