Squad
BEN WILLIAMS
Age: 25
Height: 6 ft
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous clubs: Manchester United, Coventry City (loan), Chesterfield (loan).
WILLIAMS arrived in the summer of 2004 on a free from Manchester United following a successful loan spell.
He has struggled to convince some fans he is the undisputed number one and both loanee Ross Turnbull and rookie Stuart Tomlinson have deposed him over the past two seasons.
Yet the Stockport-based player is a battler as he demonstrated when he bounced back from serious illness in January 2006. He was hit by a potentially deadly form of meningitis, but returned to fitness in time for the start of last season. While he clearly has had off days - for example at Yeovil last September when he allowed a corner to wriggle from his grasp into his own net - he put in some decent displays last season.
Consistency will be the key to whether he can fend off a potential challenge from youngster Owain fon Williams.
STUART TOMLINSON (on loan to Burton Albion)
Age: 22
Height: 6ft
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous clubs: None
THE Chester-born stopper turned professional in the summer of 2003 after emerging from Crewe’s Academy
set-up.
He made his full debut at Preston in the FA Cup in January 2006 and, after a loan deal at Burton failed to emerge last year, he earned a run in the side on the strength of his penalty shoot-out heroics at Rochdale in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. But his confidence was hit by heavy defeats against Bradford and Nottingham Forest and he subsequently failed to make the bench on a regular basis as he was dogged by a hernia problem. Was loaned out to Burton Albion in February 2008.
OWAIN FON WILLIAMS
Age: 20
Height: 6ft 4ins
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous clubs: None
THE Anglesey-raised keeper was introduced to the club on scholarship terms in 2003 after impressing on trial.
His early promise in the under-18s side was disrupted when he suffered a broken leg in 2004. But the established Wales youth and under-21 international was soon featuring in Crewe first-team squads and was a regular on the bench in the second-half of last season. He is likely to fight it out with namesake Ben for the number one jersey, while Stuart Tomlinson is farmed out on loan.
DANNY WOODARDS
Age: 24
Height: 5ft 11ins
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Chelsea, Exeter
A PRODUCT of Chelsea’s youth system, Woodards made
a name for himself at Exeter during a two-year spell.
Jon Otsemobor’s imminent departure left Crewe searching for a right-back and the Londoner fitted the bill after a series of scouting trips at the turn of the year.
He was signed on deadline day last January for an initial
fee of £30,000 and was soon making his debut at Bradford in a 1-0 win the following month.
He proved to be quick and neat on the ball in his 11 appearances last term, leaving the Alex with high hopes he will become their regular right-back. Now Woodards will enjoy having his former Exeter team-mate, Billy Jones, operating on the other flank, after he followed him north this summer.
BILLY JONES
Age: 24
Height: 6ft 1ins
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Leyton Orient, Kidderminster, Exeter City
JONES was Crewe’s second capture of the summer, arriving for a initial fee of £50,000 from Exeter, with whom he just missed out on securing promotion to League Two.
Days after appearing in the Grecians’ Conference play-off defeat at the hands of Morecambe, the Gillingham-born defender was talking over a move to tLeague One with The Alex.
The left-back started his career with Leyton Orient and had a spell with Kidderminster before playing with team-mate Danny Woodards down in Devon, where he showed a scoring touch, netting 17 goals in 83 games.
No doubt his arrival at The Alexandra Stadium with one Billy Jones having departed the backline will be a source of confusion for some writers.
RYAN LYNCH
Age: 20
Height: 5ft 10ins
Position: Full-back
Previous clubs: Coventry, Tamworth (loan)
FORMER Coventry trainee Lynch joined on a free transfer in the summer of 2007.
He started his first game against Tranmere on New Year's Day, but was subsequently loaned to Stafford.
CHRIS McCREADY
Age: 26
Height: 6ft 1ins
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Crewe, Tranmere
THE versatile defender made a surprise return to Crewe in June after a year playing for Tranmere.
The Chester-born defender made his debut back in 2001 at Millwall after graduating from the club’s youth ranks and the FA School of Excellence at Lilleshall. He forced his way into the team during 2003/2004, but a crop of niggling injuries meant he struggled to establish himself. While he was offered a new deal in 2006 he chose to move on to Tranmere, where he was a virtual ever-present in Ronnie Moore’s side. New first-team coach Steve Holland exerted a major influence in persuading McCready to return on a free transfer this summer.
JULIEN BAUDET
Age: 29
Height: 6ft 2ins
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Toulouse, Oldham, Rotherham, Notts County
FRENCH central defender who arrived at Crewe last summer after two seasons at Notts County, where he was captain.
He began his career in his homeland with Toulouse,
having chosen football as a profession, despite excelling as a skier in his teens. When Toulouse were relegated two divisions after a financial scandal, he joined Oldham, where he earned plenty of experience in League One.
He struggled at first with the Alex, but improved as last season wore on and even assumed the captaincy from time to time. Strong and powerful with a dominant presence in the air, the Frenchman could be a major influence on an improved defensive effort all-round.
DANNY O’DONNELL
Age: 21
Height: 6ft 1ins
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Liverpool
O’DONNELL’S summer signing was paved by the centre-half’s loan spell at the club last season. While Crewe have had to forked out nearly £100,000 for the former Liverpool reserve, they got some of the back via the gate receipts of the recent friendly between the sides. O’Donnell was spotted playing local Sunday football by the Anfield scouts, but never made a first-team appearance despite captaining the club’s under-18s side.
An uncompromising defender, he started off his Crewe career in fits and starts, but after losing his place in mid-season made great strides and he was part of an improved defensive effort at the end of last season.
GEORGE ABBEY
Age: 29
Height: 5ft 9ins
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Sharks FC (Nigeria), Macclesfield, Port Vale.
LEFT League One rivals Port Vale at the end of the 2006/2007 season and penned a contract with Crewe in August. A versatile defender, Abbey has made more than 150 appearances in English football.
MAT BAILEY
Age: 20
Height: 6ft 4ins
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Nantwich, Stockport, Scunthorpe (loan), Northwich, Hereford (loan), Southport (loan)
THE locally-raised player came from Northwich Vics as a striker two years ago, but has failed so far to make a senior appearance.
Bailey began his career with Nantwich before earning a big move to Stockport. As he has struggled to make an impression up front, Crewe have utilised his towering presence back at centre-half after he signed a new one-year deal this summer. Made his first start for the club in a defensive role in FA Cup tie against Oldham during December 2007.
GARY ROBERTS
Age: 21
Height: 5ft 8ins
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: None
CHESTER-BASED midfielder who was signed on a professional contract with Crewe on his 17th birthday after working his way through the youth ranks.
Roberts broke into the first team in 2005/2006, making 34 appearances, and demonstrated a tremendous work-rate
in both a central position and wide on the right-hand side. But the former England under-19 international failed to hit those heights last term and didn’t seem to recover from his controversial sending off at Bristol City. His influential play in a struggling side was marred when he was left out of the January clash at Carlisle due to disciplinary problems.
STEVEN SCHUMACHER
Age: 23
Height: 5ft 10ins
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Everton, Oldham (loan), Carlisle (loan), Bradford City.
A FORMER England under-19s captain, Schumacher played in the same Everton youth team as Wayne Rooney and former Alex loanee Michael Symes.
But he left Goodison Park for regular first-team action at Bradford in 2004 and went on to be a mainstay of the Bantams’ midfield. The Merseysider is a tenacious box-to-box merchant with an eye for goal as Crewe found out to their cost when he scored one in their 4-0 FA Cup first-round exit at Valley Parade last November.
Crewe paid a nominal fee to City to trigger a release clause in Schumacher’s contract this summer, but injuries have hampered him in his first season.
EUGEN BOPP
Age: 24
Height: 6ft
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Bayern Munich, Nottingham Forest, Rotherham.
BOPP has a colourful pedigree, having come through Bayern Munich’s youth system before he was taken to Forest by youth-orientated boss Paul Hart in 2001.
The German went on to make 89 appearances at the City Ground, but flitted in and out of the side. Yet he certainly made the mark where Crewe were concerned scoring in a 2-2 draw which left the Alex relegated from the First Division in May 2002. He memorably made up for that with an equaliser for Forest at Gillingham, which saved Crewe from the drop on the final day of the 2004/2005 campaign. Bopp moved on to cash-strapped Rotherham last summer, but an ankle injury he suffered in February ended his season as the Millers headed for the drop. Signed on a free transfer last summer, he has failed to figure much in his first season and was placed on the transfer list in December.
MICHAEL O’CONNOR
Age: 20
Height: 6ft 1in
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: None
THE Northern Ireland youth international has been ruled out of the kick-off after undergoing a hernia operation.
The Belfast-born player proved his worth as a energetic midfielder in the early part of last season, but then faded away in his first full campaign. When fit again he will want to add consistency to his game to fulfil the undoubted promise he has shown coming through Crewe’s youth ranks.
O’Connor made his debut from the bench against Brighton in February 2006 at the age of 18, having been spotted playing local football in his native Ireland.
NEIL COX
Age: 36
Height: 6ft
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Scunthorpe, Aston Villa, Bolton, Watford, Cardiff.
THE vastly-experienced defender arrived at Crewe on a two-year deal in June last year after his release by Cardiff.
Aston Villa paid £400,000 to take him into the top flight from home-town Scunthorpe in 1991.
He proved an inspirational presence on the pitch last season, but that didn’t prevent him from being dropped from his centre-half berth when he lost form.
But the veteran re-emerged after injury to bed into a deep-lying central midfield role.
And while he contemplates a future coaching career, he has been persuaded to see out the final year of his contract by the new Alex management team.
Linked with the Port Vale manager's job last October, Cox has still featured regularly with the captain's armband.
BEN RIX
Age: 25
Height: 5ft 9ins
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Bournemouth (loan)
RIX rejuvenated himself last season after a disastrous two-year spell in the wilderness, not helped by illness as well
as injuries. After postponing a loan at Hereford he broke back into the side and put in a series of consistent displays during last Autumn. It not only secured him a new long-term deal, but a spell wearing the captain’s armband. His 2007/08 campaign was ended by a hip problem which forced him to undergo surgery in February..
COLIN DANIEL (on loan at Grays Athletic)
Age: 20
Height: 5ft 11ins
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Eastwood Town
CREWE paid an initial £50,000 to UniBond outfit Eastwood Town to secure lively left winger Daniel.
His performances last season also attracted interest from hometown club Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday.
The teenager is unlikely to feature in the first team straight away, but with David Vaughan moving to Spanish side Real Sociedad, Daniel is being viewed as the Welshman’s long-term successor. Made his senior debut at Hartlepool in December 2007, but has since been loaned out to Grays Athletic.
MARK CARRINGTON
Age: 20
Height: 6ft
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Leigh RMI (loan)
THE midfielder turned professional in the summer of 2006 after a loan spell at Leigh RMI. He had to wait until the end of last season to make his mark.
Nevertheless, he put in tidy performances from the bench against Port Vale and Nottingham Forest and he showed up well in pre-season. Warrington-born Carrington is an attacking midfielder who can operate on either flank.
KENNY LUNT (on loan from Sheffield Wednesday)
Age: 28
Height: 5ft 10ins
Position: Midfield
THE former Alex favourite returned on a one-month loan deal in February 2008 after falling from favour at Sheffield Wednesday. Lunt made nearly 450 appearances for the Alex between 1997 and 2006, scoring 37 times.
RYAN LOWE
Age: 27
Height: 5ft 11ins
Position: Midfielder/Striker
Previous clubs: Burscough, Shrewsbury, Chester.
LOWE thoroughly deserved a new two-year contract for his goal contribution last term.
And he might need to score more than the 12 goals he managed, mainly from the right of midfield, as Crewe are short of options following the departure of Luke Varney.
The Merseysider began his career in non-league football with Burscough, before earning his chance as a professional in 1999 with Shrewsbury.
An initially-promising two-season spell at Chester was ended when he fell out with boss Mark Wright and finished 2005/2006 on trial at Crewe.
At times Lowe can be erratic, but at his best he is a match-winner as his stylish hat-trick in the 5-1 thumping of Carlisle last September showed.
NICKY MAYNARD.aspx)
Age: 21
Height: 5ft 11ins
Position: Striker
Previous clubs: None
THE Winsford-raised striker is the key man up front for Crewe after the departure of Luke Varney.
After making his bow in the final game of the 2005/2006 Championship relegation season, Maynard emerged last year in startling fashion.
While he tailed off after an explosive start when injuries took their toll, his 19-goal haul was very impressive indeed in his first full season.
Another Alex Academy product, Maynard was a member of the successful 2004 FA Youth Cup side, and offers a clinical finish as well as a determined streak up front.
Crewe were rocked when he broke his leg on the opening day of the 2007/08 season. He returned to the side in December, but struggled to reach his previous form.
SHAUN MILLER
Age: 20
Height: 5ft 10
Position: Striker
Previous clubs: None
ALSAGER-BASED striker who made his first-team breakthrough towards the end of last season after making his senior debut at Bradford in the FA Cup last November.
Miller made a quick impact with a goal in his first start at Blackpool last March and at Chesterfield, following those up with another strike in a 1-1 draw with Tranmere in the penultimate game of the season.
The teenager has been with Crewe since the age of seven and has now committed himself to a new two-year deal.
Quick and intelligent on the ball, Miller should play a useful supporting role up front this season.
TOM POPE
Age: 22
Height: 6ft 3ins
Position: Striker
Previous clubs: Biddulph Vics, Lancaster City (loan), Stafford Rangers (loan), Barrow (loan)
THE Stoke-based youngster signed fresh two-year terms at the end of last season, in which he made his senior bow with a handful of sub appearances.
The former Biddulph Vics man earned a contract on the strength of a trial two seasons ago and has been since loaned out to Lancaster, Stafford and Barrow.
Showed potential emerging from the bench in the closing weeks of last season.
Pope has shown he is a target man who can hold the ball up well and scored his debut goal for Crewe at Bristol Rovers in August 2007.
BYRON MOORE
Age: 19
Height: 6ft
Position: Striker
Previous clubs: Kidsgrove Athletic (loan)
MOORE made his debut against Brighton on the opening day of the 2007/08 season after graduating through the academy ranks. The Stoke-based youngster opened his goal account at Oldham in September 2007 and has featured in a central striking role and wide left in his first senior campaign.
First-year professionals:
NICK FARQUHARSON (striker)
JUNIOR BROWN (striker/winger)
JAMES BAILEY (midfielder)