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#Post#: 103877--------------------------------------------------
Crewe Alex going down to Cat 3
DIR By: Ryanellis
Date: April 10, 2026, 5:13 am
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A very sad thing for all associated with Crewe, but something
that is much needed. For example, it cost Crewe 21s £5k to
travel down to Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago. This cannot be
sustained for a club like Crewe who’s losing £1m annually.
Going down to Cat 3 allows Crewe to improve coaching between
players, but removes the 21s. The 18s will also join the EFL
north alliance league.
A sad sight, but something that’s much needed for Crewe.
#Post#: 104255--------------------------------------------------
Re: Crewe Alex going down to Cat 3
DIR By: TheThingFromLewes
Date: April 17, 2026, 12:46 pm
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--- Quote from: Ryanellis link ---
>
> A very sad thing for all associated with Crewe, but something
that is much needed. For example, it cost Crewe 21s £5k to
travel down to Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago. This cannot be
sustained for a club like Crewe who’s losing £1m annually.
>
> Going down to Cat 3 allows Crewe to improve coaching between
players, but removes the 21s. The 18s will also join the EFL
north alliance league.
>
> A sad sight, but something that’s much needed for Crewe.
>
--- End Quote ---
I thought Crewe’s academy was pretty top notch for a club that
size, as we’ve seen the likes of Danny Murphy, Dean Ashton and
Rob Jones (granted many years ago) a product of said youth
setup.
#Post#: 104282--------------------------------------------------
Re: Crewe Alex going down to Cat 3
DIR By: Ryanellis
Date: April 18, 2026, 12:35 pm
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I 100% agree. There are only 3 clubs in the u21 PDL from league
two - Crewe, Colchester and Fleetwood. Ironically, all 3 are the
bottom 3.
There aren’t many league 1 clubs that are Cat 2 either. They
still do produce quality players and some of the players they
have now are fantastic! (When I ref their on a Sunday)
#Post#: 104291--------------------------------------------------
Re: Crewe Alex going down to Cat 3
DIR By: Acme Thunderer
Date: April 18, 2026, 1:15 pm
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--- Quote from: TheThingFromLewes link ---
>
> [quote author=Ryanellis link=topic=7891.msg103877#msg103877
date=1775816036]
> A very sad thing for all associated with Crewe, but something
that is much needed. For example, it cost Crewe 21s £5k to
travel down to Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago. This cannot be
sustained for a club like Crewe who’s losing £1m annually.
>
> Going down to Cat 3 allows Crewe to improve coaching between
players, but removes the 21s. The 18s will also join the EFL
north alliance league.
>
> A sad sight, but something that’s much needed for Crewe.
>
--- End Quote ---
I thought Crewe’s academy was pretty top notch for a club that
size, as we’ve seen the likes of Danny Murphy, Dean Ashton and
Rob Jones (granted many years ago) a product of said youth
setup.
[/quote]
Agreed, but that was when Dario Grady was the long term manager
of the club and little Crewe were more than holding their own in
the Championship. Sadly, in my view, Dario was forced to depart
from the scene, and the youth setup and Academy have never been
the same since. They have first rate training facilities, but
not the money now to take it further, unlike this afternoon's
opponents, MK Dons.
#Post#: 104300--------------------------------------------------
Re: Crewe Alex going down to Cat 3
DIR By: Ryanellis
Date: April 18, 2026, 1:52 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Acme Thunderer link ---
>
> [quote author=TheThingFromLewes
link=topic=7891.msg104255#msg104255 date=1776448017]
> [quote author=Ryanellis link=topic=7891.msg103877#msg103877
date=1775816036]
> A very sad thing for all associated with Crewe, but something
that is much needed. For example, it cost Crewe 21s £5k to
travel down to Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago. This cannot be
sustained for a club like Crewe who’s losing £1m annually.
>
> Going down to Cat 3 allows Crewe to improve coaching between
players, but removes the 21s. The 18s will also join the EFL
north alliance league.
>
> A sad sight, but something that’s much needed for Crewe.
>
--- End Quote ---
I thought Crewe’s academy was pretty top notch for a club that
size, as we’ve seen the likes of Danny Murphy, Dean Ashton and
Rob Jones (granted many years ago) a product of said youth
setup.
[/quote]
Agreed, but that was when Dario Grady was the long term manager
of the club and little Crewe were more than holding their own in
the Championship. Sadly, in my view, Dario was forced to depart
from the scene, and the youth setup and Academy have never been
the same since. They have first rate training facilities, but
not the money now to take it further, unlike this afternoon's
opponents, MK Dons.
[/quote]
I ref at the academy more a less weekly, and there’s:
A gym
A swimming pool
Meeting rooms
Around 10 changing rooms
Offices
7 football pitches ( 1 astro)
1 dome (which is required at Cat 2, not cat 3)
IMO this is extremely impressive for a league two club.
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