Crewe Alexandra On This Day – August 9th

There have been six competitive fixtures on August 9th in the 25-year period, taking place in 2003, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2016.

In the opening game of the 2003/04 season, Crewe Alexandra travelled to Selhurst Park to play Wimbledon. Dave Brammer gave the visitors the lead in the 8th minute before Patrick Agyemang equalised on 15 minutes. Alex Tapp gave Wimbledon the lead 9 minutes into the second half before Nigel Reo-Coker wrapped up the points just after half time.

Crewe: Ince; Wright, Moses (McCready 79), Foster, Vaughan; Lunt, Brammer, Cochrane (Bell 85), Rix; S. Jones, Robinson (Varney 74)

Wimbledon: Banks; Hawkins, Chorley, Leigertwood, Holloway; Gordon (Kamara 88), Darlington, Reo-Coker, Tapp, Nowland; Agyemang (Holdsworth 84)

2 years later saw Crewe travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City. Luke Varney gave Crewe the lead in the 19th minute before Leon McKenzie equalised 5 minutes after the break.

Crewe: Williams; Moss, Walker, Moses, Tonkin; S. Jones (Rivers 87), B. Jones (Cochrane 90), Roberts, Vaughan; Johnson (Higdon 90), Varney

Norwich: Green; Louis-Jean, Fleming, Shackell, Drury; Hughes (Safri 64), Jarrett (Thorne 81), Marney; Ashton, Huckerby, McKenzie

In 2008, Crewe hosted Brighton at the Alexandra Stadium. Adam Virgo gave the hosts the lead on 36 minutes before Calvin Zola equalised 5 minutes from time only for Nicky Forster to give Brighton the win in the final minute.

Crewe: Collis; Woodards, Baudet, McCready, B. Jones; Bopp (Rix 16), O`Connor, Bailey, Grant (Moore 86); Zola, Miller (Elding 66)

Brighton: Kuipers; Hawkins, Elphick, Virgo, Richards; Whing, McLeod, Thomson, Cox; Forster, Murray

Onto 2011 where we travelled to Deepdale to play Preston North End in the 1st Round of the League Cup. A Matt Tootle o.g. gave the hosts the lead inside 3 minutes before Shaun Miller and David Artell gave Crewe the half-time lead. 2 late goals from Neil Mellor and Iain Hume gave the hosts a place in the next round.

Crewe: Phillips; Davis, Artell, Dugdale, Tootle; Moore, Bell, Murphy, Powell; Leitch-Smith (Shelley 73), Miller

Preston: Turner; Alexander, Devine, Carlisle, McLean; Barton (Mayor 53), Clucas (Nicholson 66), Parry; Hume, Proctor (Coutts 62), Mellor

In 2014, Crewe Alexandra travelled to Highbury to play Fleetwood Town. David Ball and Jamie Proctor gave the hosts a 2-goal lead before Matt Tootle missed a penalty and Brad Inman scored a late penalty in stoppage time.

Crewe: Shearer; Tootle, Ray, Dugdale, Guthrie (Baillie 86); Turton, Nolan, Grant (Saunders 76); Waters, Oliver (Haber 76), Inman

Fleetwood: Maxwell; McLaughlin, Pond, Hogan, Jordan; Morris, Sarcevic, Schumacher, Evans (Blair 84); Ball, Dobbie (Proctor 46)

The final game was last year and another League Cup tie, this time against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Leon Clarke gave the hosts the lead before veteran striker Ryan Lowe equalised in second-half stoppage-time. He also got the winner in the 100th minute getting on the end of a Ben Nugent knock-down to give Crewe a trip to Ewood Park in the next round.

Crewe: Garratt; Turton, Ray, Nugent, Bakayago; Kirk (Kiwomya 59), Jones, Bingham (Ng 46), Cooper; Saunders (Lowe 68), Dagnall

Sheff United: Long; Brayford, O`Connell, Wilson, Hussey; Basham, Duffy, Fleck, Done (Scougall 76); Clarke (Calvert-Lewin 83), Sharp (McNulty 70)