Tomorrow afternoon sees Crewe Alexandra play the League Two season home opener against Harrogate Town at the Alexandra Stadium. The visitors sit in 2nd place in the league following a 3-0 home win against Swindon Town last Saturday.
Last Season:
Last season saw Town finish in 19th place in the league with 14 wins, 11 draws and 21 defeats.
They would lose to Luton Town in the FA Cup 3rd Round and would see their game against Rochdale in the Carabao Cup 1st Round cancelled after a number of positive Covid cases in the Harrogate squad. They would finish 2nd in their EFL Trophy group before going out in the quarter-final stage at Sutton United following wins against Tranmere Rovers and Carlisle United.
Transfers:
This summer has seen the club make 11 signings, 7 permanent as well as 4 season-long loan deals. Goalkeeper Pete Jameson, defenders Kyle Ferguson, Joe Mattock, Miles Welch-Hayes, Jaheim Headley and Lewis Richards (the latter 2 on loan). Midfielders Stephen Dooley, Tyler Frost, Josh Austerfield and Matty Daly (again the last 2 on loan) as well as forward Max Wright complete the signings.
They have allowed 11 players to leave the club permanently.
Head-to-Head:
There have been no meetings at first team level between the clubs.
Last Meeting:
Crewe Alexandra 5-3 Harrogate Town (FA Youth Cup), 13th November 2021
Joe Dixon gave the visitors a 13th-minute lead before Joel Tabiner levelled the score with 8 minutes of the first half remaining. Alex captain Connor O’Riordan gave the hosts the lead 4 minutes after the break before Dixon added his second just before the hour-mark.
Into extra-time where Charlie Finney gave the Alex in the 95th minute before substitute Emmanuel Ilesamni levelled the score a couple of minutes later. Zak Kempster-Down would score the Alex fourth moments later before Connor Salisbury wrapped the game up in the final minute.
Crewe: Booth; Bhatti, O’Riordan, Kempster-Down, Lawton; Lunt, Tabiner, Finney; Webster (Crolla 112), Salisbury, Holicek
Harrogate: Giles, Barker, Birmingham, Lamb, Attree, Wilson, Williams, Horbury, Dixon, O’Boyle, Kerr
Played for Both:
The following players have been contracted to both teams:
Goalkeepers: n/a
Defenders: n/a
Midfielders: n/a
Forwards: n/a
Officials:
The officials for this game have been announced here with Declan Bourne the referee, Hristo Karaivanov and Grant Taylor are his assistants with Jake Topp the fourth official. Bourne has refereed the following Crewe games in the last 5 years:
- Crewe Alexandra 3-4 Shrewsbury Town (10th November 2020, EFL Trophy) – Powell (2), Zanzala
- Wigan Athletic 2-0 Crewe Alexandra (17th April 2021)
- Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Lincoln City (7th December 2021) – Mandron (2)
- Doncaster Rovers 2-0 Crewe Alexandra (9th April 2022)
