Tomorrow afternoon, Crewe Alexandra travel to Blundell Park to face Grimsby Town with former Alex manager Dave Artell in the home dugout (the first time since the 80s that we have faced a former manager) and Alex Academy alumni Callum Ainley and Toby Mullarkey in the playing squad.
This Season:
This season sees the Mariners sitting in 20th place having beaten Salford City, Gillingham, Barrow and Morecambe, they have drawn with AFC Wimbledon, Mansfield Town, Walsall, Bradford City, Tranmere Rovers, Forest Green Rovers, Sutton United and MK Dons while they have lost against Notts County, Wrexham, Crawley Town, Swindon Town, Accrington Stanley, Stockport County, Colchester United and Doncaster Rovers.
They lost against Oxford United in the FA Cup 2nd Round (after defeating Slough Town in the previous round) and lost against Mansfield in the Carabao Cup 1st Round. In the EFL Trophy, they finished bottom in their group after defeats against Manchester City’s Under-21s (on penalties), Barnsley and Bradford.
Transfers:
This summer has seen them make 11 permanent and 2 loan signings while 15 players have left the club permanently with Aaron Braithwaite, Harvey Tomlinson and Edwin Essel leaving on loan deals.
Joining the ranks at Blundell Park are goalkeeper Jake Eastwood, defenders Mullarkey and Harvey Rodgers, midfielders Kamil Conteh and Ainley with forwards Danny Rose, Charles Vernam, Abo Eisa, Rekeil Pyke, Donovan Wilson and Arthur Gnahoua completing the signings. Goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright and midfielder Jamie Andrews have joined the club on loan.
Leaving the club permanently were Danilo Orsi, Louis Boyd, Ollie Battersby, Max Crocombe, Jordan Cropper, Dec Dennis, Josh Emmanuel, Owen Gallacher, Jaz Goundry, Alex Markham, Bryn Morris, Shaun Pearson, Sean Scannell, Ryan Taylor and Tom Zerboni.
Head-to-Head:
Alex Wins: 25
Grimsby Wins: 27
Draws: 11
Biggest Alex Win: 5-0 at Gresty Road in February 2017
Biggest Grimsby Win: 5-0 at Abbey Park in December 1894
Last Meeting
Grimsby Town 2-0 Crewe Alexandra, 25th April 2023
Gavan Holohan opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Danilo Orsi added the second 8 minutes from time.
Crewe: Booth; Mellor, Offord, McDonald, Uwakwe; Finnigan (C. Finney 69), Thomas, Ainley (Tabiner 55); Agyei, Nevitt (Baker-Richardson 55), Long (Brook 87)
Booked – Mellor 17
Grimsby: Crocombe; Emmanuel, Waterfall, Smith, Driscoll-Glennon; Holohan (Braithwaite 76), Hunt; Clifton, Khouri (O’Neill 84), Khan; Orsi
Booked – Khan 77
Played for Both:
The following players have been contracted to both teams:
Goalkeepers: Nick Colgan, Dave Felgate, Gary Montgomery, Tom Poskett
Defenders: Paul Bignot, Marlon Broomes, Harry Davis, Darran Kempson, Olly Lancashire, Toby Mullarkey, Gregor Robertson
Midfielders: Callum Ainley, Chris Clements, Paul Holsgrove
Forwards: Dougald Campbell, Colin Cramb, Anthony Elding, Thomas Elliott, Rod Fletcher, Wes Fletcher, Riccardo Gabbiadini, Bill Gardner, Joel Grant, Martin Harris, Billy Haydock, Harry Mellor, Greg Pearson, Jimmy Pennington, George Ratcliffe, Steve Saunders, John Waring, Norman Wright
Officials:
The EFL have announced that Richie Watkins is tomorrow’s referee with Mark Cunliffe and Alan Clayton assisting him and Matt Corlett the fourth official. This is the first Crewe game that Watkins will have refereed.
