Grimsby v Crewe Preview

The Opposition

Founded a year before ourselves in 1877 Crewe were established by those pesky cricketers looking for something to do in the winter. (If there was a little less football club founding and a little more middle order batting practice we might have already reclaimed The Ashes!) Named apparently after Princess Alexandra or after a pub depending on which rumour you wish to believe Crewe also along with ourselves helped establish the second tier of English football. Since then Crewe have followed a similar pattern to ourselves fighting the big boys and occasionally diving like a Russian submarine to the depth of the lower league.

"In the last 20 years we have progressed to the Championship in 1997 and spent 9 years out of ten in it, only one blip but we soon got promoted back. Since then in the last few years we have fallen from grace and have been sinking really fast at an alarming rate."

Shite! So I have been told and who could correct such a great and well presented response. Crewe’s season was indeed shite finishing 22nd and 4 points off safety a run of 10 matches without a win in the very last frantic run in became their final and fatal downfall one in which consigned Crewe to League Two. Welcome and wipe your bloody feet!

Though bookies and pundits are as equally optimistic of a return to League One it’s fans aren't expecting a ticker tape parade by May.

"Could be shite again!"
" looking equally dire!"

That’s the sort of optimism that would make any Town fan proud.

"Seth Johnson (Turned down a move to Derby to help Crewe's cause but then moved during the summer)"

"Well first off it would be playerS! and there are plenty of choices. Danny O'dire, Calvin 'the donkey' Zola and Anthony bloody Eldim are top at the moment."
"No one at the moment but I'm sure I could pick one out after a few games."

"Small club on the coast in Cleethorpes small club like the Alex thought Grimsby would do well with Mike Newell at the helm."
"Followed a similar plight as us, spending several seasons struggling in the CCC and after dropped in to League 2 and have surprisingly struggled still. Squad doesn't look very good (although i could say the same about us!) and I think it’s going to be a hit and miss season for us both."

"Ain’t looking too clever, with a 'hoofball' manager and a dodgy board. however, at the rate things are going we could soon be replacing our manager and maybe then we can start to move forward."
"So so....need to sort out problems on the pitch (hoofball) and the boardroom that is concerning a lot of supporters."

Competition for this is high at Crewe who under Dario Gradi produced a steady and constant stream of competent and skillful footballers including the likes of Danny Murphy, Seth Johnson and Dean Ashton; But the winner under Gradi’s stewardship and all time 1990 World Cup hero midfield maestro and Belgium Buster DAVID PLATT. Appearing 134 times and netting a brilliant total of 56 goals from the middle of the park before moving on to bigger and better things at Aston Villa in 1988.

Clayton Donaldson. Born in Bradford in 1984 Clayton started his career on the north bank with them there Tahgers in 2002. During his three year spell in the rugby league city Clayton was sent out on loan on to an array of non league clubs all across Yorkshire starting with Harrogate Town then Scarborough and Halifax before finally returning to Harrogate Town. During his loan adventures Donaldson amassed 27 appearances and grabbing a total of 7 goals all of which were for Harrogate in his 2 spells at Wetherby Road. After being released by Peter Taylor from The KC it was another North Yorkshire club who were to hand him a deal in the guise of manager Billy McEwen at Conference club York City. His 2 year spell for the Minstermen was his most fruitful bagging him a near brilliant ratio of 1 per every other game (85 Apps, 41 Goals) Having turned down a new contract in 2006 it was time for the plague of The Mariners pre season to start snooping to sign the deadly striker. The beautiful and annoying figures of rotund Barry Fry and the Grimsby B Team, Scunthorpe United both failed to sign Donaldson who opted to move north of the border for a year at Hibs before joining Crewe in 2008 where his 6 goals in 38 appearances weren't enough to steer Crewe from relegation.

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Head to Head

Town have a decent record against Crewe, but have only won one out of the last ten games.

P 56 W 23 D 15 L 18 F 79 A 66

Crewe Head-to-Head (27th on The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

Grimsby 0 Crewe 3 (Tue 21st Aug 2006)

An embarrassing home defeat in the Carling Cup. Enough said.

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