STEVE COLLIS

Age: 27

Height: 6ft 1ins

Position: Goalkeeper

Previous clubs: Barnet, Nottingham Forest, Yeovil, Aldershot (loan), Tiverton, Yeovil, Southend.

THE departure of goalkeeper Ben Williams in the summer left Crewe searching for an experienced number one to fill the void.

Collis had only made 27 appearances in two seasons with Southend, and the lure of regular first-team football saw him move north to sign a three-year deal at Gresty Road.

He offers a firm command of his box and unflappable temperament and looks a useful acquisition.

STUART TOMLINSON

Age: 23

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.

ADAM LEGZDINS

Age: 21

Height: 6ft 1ins

Position: Goalkeeper

Previous clubs: Birmingham City, Halifax Town (loan).

WITH Owain Fon Williams also leaving for League One rivals Stockport, Legzdins was picked up on his release from Birmingham, where he was arguably fourth-choice keeper.

Yet the Stafford-born stopper impressed during a lengthy spell at Halifax in the Blue Square Premier last season and could offer a stiff challenge to Collis for the number one jersey.

DANNY WOODARDS

Age: 25

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: 25

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.

CHRIS McCREADY

Age: 27

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.

DENNIS LAWRENCE (on loan from Swansea City)

Age: 34

Height: 6ft 7ins

Position: Defender

Previous clubs: Defence Force (Jamaica), Wrexham, Swansea.

EXPERIENCED centre-half was signed on loan until January to help shore up a leaky Crewe Alex defence.

The giant defender started his career with Jamaica side Defence Force, before taking in a spell at Wrexham.

His move to Swansea saw him play a key role in their League One title win last season, but he has found it difficult to establish himself in the Swans' first-team this time around.

Has made more than 60 appearances for Jamaica.

SCOTT McMANUS

Age: 19

Height: 6ft

Position: Defender

Previous clubs: Manchester United, Stenhousemuir, Curzon Ashton.

THE left-back signed on a two-year contract in August from Curzon Ashton after he impressed the Alex management while he was on trial at Nottingham Forest.

A pre-season friendly between the two clubs was all that was needed to convince Alex first-team coach Steve Holland that the former Manchester United junior could compete with Billy Jones for the left-back berth.

Tall, quick and athletic, the youngster is seen as a player for the future, but will be looking to force his way into the first-team squad.

JAMES BAILEY

Age: 20

Height: -

Position: Midfielder

Previous clubs: None.

ONLY made one appearance in the 2007/2008 season, but an exceptional pre-season saw him earn a regular place in the middle of midfield at the start of this campaign.

A product of the Crewe Academy, Bailey has forged a promising midfield partnership with Northern Ireland international Michael O'Connor.

GARY ROBERTS (on loan to Yeovil)

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.