194:'s Sheldon Report, published in March 2021, identified failures to act adequately at clubs including Crewe. While Sheldon concluded senior Crewe people—Rowlinson, Bowler and other directors—had not received specific reports of abuse (a conclusion also reached by Cheshire constabulary), they had discussed concerns about inappropriate behaviour; the club "should have done more to check on the well-being of the boys", Sheldon said.
143:
for £200,000 in
February 1988. Gradi remained as manager for 24 years, helping improve Crewe's fortunes through the 1980s. In 1989 they achieved promotion to the Third Division by finishing third in the Fourth Division, ending 20 years of bottom division football. They remained in the Third Division
189:
as newspapers reported on Crewe's initial management of allegations that Barry
Bennell had sexually abused a junior footballer in the late 1980s. Bennell was allowed to stay at the club despite Rowlinson's recommendation that the club "get him out"; Rowlinson had sought police advice about Bennell
238:
210:
Different sources give varying dates (some suggest 1987), however records at
Companies House show Rowlinson was chairman in May 1988; Bowler had become chairman by the time the following years accounts were signed in May
764:
759:
754:
749:
744:
739:
734:
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115:
as manager. Gradi looked to build an academy structure to develop players that could be sold to help fund the player development programme. Among his early transfer successes were
182:, died of cancer in August 2006 at the age of 83. He had been on the club's board for 44 years (24 of them as chairman). His son Jimmy inherited his 24.28% stake in the club.
658:
611:
157:
653:
945:
940:
562:
186:
431:
704:
53:
A director of a timber business, he joined Crewe as a director in 1962, and became chairman in 1964. Crewe achieved promotion from the
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81:, but again spent just one season in the Third Division. From 1969, Crewe spent 20 years in Division Four, finishing bottom in
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673:
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100:
as manager in 1978. Popular with fans, Waddington failed to achieve promotion in 1981 and was sacked by
Rowlinson.
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90:
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82:
78:
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144:
for two years before being relegated again. Crewe were then promoted again in 1994 after a final day victory at
534:
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120:
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from 1964 to 1988, credited with keeping the club afloat during its toughest financial times.
935:
930:
581:
571:
185:
In
November 2016, Rowlinson's time as chairman was recalled during the early stages of the
47:
8:
149:
128:
57:
on two occasions during the 1960s, but initially unable to establish themselves at the
530:
515:
153:
145:
140:
406:"Crewe were warned about Barry Bennell but he stayed on, says former board member"
97:
540:
161:
924:
483:"Football sexual abuse report: ignorance and naivety cleared way for scandal"
124:
637:
112:
69:, finishing in third place, but were relegated back to Division Four the
328:
Riding
Through The Storm: My Fight Back to Fitness on the Tour de France
164:
to put the club back in the second tier for the first time since 1896.
103:
In June 1983, after Crewe finished second from bottom at the end of the
46:(June 1923 – 18 August 2006) was an English businessman and chairman of
167:
Rowlinson retired as chairman in 1988 when he handed over the reins to
74:
432:"Crewe ignored police advice in late 1980s to 'move on' Barry Bennell"
175:
179:
459:
Independent Review into Child Sexual Abuse in
Football 1970-2005
171:, although he remained at the club as a director and President.
108:
457:
148:. Crewe then twice lost in play-off semi-finals, to
659:
1997 Football League Second
Division play-off final
77:, the club achieved promotion for a second time in
654:1993 Football League Third Division play-off final
570:
922:
423:
233:
231:
229:
227:
225:
223:
397:
302:"Dario Gradi – Crewe's longest serving manager"
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449:
556:
220:
131:, in 1987 and 1988 respectively), and former
187:United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal
156:in 1996, before returning to Wembley in the
563:
549:
514:(2nd ed.). Nottingham: Tony Brown.
946:English football chairmen and investors
664:2012 Football League Two play-off final
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299:
197:
190:and had been advised to "move him on".
941:Crewe Alexandra F.C. non-playing staff
923:
429:
403:
325:
293:
695:Norman Rowlinson (chairman 1964–1988)
544:
388:
319:
239:"Alex saviour Rowlinson loses battle"
61:. In 1963, Crewe secured their first
480:
430:Taylor, Daniel (27 February 2018).
404:Taylor, Daniel (25 November 2016).
13:
674:2024 EFL League Two play-off final
14:
957:
669:2013 Football League Trophy final
700:John Bowler (chairman 1988–2021)
158:1997 Division Two play-off final
379:
370:
361:
352:
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300:McGarry, Graham (2 July 2009).
512:Crewe Alexandra Match by Match
462:. London: Football Association
334:
284:
275:
266:
257:
204:
160:, securing a 1–0 victory over
1:
573:Crewe Alexandra Football Club
481:Conn, David (17 March 2021).
139:, signed in 1985 and sold to
7:
633:Alexandra Recreation Ground
10:
962:
504:
713:
682:
646:
625:
580:
525:Hornbrook, Jules (2000).
33:
25:
18:
192:The Football Association
174:Rowlinson, who lived at
456:Sheldon, Clive (2021).
612:Records and statistics
326:Thomas, Geoff (2008).
107:, Rowlinson appointed
510:Crisp, Marco (1998).
705:Sexual abuse scandal
198:Notes and References
96:Rowlinson appointed
385:Crisp, pp.126, 127.
330:. London: Hachette.
394:Crisp, pp.10, 128.
376:Hornbrook, pp.105.
272:Crisp, pp.135–136.
123:(both signed from
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367:Hornbrook, pp.98.
263:Crisp, pp.99–100.
133:Manchester United
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245:. 23 August 2006
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71:following season
44:Norman Rowlinson
20:Norman Rowlinson
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527:The Gradi Years
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98:Tony Waddington
55:Fourth Division
48:Crewe Alexandra
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150:Bristol Rovers
129:Crystal Palace
121:John Pemberton
105:1982–83 season
67:Third Division
39:
38:
37:18 August 2006
35:
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73:. Managed by
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60:
56:
51:
49:
45:
36:
32:
28:
24:
17:
694:
617:Women's team
526:
511:
490:. Retrieved
486:
476:
464:. Retrieved
458:
451:
439:. Retrieved
435:
425:
413:. Retrieved
409:
399:
390:
381:
372:
363:
354:
345:
336:
327:
321:
309:. Retrieved
305:
295:
286:
277:
268:
259:
249:22 September
247:. Retrieved
242:
206:
184:
173:
166:
154:Notts County
152:in 1995 and
146:Chester City
127:and sold to
117:Geoff Thomas
102:
95:
59:higher level
52:
43:
42:
936:2006 deaths
931:1923 births
638:Gresty Road
415:25 November
169:John Bowler
141:Aston Villa
137:David Platt
135:apprentice
113:Dario Gradi
925:Categories
535:0953887707
75:Ernie Tagg
785:1999–2000
690:Blue Moon
529:. Crewe.
176:Worleston
162:Brentford
63:promotion
29:June 1923
597:Managers
583:The club
492:17 March
487:Guardian
466:23 March
436:Guardian
410:Guardian
311:30 March
180:Nantwich
125:Rochdale
910:2024–25
905:2023–24
900:2022–23
895:2021–22
890:2020–21
885:2019–20
880:2018–19
875:2017–18
870:2016–17
865:2015–16
860:2014–15
855:2013–14
850:2012–13
845:2011–12
840:2010–11
835:2009–10
830:2008–09
825:2007–08
820:2006–07
815:2005–06
810:2004–05
805:2003–04
800:2002–03
795:2001–02
790:2000–01
780:1998–99
775:1997–98
770:1996–97
765:1995–96
760:1994–95
755:1993–94
750:1992–93
745:1991–92
740:1990–91
735:1989–90
730:1988–89
725:1987–88
716:Seasons
647:Matches
626:Grounds
607:Seasons
602:Academy
592:Players
505:Sources
441:1 March
91:1981–82
87:1978–79
83:1971–72
79:1967–68
65:to the
533:
518:
111:-born
683:Other
211:1989.
178:near
109:Milan
531:ISBN
516:ISBN
494:2021
468:2021
443:2018
417:2016
313:2017
251:2022
119:and
89:and
34:Died
26:Born
927::
485:.
434:.
408:.
304:.
241:.
222:^
93:.
85:,
564:e
557:t
550:v
537:.
522:.
496:.
470:.
445:.
419:.
315:.
253:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.