Tomorrow afternoon, Crewe Alexandra make the trip to the Racecourse Ground to face Wrexham for the first time in 20 years in any competition and for the first time since April 1997 in the league.
The hosts squad contains several former Alex players with Arthur Okonkwo, Callum McFadzean, George Evans, James Jones and Billy Waters all have played for the Alex through the years.
This Season:
This season sees The Red Dragons sitting in 7th place in the league having beaten Walsall, Tranmere Rovers, Doncaster Rovers and Grimsby Town, they have drawn against AFC Wimbledon, Swindon Town and Barrow while they have lost against MK Dons and Stockport County.
They lost to Bradford City in the Carabao Cup Round 2 (having beaten Wigan Athletic, both on penalties) while they beat Newcastle United’s Under-21s in their EFL Trophy group that also contains ourselves and Port Vale.
Transfers:
This summer has seen them make 5 permanent signings and 2 loan deals while 12 players have left the club permanently with Scott Butler leaving on a loan deal until January.
Joining the ranks at the Racecourse Stadium are goalkeeper Liam Hall, defender Will Boyle, midfielders James McClean and Evans while forward Steven Fletcher completes the permanent signings. Goalkeepers Luke McNicholas (until January) and Okonkwo (season-long) are their loanee arrivals.
Leaving the club permanently are Ryan Austin, Jake Hyde, Dan Jones, Louis Lloyd, Reece Hall-Johnson, Rory Watson, Kai Calderbank-Park, Harry Lennon, Will Mountfield, Tom Jenkins, Malik Dijksteel and Ben Foster.
Head-to-Head:
Alex Wins: 42
Wrexham Wins: 42
Draws: 30
Biggest Alex Win: 6-1 at the Alexandra Stadium in November 1992
Biggest Wrexham Win: 7-0 at the Racecourse in September 1930
Last Meeting
Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Wrexham, 12th August 2003
Dean Ashton gave the Alex a 54th-minute lead from the penalty spot with Steve Jones adding a second 2 minutes from time before Brian Carey was sent off for the visitors in the final minute.
Crewe: Ince; Wright, Foster, Moses, Vaughan; Lunt, Brammer, Cochrane, Rix; Jones, Ashton (McCready 76)
Booked – Cochrane 7, Ashton 45
Wrexham: Dibble, Carey, Lawrence, Pejic, C. Edwards, P. Edwards, Ferguson, Llewellyn, Thomas (Crowell 84), Whitley, Jones (Sam 46)
Booked – Ferguson 8, Carey 79, Thomas 82
Sent Off – Carey 90
Played for Both:
The following players have been contracted to both teams:
Goalkeepers: Drew Brand, Ken Greatrex, Ron Mawson, Arthur Okonkwo, Jack Prince, John Ruddy, Scott Shearer, Rhys Taylor
Defenders: David Artell, Alfred Davies, Bill Goodwin, Darran Kempson, Dennis Lawrence, Stuart Mason, Callum McFadzean, Jimmy McGill, Albert Parker, Neil Salathiel, Bob Scott, Richard Walker, Ashley Westwood, Stephen Wright, Steve Wright
Midfielders: Dave Brammer, Mark Carrington, Len Edwards, Paul Edwards, George Evans, Jim Harvey, Geoff Hunter, James Jones, Joe Jones, Tecwyn Jones, Benjamin Lewis, Lee Molyneux, Trevor Owen, Mel Sutton, Brad Walker
Forwards: Dele Adebola, Joe Anyinsah, Peter Baines, Eric Betts, Jack Boothway, Clive Colbridge, Billy Cotton, Wyn Davies, Bernard Evans, Billy Harrison, Jack Holland, Dennis Isherwood, David Jones, Jack Jones, Lee Jones, Ossie Jones, Steve Jones, Albert Kinsey, Eric Littler, Harry Lovatt, Ernie Millward, Jack Mustard, Jon Newby, Jason Oswell, Bill Pendergast, Mathias Pogba, Bernard Purdie, James Roberts, Robert Roberts, Stan Rowlands, Arthur Rowley, Les Samuels, Alf Smith, Gareth Taylor, Mark Taylor, Billy Toms, Juan Ugarte, Jonathan Walters, John Warburton, Ashley Ward, Billy Waters, Bob Whittingham
Officials:
The EFL have announced that Lee Swabey is tomorrow’s referee with Jacob Lehane and Paul Stonier assisting him and Kevin Morris the fourth official. Swabey has refereed the following Crewe games in the last 5 years:
- Crewe Alexandra 0-1 Carlisle United (10th November 2018, FA Cup)
- Cheltenham Town 1-1 Crewe Alexandra (28th September 2019) – Porter
- Walsall 1-2 Crewe Alexandra (1st February 2020) – Powell, Finney
- Exeter City 1-1 Crewe Alexandra (3rd March 2020) – Nottingham
- Crewe Alexandra 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday (11th December 2021)
- AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Crewe Alexandra (25th October 2022) – Adebisi
