Editing Crewe Alexandra F.C. (section)

==Club identity==
[[File:Crewe alexandra 1988-1989.gif|thumb|Crewe Alexandra kit, 1988–1989]]

Since the late 1890s, the main (home) Crewe playing strip has featured a red or predominantly red top, usually with white shorts (though red and black shorts have also been briefly adopted) and red socks.<ref name="HFK"/> The team played in white shirts and blue shorts from 1886 to 1896, but have since played mainly in red and white.<ref name="HFK">{{cite web |title=Crewe Alexandra |url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Crewe_Alexandra/Crewe_Alexandra.htm |website=Historical Football Kits |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="Beautiful">{{cite web |title=Crewe Alexandra |url=https://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/crewe-alexandra/ |website=The Beautiful History Of Club Crests, Club Colours & Nicknames |date=12 November 2010 |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref> The red shirts earned the early nickname of the "Robins",<ref name="Beautiful"/> though the club is more commonly referred to as the "Alex" or the "Railwaymen" (reflecting the club's railway works founders, the town's associations with the railway industry, and the club's proximity to Crewe railway station).<ref name="HFK"/>

Crewe's away colours have varied. Blue, white or blue-and-white shirts have been the most commonly adopted, but during the 21st century, the club has also occasionally played in other colours;<ref name="FSH">{{cite web |title=Crewe Alexandra |url=https://footballshirthistory.weebly.com/c---g/category/crewe-alexandra |website=Football Shirts History |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> black with a gold trim was adopted for the 2021–2022 season,<ref name="CAFC-09Jul2021">{{cite news |title=New 2021-22 Away Shirt Revealed |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2021/july/new-2021-22-away-shirt-revealed/ |access-date=14 July 2021 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=9 July 2021}}</ref> then light and dark blue vertical stripes the following season.<ref name="CAFC-13Jul2022">{{cite news |title=Away Shirt On Sale This Saturday! |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2022/july/away-shirt-on-sale-this-saturday/ |access-date=26 July 2022 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=13 July 2022}}</ref>

The town's crest appeared on the team's shirts in the 1958–59 season.<ref name="HFK"/> This included a lion―associated with the [[Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe|Marquess of Crewe]]―holding a cogged wheel, a larger six-spoked railway wheel, and two wheatsheaves reflecting south Cheshire's agricultural connections.<ref name="Beautiful"/> This was replaced in 1975 by a simpler badge with a lion holding a railway wheel―a motif borrowed from [[British Rail]]<ref name="HFK"/>―on a circle containing the words 'Crewe Alexandra Football Club' arranged around a football. The current badge, adopted in 1998, features a lion perched on a football, encircled by a laurel and the club's name; it dropped the railway wheel, prompting some Crewe fans to demand the club "bring back the wheel".<ref name="Beautiful"/><ref name="Kural" /> The club's [[mascot]] is also a lion: Gresty the Lion appears on matchdays and in other community activities.<ref name="Gresty">{{cite news |title=Our Leighton Hospital Visit |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2019/december/mid-cheshire-hospital-visit/ |access-date=14 July 2021 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=19 December 2019}}</ref>

The most recent shirt sponsor was cereals supplier Mornflake―also based in Gresty Road―whose logo appeared on the shirts from 2005.<ref name="HFK"/><ref name="CAFC-19Jun2020">{{cite news |title=Mornflake Extend Shirt Sponsorship Deal |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2020/june/mornflake-extend-shirt-sponsorship-deal/ |access-date=24 March 2021 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=19 June 2020}}</ref> In December 2023, Mornflake extended their shirt sponsorship, making it the longest continual agreement in the EFL,<ref name=Rial/> and October 2024 saw the 1,000th game since Mornflake's shirt sponsorship began.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alex to officially mark Mornflake’s 1,000 game milestone |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2024/october/24/alex-to-officially-mark-mornflake-s-1-000-game-milestone/ |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=24 October 2024}}</ref> In April 2025, [[Whitby Morrison]] was announced as the club's new shirt sponsor, while Mornflake extended their ground naming rights sponsorship.<ref name=sponsors>{{cite web |title=Mornflake and Whitby Morrison announced as joint Headline Partners |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2025/april/29/mornflake-and-whitby-morrison-announced-as-joint-headline-partners/ |website=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=14 May 2025}}</ref>