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.

Magic Moments

1911

3-0 @ Bristol City

First round: 14th January 1911

1948

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