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The Academy Which Doesn't Stop

By Ryan Watson

In the rich history of football, the use of academies has produced some of the greatest players and teams, like the Class of 92 and La Masia, who went on to become some of the biggest stars in the history of the sport. During the last decade, we have seen academies being used less and less with billions being pumped into the football economy to buy the best overseas talent. At one club, this hasn't changed.

Based in the south of Cheshire, Crewe Alexandra is a football club which has a philosophy focused on bringing through their own to achieve success. Some of the players who have been brought through at Gresty Road are Ashley Westwood, Danny Murphy and David Platt who went on to captain England during Euro 1992.

Focusing on the current day, The Railwaymen has had 21 players play for the first team this season across all competitions which have been brought through the academy. Nine of these players have played at least ten games for the first team in their league campaign showing the constant involvement of academy produce.

This hasn’t hampered the Reds, they have qualified for the playoffs by finishing 6th and aiming for promotion back to League One after they were relegated from the third tier just under four years ago.

The Railwaymen also caused huge upsets in domestic competitions defeating Championship side Sunderland at the Stadium of Light by penalty kicks. Pride Park, the home of Derby was another ground Crewe were victorious at in the FA Cup.

The Academy has also achieved success this year managed by a mixture of Mike Jackson and Kenny Lunt. In domestic competitions by reaching the third round of the FA Youth Cup and being defeated away at Arsenal to end the run. In the local FA ran competition, Crewe has played young academy prospects as they fight for senior contracts next season and have cruised to the Cheshire Senior Cup final beating Macclesfield, Barnton and Vauxhall Motors.

The academy team fell short in the final as they were defeated on penalties against Hyde United after drawing 2-2 in normal time.

Football academies in England are ranked into categories with the top development academies such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United ranked in CAT 1.

Crewe's Academy is ranked in CAT 2 as one of just two teams from League Two who are in the category. Other teams with academies at this level consist of Burnley, Sheffield United and Watford.

Over the past five years, Crewe has had several players who have joined Championship clubs and become key players for the second-tier outfits.

Perry Ng and Ryan Wintle joined Cardiff City after showcasing their quality for the Railwaymen during their promotion to League One in 2019/20 after the season was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have both captained the Bluebirds since their arrival in Wales.

Harry Pickering joined Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee in February 2021. The Chester-born left-back has made over 100 league appearances for Rovers since he left Gresty Road.

In the current 2023-24 season, The Reds completed another sale of an academy graduate in Connor O'Riordan.

O'Riordan followed in the footsteps of Harry Pickering and joined Blackburn Rovers in the final days of the January transfer window after his release clause was activated to leave the football club for an undisclosed fee.

O'Riordan played 27 games for the Alex until his move and was called up to the Ireland Under-21s and played two games for his country.

In an interview with, academy manager Aidan Callan he said: "The challenge is now for us to produce the next Connor. That work never stops and we can’t stand still"

"We are in a good shape. All age groups have top players, alongside strengths and weaknesses.

"We have lots of players who have come through this season, a few have come in and settled, and a few have had a little taste of the first team.

"This is why, it is important for our job to keep working with these players to help development and make sure they are ready for more first-team football.

"We communicate a lot with Lee (Bell) and Ryan (Dicker) due to the surroundings of the building. They both came through the same academy coaching.

"They know lots of the young players coming through having coached them at younger ages. That is a massive part of the club culture and it helps the handover of academy players into the first team."

Lee Bell was nominated for League Two Manager of the Season for this season. Crewe was predicted by most pundits and supporters to finish towards the bottom end of the table.

The Railwaymen lost top goalscorer Dan Agyei in the summer alongside Rob McDonald and Kelvin Mellor.

Bell trusted faith in his academy yet again, giving opportunities to Joel Tabiner, Tom Booth, Lewis Billington and Matus Holicek who have repaid the faith restored in them.

All four academy graduates have been rewarded with long-term deals which could see them stay at the club until 2026.

The EFL nominated Crewe youngster and academy talent Calum Agius for League Two Apprentice of the Season.

Agius signed a three-year contract back in September with an option for an extra two years.

Agius has impressed since signing the deal, making a handful of appearances on the bench for Crewe this season. In the Professional Development League 2, Agius has scored nine goals in seven appearances alongside impressing in the Cheshire Senior Cup and the Papa John's Trophy against the likes of Port Vale and Wrexham.

The 18-year-old has been called up for the Welsh Under-19s ahead of their qualifying campaign for the Under-19s European Championship last June.

The work done here at Reaseheath will continue to happen over the next decades. With plenty more talented players being created and made at Gresty Road for the future.

With lots of experience bodies, in coaching, scouting and academy management will make sure Crewe are in safe hands for years to come.

For the latest updates on all of Crewe's recent news and latest updates follow them on X.