Editing Crewe Alexandra F.C. (section)

==Reputation==
===Player development===
{{main|Crewe Alexandra F.C. Academy}}

As an early professional club in the late 19th century, several Crewe players achieved international selection, particularly for Wales. During the 20th century, however, Crewe had few stars. Welsh international [[Fred Keenor]] played his final league games for the club and his last international cap in 1932 was Crewe's first of the century.<ref name="EU - FrK"/> Some players started or developed their careers at Crewe before achieving fame elsewhere. For example, forward [[Frank Blunstone]] played 48 League games for Crewe in the early 1950s before a move to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and five England caps,<ref>{{cite web|title=Frank Blunstone – Player Profile|date=September 2009 |url=http://www.football-england.com/frank_blunstone.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703142140/http://www.football-england.com/frank_blunstone.html|archive-date=2013-07-03|publisher=football-england.com|access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> [[Stan Bowles]] scored 18 Crewe goals in 51 games in the early 1970s and went on to play for [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] and England,<ref>{{Hugman|1975|Stan Bowles|access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> and goalkeeper [[Bruce Grobbelaar]] played 24 Crewe matches at the start of the 1980s before moving to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]].<ref name="ESPN-23May2012"/>

Crewe's conscious investment in young players began in the late 1980s when then manager Dario Gradi and club chairman John Bowler got the local council to contribute towards the costs of an all-weather pitch at [[Gresty Road]].<ref>Hornbrook, p.36.</ref> This formed the starting point for a youth coaching facility, which by the early 1990s was coaching 120 youngsters every week.<ref>Hornbrook, p.56.</ref> In 1995, Crewe leased a 20-acre site at Reaseheath, near Nantwich, planning a £750,000 training and player development facility largely funded by transfer sales.<ref>Hornbrook, p.94.</ref> In 1996, Crewe received a [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|lottery grant]] to develop a youth coaching facility in nearby [[Shavington]].<ref>Hornbrook, p.118.</ref> By 2015, player sales had generated over £20 million which had contributed to modernising Gresty Road and developing Crewe's Academy,<ref name="McClurg-09Feb2015">{{cite news |last1=McClurg |first1=Ian |title=The pioneering work of Crewe Alexandra's Academy |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/02/09/the-pioneering-work-of-crewe-alexandra/ |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=These Football Times |date=9 February 2015}}</ref> making it the only club outside the top two divisions to have a Category Two academy club;<ref name="McClurg-09Feb2015"/> in 2022, it was ranked in the top 10 academies in England and Wales.<ref name="CAFC-20Oct2022">{{cite news |title=Top 10 academy ranking is 'credit to hard-working staff' |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2022/october/top-10-academy-ranking-is-credit-to-hard-working-staff/ |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=20 October 2022}}</ref>

Players who passed through the ranks since establishment of the academy include England internationals [[Geoff Thomas (footballer born 1964)|Geoff Thomas]] and [[David Platt]], Wales international [[Robbie Savage]], and Northern Ireland's [[Neil Lennon]] and [[Steve Jones (footballer born 1976)|Steve Jones]]. These were all youngsters signed from other clubs, but the academy also nurtured Crewe's own trainees&nbsp;– most notably England internationals [[Rob Jones (footballer born 1971)|Rob Jones]], [[Danny Murphy (footballer born 1977)|Danny Murphy]], [[Seth Johnson (footballer)|Seth Johnson]] and [[Dean Ashton]], plus Wales midfielder [[David Vaughan (footballer)|David Vaughan]].<ref name="Gibson-24Nov2016">{{cite news |last1=Gibson |first1=Owen |title=Crewe Alexandra: how a football talent factory has been thrown into turmoil |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/24/crewe-alexandra-barry-bennell |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=Guardian |date=24 November 2016}}</ref><ref>Morris, p.279.</ref>

===Sexual abuse scandal===
{{main|United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal}}
{{further|Sexual abuse cases at Crewe Alexandra F.C.}}
On 16 November 2016, former Crewe defender [[Andy Woodward]] revealed that he had been the victim of [[child sexual abuse]] by former football coach [[United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal#Barry Bennell|Barry Bennell]] (convicted as a paedophile in the US in 1994) at the club in the 1980s.<ref name="Guardian-16Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Andy Woodward: 'It was the softer, weaker boys he targeted'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/16/andy-woodward|access-date=19 November 2016|work=Guardian|date=16 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Guardian-17Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|last2=James|first2=Stuart|title=Associate of Barry Bennell also preyed on boys, two former footballers reveal|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/17/barry-bennell-two-former-players-reveal|access-date=19 November 2016|work=Guardian|date=17 November 2016}}</ref> By the time club chairman John Bowler responded to the revelations, on Monday 21 November, six other individuals had contacted the police,<ref name="Taylor-21Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Six come forward after Andy Woodward's story of abuse at Crewe|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/21/crewe-alexandra-andy-woodward|access-date=21 November 2016|work=Guardian|date=21 November 2016}}</ref> with Woodward's Crewe teammate [[Steve Walters (footballer)|Steve Walters]] alleging he was another of Bennell's victims.<ref name="Taylor-22Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Second footballer reveals abuse by serial paedophile Barry Bennell|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/22/steve-walters-andy-woodward-crewe-alexandra|access-date=22 November 2016|work=Guardian|date=22 November 2016}}</ref> Woodward criticised Crewe for failing to apologise.<ref name="Taylor-22Nov2016Apol">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Andy Woodward criticises Crewe over lack of apology in Barry Bennell case|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/22/andy-woodward-crewe-alexandra|access-date=23 November 2016|work=Guardian|date=22 November 2016}}</ref> On 27 November 2016, a third former Crewe player, [[Anthony Hughes (footballer)|Anthony Hughes]], revealed that he too had been abused by Bennell,<ref name="BBC-27Nov2016">{{cite news|title=Football sex abuse: Crewe launch child abuse investigation|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38118429|access-date=27 November 2016|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=27 November 2016}}</ref> as did Crewe trainee, later Wimbledon and Northern Ireland international [[Mark Williams (footballer, born 1970)|Mark Williams]].<ref name="Parveen-29Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Parveen|first1=Nazia|title=Former Northern Ireland player Mark Williams was 'victim of sexual abuse'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/29/northern-ireland-player-mark-williams-victim-sexual-abuse-barry-bennell|access-date=6 December 2016|work=Guardian|date=29 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Austin-29Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Austin|first1=Jack|title=Football abuse scandal: Former Premier League player becomes fifth footballer to reveal sexual abuse|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/football-abuse-scandal-former-premier-league-fifth-footballer-sexual-abuse-barry-bennell-a7445976.html|access-date=6 December 2016|work=Independent|date=29 November 2016}}</ref>

Bennell was tried at Liverpool Crown Court in early 2018, and convicted of 50 offences of sexual abuse against 12 boys<ref name="BBC-15Feb2018">{{cite news|title=Ex-football coach Barry Bennell guilty of further sex abuse|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43069415|access-date=15 February 2018|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=15 February 2018}}</ref> (and on 20 February 2018 was sentenced to 30 years in prison).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Daniel |title=Barry Bennell branded 'sheer evil' as he is sentenced to 30 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/feb/19/barry-bennell-branded-sheer-evil-as-he-is-sentenced-to-31-years |access-date=2019-10-02 |work=Guardian |date=2018-02-20}}</ref> After the guilty verdicts on 15 February, victims including Andy Woodward and Steve Walters read statements outside court.<ref name="BBC-15Feb2018" /> Crewe Alexandra expressed its "deepest sympathies" to Bennell's victims, saying it was not aware of any sexual abuse by Bennell nor had it received any complaint about sexual abuse by him before or during his employment with the club,<ref name="CANet-15Feb2018">{{cite web|title=Club Statement: Barry Bennell|url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2018/february/club-statement-barry-bennell/|website=CreweAlex.net|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="BBC-15Feb2018" /> though this has been disputed.<ref name="Taylor-15Feb2018">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Manchester City 'ignored warnings' and kept Barry Bennell in youth set-up|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/feb/15/manchester-city-barry-bennell-warning|access-date=15 February 2018|work=Guardian|date=15 February 2018}}</ref>

Walters accused Crewe of "[[victim blaming]]" in a bid to avoid compensation payouts. He and at least one other former Crewe player launched High Court damages claims of upwards of £200,000 against the club;<ref name="CreweCron-13Mar2019">{{cite news |title=Duo sue the Alex over their ordeal at hands of abuser Bennell |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=13 March 2019}}</ref> an eight-week trial was listed to start in October 2021.<ref name="BBC-05May2020">{{cite news|date=5 May 2020|title=Barry Bennell sex abuse: Eight men sue Man City|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-52549032|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref> On 19 March 2019, the ''Guardian'' reported Crewe Alexandra planned to contest victims' claims,<ref name="Taylor-19Mar2019">{{cite news |last1=Daniel |first1=Taylor |title=Crewe claim they did not arrange for boys to stay with Barry Bennell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/19/crewe-barry-bennell-arrange-stays-lawyers-catholic-church |access-date=19 March 2019 |work=Guardian |date=19 March 2019}}</ref> but later (27 March 2019), reported an apparent U-turn in Crewe's approach; it had agreed an out-of-court financial settlement with one of Bennell's victims.<ref name="Taylor-28Mar2019">{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Daniel |title=Crewe agree first settlement with Barry Bennell victim after U-turn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/26/crewe-first-out-of-court-settlement-barry-bennell-victim |access-date=28 March 2019 |work=Guardian |date=26 March 2019}}</ref> Andy Woodward had unsuccessfully sued Crewe for damages in 2004.<ref name="Woodward-04Jun2019">{{cite news |last1=Woodward |first1=Andy |title=Andy Woodward extract: 'Telling my story stopped a young guy ending his life' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jun/04/andy-woodward-book-extract-abuse-barry-bennell |access-date=5 June 2019 |work=Guardian |date=4 June 2019}}</ref>

Crewe were additionally criticised for not holding an independent review into how they dealt with historical child sex abuse allegations.<ref name="Townsend-26Nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Townsend|first1=Mark|title=Crewe to launch independent review into handling of child abuse allegations|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/26/crewe-independent-review-handling-child-abuse-allegations|access-date=27 November 2016|work=The Observer|date=26 November 2016}}</ref> In March 2018, the said that, as it had fully co-operated with police investigations, it did "not intend to commission a further independent investigation," and the police's report had also been supplied to the FA review headed by Clive Sheldon.<ref name="CAFC statement-02Mar2018">{{cite web|title=Club Statement: Barry Bennell (2)|url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2018/march/club-statement-barry-bennell-2/|access-date=2 March 2018|website=CreweAlex.net}}</ref> This decision was criticised by local MP [[Laura Smith (British politician)|Laura Smith]],<ref name="Ryan-09Mar2018">{{cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Belinda|title=MP urges Crewe Alex to hold independent investigation into historic handling of child sex predator Barry Bennell|url=https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/mp-urges-crewe-alex-hold-14387725|access-date=9 March 2018|work=Crewe Chronicle|date=9 March 2018}}</ref> by MP [[Damian Collins]], chair of the [[Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee|DCMS select committee]],<ref name="Drucker-14Mar2018">{{cite news|last1=Drucker|first1=James|title=Crewe's refusal to conduct internal Barry Bennell inquiry is 'totally unacceptable', says Damian Collins|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/03/14/crewes-refusal-conduct-internal-barry-bennell-inquiry-totally/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/03/14/crewes-refusal-conduct-internal-barry-bennell-inquiry-totally/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=21 March 2018|work=Telegraph|date=14 March 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> by [[Crewe Town Council]],<ref name="Ryan-13Mar2018">{{cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Belinda|title=Crewe Alex refusal to hold inquiry 'demonstrates a disregard for Bennell's victims' town council leader says|url=https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/crewe-alex-refusal-hold-inquiry-14407864|access-date=14 March 2018|work=Crewe Chronicle|date=13 March 2018}}</ref> and by the [[Professional Footballers Association]]'s [[Gordon Taylor (footballer)|Gordon Taylor]].<ref name="Taylor-10Mar2018">{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=Crewe excluded from regional awards for handling of Barry Bennell scandal|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/10/crewe-barry-bennell-excluded-northwest-football-awards|access-date=11 March 2018|work=Observer|date=10 March 2018}}</ref> In his final report, Sheldon said he "liaised with the Club and its lawyers with a view to suggesting other lines of enquiry that could usefully be followed up by the Club. Ultimately, the Club agreed to conduct those further enquiries, and provided me with a report setting out its conclusions."<ref name="Sheldon Report">{{cite book |last1=Sheldon |first1=Clive |title=Independent Review into Child Sexual Abuse in Football 1970–2005 |date=2021 |publisher=Football Association |location=London |url=https://the-fa.com/7ZFDqu |access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref>

The FA's 710-page report,<ref name="Sheldon Report"/> published on 17 March 2021, identified failures to act adequately on complaints or rumours of sexual abuse at eight professional clubs including Crewe. Considering whether senior Crewe people knew about Bennell, Sheldon concluded they had not received specific reports of abuse. However, directors had discussed concerns about inappropriate behaviour, and the club "should have done more to check on the well-being of the boys".<ref name="Conn-17Mar2021">{{cite news |last1=Conn |first1=David |title=Football sexual abuse report: ignorance and naivety cleared way for scandal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/17/football-sexual-abuse-report-scandal-sheldon-fa |access-date=17 March 2021 |work=Guardian |date=17 March 2021}}</ref> Following publication of the report, Crewe Alexandra apologised to all survivors of Bennell's abuse, expressing "wholehearted regret" about their ignorance of his crimes,<ref name="BBC-18Mar2021">{{cite news |title=Football's child sex abuse scandal: Crewe 'sorry' for being unaware of Barry Bennell abuse |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56449653 |access-date=18 March 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 March 2021}}</ref> and Gradi also apologised.<ref name="BBC-20March2021">{{cite news |title=Football's child sex abuse scandal: Ex-Crewe boss Dario Gradi apologises for not recognising abuse |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56464043 |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=20 March 2021}}</ref> With Gradi "effectively banned for life" from football for safeguarding reasons,<ref name="BBC-17Mar2021">{{cite news|date=17 March 2021|title=Football's child sex abuse scandal: Sheldon review finds 'institutional failings'|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56418652|access-date=18 March 2021}}</ref> Crewe chairman John Bowler was pressed to resign<ref name="Rumsby-18Mar2021">{{cite news|last1=Rumsby|first1=Ben|date=18 March 2021|title=Crewe Alexandra chairman under pressure|work=Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/03/18/feted-great-talent-spotter-dario-gradi-now-man-failed-spot-appalling/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/03/18/feted-great-talent-spotter-dario-gradi-now-man-failed-spot-appalling/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=18 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and did so on 25 March 2021.<ref name="Ostlere-25Mar2021">{{cite news|last1=Ostlere|first1=Lawrence|date=25 March 2021|title=Crewe chairman John Bowler stands down in wake of Sheldon Review into sexual abuse scandal|work=Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/crewe-alexandra-john-bowler-sexual-abuse-scandal-b1822198.html|access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> Awarded an MBE in 1998,<ref name=LMA>[http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/dario-gradi-mbe/ Dario Gradi MBE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417123541/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/dario-gradi-mbe/|date=17 April 2015}}, League Managers Association. Retrieved: 17 April 2015.</ref> Gradi was stripped of the award in August 2023 following a professional disbarment<ref name = "UK Government">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/individuals-whose-honours-have-been-revoked-by-the-sovereign/list-of-individuals-who-have-forfeited-their-honour-august-2023|title=List of individuals who have forfeited their honour - August 2023|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|date=22 August 2023|access-date=23 August 2023}}</ref> for failing to protect children from sexual abuse.<ref name=Taylor-21Aug2023>{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Taylor (journalist) |date=21 August 2023 |title=Former Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi stripped of MBE |url=https://theathletic.com/4792589/2023/08/21/dario-gradi-crewe-alexandra-mbe/ |access-date=21 August 2023 |work=[[The Athletic]]}}</ref><ref name="MacInnes-21Aug20232">{{cite news |last1=MacInnes |first1=Paul |date=21 August 2023 |title=Dario Gradi to lose MBE after failing to protect children from sexual abuse |work=Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/21/dario-gradi-to-lose-mbe-after-failing-to-protect-children-from-sexual-abuse |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref>